Will Steacy

There is no greater disparity between rich and poor in America than in New York. Evidence of this divide becomes apparent in statistics comparing New Yorker’s socioeconomic status with self-reported health records. Reports show that low-income households have the highest reported rates of poor health and illness, while high-income households report the lowest rates. This disparity has become one of the biggest debates in public health and in efforts to bridge this gap, programs like New York City’s Green Cart Initiative have emerged, providing access to affordable and healthy food options in underserved neighborhoods. In an attempt to illustrate the relationship between illness and socioeconomic status, I set out to create a visual record of the food options where the highest reported instances of poverty, obesity, diabetes, and people living without health insurance overlap with the placement of the Green Carts. When looking at our nation’s current health care system, the conversation often turns into a fiscal debate as the health and well being of American citizens are somehow only seen in dollars and cents. What doesn’t make sense and what is continually left out of this conversation, is a serious look at the root of these problems. There is a major health crisis happening right now and those who find themselves on the bottom rung of the economic ladder face the greatest risk to their health.