Caroline Lewis

NEWS: The federal govt is sending NYC’s top disease control official to Arizona for a months-long stint at an Indian Health Service facility.

That could complicate local infectious disease response efforts.

“If we have an outbreak, then we’re fucked,” a city health department staffer told me.

New Yorkers’ health insurance costs on the line amid battle over government shutdown Consumers may face sticker shock when shopping for insurance through New York’s Affordable Care Act marketplace.

New Yorkers’ health insurance costs on the line amid battle over government shutdown

gothamist.com/news/new-yor...

New York state already legalized marijuana. Could magic mushrooms be next? Mushrooms being prepared at a psychedelic church in Colorado. The state Assembly held a hearing Tuesday on medical uses for psilocybin, which three states have legalized. [ more › ]

New York state already legalized marijuana. Could magic mushrooms be next? https://gothamist.com/news/new-york-state-already-legalized-marijuana-could-magic-mushrooms-be-next

Looking to talk to people in NYC who have an ACA plan. Working on a story about costs potentially going up with the expiration of enhanced federal tax credits.

If you want to talk today, email clewis@wnyc.org.

NY joins new regional public health collaborative as antidote to federal vaccine turmoil The group immediately issued its guidance on COVID vaccines, preempting federal recommendations.

ICYMI: NY and other states launch Northeast Public Health Collaborative as antidote to turmoil at federal health agencies

gothamist.com/news/ny-join...

Low-level drug arrests surge in the South Bronx, according to new data Between January and the end of June, police made more than 800 drug arrests in the 40th Precinct, which includes the area known as The Hub.

NYC data: More ppl getting picked up for drug charges after a long decline associated with the move away from the war on drugs, and another drop early in the pandemic.

Lots of new low-level charges for possession -- and even cases involving "residue."

gothamist.com/news/low-lev...

I’m sorry I’m not sure about that one! You might have to ask the pharmacy.

The Latest on COVID Shots | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC Caroline Lewis talks about the availability of COVID vaccines this fall and the confusion over the guidelines after the FDA's changes to approval.

ICYMI, @clewisreports.bsky.social on the confusion over getting the updated COVID vaccine this fall:

www.wnyc.org/story/the-la...

Why getting a COVID shot in NY could be a hassle this year Changes in how federal immunization guidelines are being rolled out have sown confusion.

In NY, chain pharmacies are now asking for prescriptions for COVID vaccines, while local pharmacies are putting off stocking the shots. Here's what's going on:

gothamist.com/news/why-get...

Mayor Adams calls for forced treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in NY The initiative is part of a broader campaign push by Adams to target "quality of life" issues.

Mayor Adams wants NY to have compulsory drug treatment.

Brian Stettin, an advisor to Adams, says involuntary treatment is better than no treatment at all.

Kristine Torres-Lockhart, chief medical officer for Phoenix House NY, disagrees.

My latest: gothamist.com/news/mayor-a...

Why so many Legionnaires' cases in NY? Environmental and human factors may play a role. Hundreds of new cases are reported annually in New York, despite laws meant to prevent infections.

Why is NY seeing so many Legionnaires' cases every year?

My latest story putting the current Harlem outbreak in context.

gothamist.com/news/why-so-...

As Zeldin speaks, the heat index at the bottom of the screen is showing parts of the country hitting feels-like temperatures of 121 degrees. Extreme heat is a leading cause of death from climate change, a toll that will increase as CO2 levels rise.

NY’s Planned Parenthood clinics still seeing Medicaid patients after funding cut But the reproductive health organization says the situation is "unsustainable."

Planned Parenthood clinics in NY are still seeing Medicaid Patients -- they're just not getting paid. A spokesperson says the situation is "unsustainable" and Planned Parenthood of Greater NY needs relief in short order.

gothamist.com/news/nys-pla...

A Bushwick woman’s recovery from drug addiction starts on TikTok Addiction specialists said finding community, even online, is crucial to success.

Kim Quidone went viral on TikTok for being a hilarious storyteller. Then her followers encouraged her to get sober... and she recently celebrated a year.

Radio story in link.

gothamist.com/news/a-bushw...

Very cool! And yes it really does seem to be about just consistently showing up

I think so but it sounds like it has been a very long process! If you can speed it up that’s awesome.

YouTube video by NYC Emergency Management Nuclear Preparedness PSA (with captions)

anyway remember this psa?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-5d...

Hitting the pavement in Harlem with one of NYC’s street psychiatrists There are no quick fixes when it comes to helping people in need, outreach doctor says.

Hitting the pavement in Harlem with one of NYC’s street psychiatrists

gothamist.com/news/hitting...

Victims of food benefits theft sue NY over outdated tech they say puts them at risk The residents allege the state isn’t doing enough to protect benefits to which they’re entitled under federal law.

SNAP theft has run rampant in NY. Now victims are suing the state to try to force an update to outdated EBT cards they say put them at risk.

gothamist.com/news/victims...

Wong’s situation points to a common predicament of aging parents caring for an adult child with a mental illness: “planning for what happens when they’re no longer here,” said Carolyn Reinach Wolf, a New York lawyer who works with families of people with mental health issues.

Man fatally shot by NYPD in Astoria had history of unusual behavior, neighbor says Police said he moved toward officers with a knife after refusing to drop it.

I met a neighbor of King Wong, the 60-yr-old police killed in Astoria this week.

She said his parents took care of him til they died a few years ago. After that, he often looked for food in the trash, and entered her apt uninvited, but was “harmless.”

gothamist.com/news/man-fat...

LI program for young adults with mental illness closes due to funds in limbo Providers are making "critical decisions" about programs amid the uncertainty over proposed federal funding cuts, official said.

Everyone's always talking about how to treat NYers with serious mental illnesses. OnTrackNY catches young ppl right after symptoms start and offers team-based care.

One OnTrack program in LI is now closing bc federal funding is up in the air.

gothamist.com/news/li-prog...

Mental health workers go on hunger strike, demanding better pay and benefits After months of striking, some therapists with Kaiser Permanente stopped eating for five days to bring attention to their union's demands for parity with how the company's other workers are treated.

After months of striking, some therapists with Kaiser Permanente stopped eating for five days to bring attention to their union's demands for parity with how the company's other workers are treated.

NY officials agree to delay $9B home care overhaul amid consumer complaints The agreement is between the state and attorneys representing health care consumers with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

As of April 9, 32k home care consumers still had to complete the process of registering with PPL, and 36k workers in the program still weren’t able to log their hours with the company, per the state health dept.

gothamist.com/news/ny-offi...

First on NY1:

All 19 New York Democrats in the US House are demanding a meeting with HHS Sec. Kennedy over the Trump admin's attempt to cut off $11B in state & local health funding - a move they say will cost NY approx $400M.

Letter is led by @aoc.bsky.social and Rep. Nadler

‘An unlimited piggy bank:’ Inside a powerful union’s lavish spending Labor leader George Gresham has for years used union money to benefit himself, his family and political allies.

I spent nine months investigating the spending of the largest health care union in the U.S.

What I found:

1199SEIU President George Gresham has for years used union money to benefit himself, his family and political allies.
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

NYC’s Employee Health Fund Has Hit Zero — What It Means for Public… Longstanding perks like premium-free insurance could be at risk due to a city budget crunch.

Sam Mellins at NY Focus reports that, after city retirees successfully blocked a plan to switch them to Medicare Advantage to save $ on health costs, the city now has a $600M-a-year hole to fill -- and the costs could fall on current city workers.

nysfocus.com/2025/03/31/n...

‘Shrinking my world really small’: How New Yorkers are coping with long COVID An estimated 500,000 New Yorkers suffer from COVID’s lingering effects, with 1 in 5 saying the condition significantly limits their activities.

“We planned to have a family. I was hoping to progress further in my career.”

I wrote about how some NYers with long COVID are drastically changing their expectations for their lives and careers. (radio feat coming soon!)

gothamist.com/news/shrinki...

How well is your NYC neighborhood protected against measles? Check out our map. Vaccination rates across NYC range from 65% to 99%, while 95% is needed for herd protection.

Almost all NYC kids enter kindergarten with 2 doses of the measles vaccine.

But the share of 2 year olds with their first dose ranges from 65% to 99%, depending on the zip code, per data shared with Gothamist. I mapped the measles vax rates:

gothamist.com/news/how-wel...

Planned Parenthood selling SoHo property, looking to close only Manhattan clinic The plan comes amid mounting financial pressures on the reproductive healthcare provider.

Planned Parenthood is looking to sell its 26 Bleecker St building and close its only clinic in Manhattan to shore up finances, but will need state approval first

gothamist.com/news/planned...