REMARKS
Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez introduces Intro 435 on expanding access to rapid Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing services
0:30:39
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145 sec
Council Member Sanchez advocates for Intro 435, a bill to expand access to rapid STI testing services in New York City.
- Sanchez acknowledges support from the public advocate, advocacy organizations, and various caucuses
- The legislation aims to address racial inequities in STI infections exacerbated by the pandemic
- Black and African American people, and Latinx people make up over 80% of new HIV infections in New York City as of 2022
- The Bronx suffers from the highest rates of HIV infections and deaths among New York State's 62 counties
- Intro 435 focuses on expanding access to testing rather than addressing sexual risk behavior
Pierina Ana Sanchez
0:30:39
Thank you, majority leader.
0:30:41
First, I wanna shout out our 16 SYEP interns who are up in the balcony.
0:30:46
Thank you for joining us today.
0:30:49
Nobody mess with me because I had sixteen people behind me.
0:30:51
It's not it's not Gales 40 interns, but we're we're working on it.
0:30:57
And and thank you, speaker, for for your leadership and partnership in designated designating the old Croton aqueduct which is the literal spine of District 14.
0:31:06
It's a big deal to all the advocacy organizations out there.
0:31:10
And intro 435.
0:31:12
Yes.
0:31:14
Just just wanna wanna say to say a note of of gratitude to a co prime sponsor, the public advocate.
0:31:21
As well as so many advocacy organizations who contributed no particular order, but Caribbean quality project, housing works, Morris Heights Health Center, Saint Anne, and harm reduction in the South Bronx, Alifornay Center, Kalyn Lord, Housing Works, Vocal New York, Latino on AIDS, health people, NYCNC Violence Project, African Services Committee, Black Help, Harlem Pride Destination Tomorrow, and a special someone named Doctor Devin English, who knows who he is.
0:31:47
Thank you so much for your support on this legislation.
0:31:50
And, of course, colleagues The members of the LGBTQ caucus that supported the women's caucus, progressive caucus, it took it took over a year to negotiate this piece of legislation.
0:32:02
But it does reflect a massive investment in opening access, expanding access to rapid STI testing services I'll just leave it with this and hope and and beseech your your yes votes on intro 435, but inequities in race racial inequities in in TI infections have skyrocketed since the beginning of the pandemic, most harshly at the Intersection of Black Latino Low Income and LGBTQ New York City Communities.
0:32:31
In New York City, Black And African American people, and Latinx people make up over 80% of new HIV infections.
0:32:38
That's from 2022.
0:32:40
And in the Bronx, in particular, we suffer from the highest rates of HIV infections, and depths from New York State 62 Counties.
0:32:48
The highest rate I will conclude.
0:32:50
Thank you, madam, majority leader, But this this is not about sexual risk behavior.
0:32:54
It's just about access, and that is what intro 435 strives to do.
0:32:59
It will expand new centers.
0:33:01
Thank you so much everyone for your support on this piece of legislation.