Recent Streetsblog LA posts about Public Health

Senate Health Bill Approved: What it Means for Transportation

By Elana Schor | Mar 22, 2010 | No Comments

After 14 months of drama, deal-making, and declarations of its demise, the health care legislation envisioned by President Obama and congressional Democrats finally cleared its biggest hurdle last night, with the House approving the Senate-passed measure on a 219-212 vote. Safe Routes to School programs, such as this one, could see a boost from the […]

First Lady Launches Childhood Obesity Push With Nod to Biking & Walking

By Elana Schor | Feb 10, 2010 | 1 Comment

First Lady Michelle Obama took to the mikes this afternoon to kick off a national campaign to combat childhood obesity, emphasizing new initiatives to promote biking and walking alongside a strong focus on healthier food options in schools. The first lady visited "Sesame Street" last fall as part of her push to fight childhood obesity. […]

EPA Makes it Official: Emissions Threaten Public Health

By Elana Schor | Dec 7, 2009 | 1 Comment

Acting under a Supreme Court mandate, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled today that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and contribute to the harmful environmental effects of climate change, paving the way for pollution regulations under the Clean Air Act. (Photo: TreeHugger) "Today, EPA announced that greenhouse gases threaten the health and welfare of […]

Senate Health Bill Holds Onto Grants For Healthier Transportation

By Elana Schor | Nov 23, 2009 | No Comments

Back in June, when the Senate was in the early stages of its marathon health care reform debate, several Republicans blasted the proposed legislation for including a grant program aimed at encouraging construction of local infrastructure to promote healthier movement. The new Senate health bill held onto a billion-dollar grant program to promote walking to […]

New Study Shows $56 Billion in Hidden Health Damage from Autos

By Elana Schor | Oct 20, 2009 | 1 Comment

Transportation’s effects on public health are rarely discussed by policy-makers, but they remain very real — and the National Research Council (NRC) put a number on them today, reporting that cars and trucks have about $56 billion in "hidden" health costs that are not reflected in the price of oil or electricity. (Photo: MetroDCLiving.com) In […]

WHO Report Highlights Global Health Risk of Traffic

By Elana Schor | Jun 17, 2009 | 1 Comment

Pro football player Donte’ Stallworth was sentenced to 30 days in jail yesterday after killing a pedestrian in an alcohol-related crash. Photo: AP The disparity between the 13 percent of road fatalities suffered by non-drivers and the amount that the federal government spends on their safety — less than one percent — may come as […]