SOUTH BRONX — A state assemblywoman has introduced a bill that would set aside $50 million in state funds for the city to help prevent future outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in the midst of the worst outbreak in city history.
State Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner introduced legislation on Tuesday to provide the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Department of Environmental Protection with up to $50 million to continually test cooling towers for legionella, the bacteria that causes the disease.
The assemblywoman's statement gave few details, but she said the law would take effect as soon as it passed.
"With more than 100 people having been hospitalized to date, we need to act now to prevent this outbreak from ever becoming a concern for the future," Joyner said in a statement. "Taking steps today to protect the well-being of our communities by instituting measures that can prevent the legionella bacteria from resurfacing is the right course of action."
The $50 million would likely not be a recurring payment, according to Joyner's office.
Joyner represents the 77th Assembly District, which encompasses Bronx neighborhoods including Highbridge, one of the main areas that the city says the outbreak has affected. Her district also covers Concourse, where nearby buildings including the Bronx County Hall of Justice and Concourse Plaza were found to be infected with the bacteria.
The outbreak has left 12 people dead and infected 113 more, although Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference Monday that no one has gotten sick with Legionnaires' disease since Aug. 3 and the illness now appears to be waning.
City officials recently outlined their own proposed legislative response to the outbreak, including registering cooling towers with the Department of Buildings and requiring them to be inspected on a quarterly basis.
A total of 18 buildings have tested positive for legionella so far, including seven outside of the impact zone.
