Asthma, Puerto Rico and Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer

The New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Caucus held its 2006 Winter Conference at the Intercontinental Hotel, Resort & Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico from November 9-14. AAEA President Norris McDonald was a speaker on the panel entitled, "A Public Health Crisis in the Hispanic Community in New York and Puerto Rico." McDonald is pictured at left with the New York governor-elect at the 'Evening Reception: An Evening with Eliot Spitzer.

The asthma panel included an examination of the status of asthma in Hispanic communities across NY and Puerto Rico. The discussion included the physical and psychological impact of asthma and practical solutions that government and health care must address. Panelists also included Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY 7th), Sharon Carpenillo, Commissioner of NYS Office of Mental Health, among others and Mark J. Weinstein was the workshop coordinator. McDonald suggested that Puerto Rico could become the Japan of plug-in, fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles. Combined with nuclear power, the U.S. and Puerto Rico could go far in cleaning the air.