Corona, Queens has served as a home to immigrants, a hotspot for vendors, a community for private businesses, a place where diversity is celebrated and a location filled with hard working residents for decades. Over the years, the community has grown a reputation for being a location where all New York City residents are welcome. As you walk around you are greeted with bakeries and restaurants filled with food from all of the different parts of the globe. The 7 train rushes through the community, day to night as residents are working non-stop. The community truly contributes to New York’s well-known reputation of being “the city that never sleeps.”

Behind the beauty of Corona, the challenges and struggles residents face on a day to day basis aren’t invisible. Since 2010, the rent has continued to increase along with housing conditions for renters becoming nearly impossible to live in. Parents are sending their kids off to schools where less than half of students meet the English and Math grade level. Corona is a community that continues to face an increasing rate of preventable deaths along with a low rate of insured residents. Air pollution continues to be a recurring issue.  

During this pandemic, Corona, Queens faces the highest rate of COVID-19 related deaths and infections than any community in NYC. Corona, along with Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, relied heavily upon Elmhurst hospital, which was already at 80% of its total capacity. The growing rates of infection and death in Corona brought about more struggles - food insecurity and unaffordable rent prices started becoming a reality for many residents. The youth living in Corona struggled with the transition to remote learning, as many don’t have easy access to technology. Vendors and small businesses are struggling to last. Is this what Corona residents deserve? 

Currently, Corona has no operating hospital for the residents of the community.

The closest hospital is in Elmhurst, where its supplies are overextended as rates of occupancy in Queens are at a soaring 280,000 people per hospital. This vulnerable and unheard community does not deserve to be treated this way and left to fend for themselves during these unprecedented times of hardship - it is the city’s duty to help this ailing community. 

To action:

1. In order to help mitigate the healthcare issues currently affecting the neighborhood of Corona, Queens, the city of New York must evaluate which type of healthcare facility would be the most effective in the community, taking all factors into account (e.g. cost, public approval, projected utility, etc.) A medical facility is needed - it is the duty of the city and its government to determine which type of medical facility would be the most beneficial for the people of this neighborhood. These facilities would be at use of being accessible to the community. 

2. An idea without action is just a wish. It is no good to simply evaluate the type of medical facility that ought to be constructed in Corona, Queens - this facility must be constructed. It must not be constructed with the intention of building it for the sake of building it, rather, it must be built to last. It is the duty of the city to construct this medical facility with the intention of creating something that would last for years, providing a permanent solution to the healthcare issues the residents of Corona, Queens face.

3. Ensure that this facility will last for years to come in order to work towards and maintain a more sustainable and healthy future for all Corona residents in the community.