At the start of the new mayoral administration and the 2026 New York City Council term, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is calling on city leaders to join the fight against cancer by embracing three policy priorities that will help more New Yorkers prevent cancer, detect it early and get connected to care as soon as possible. This starts with expanding access to paid time off for cancer screening, investing in patient navigation services and ending the sale of menthol cigarettes.
The following statement from Michael Davoli, senior government relations director for ACS CAN in New York, outlines each legislative proposal in the following statement:
“Cancer remains a leading cause of death in New York City, driven largely by two factors: gaps in access to care and tobacco use. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City Council have a clear opportunity to address both by guaranteeing workers paid time-off for preventive medical care, strengthening patient navigation services and ending the sale of menthol cigarettes.
“Early detection saves lives, yet too many New Yorkers delay or skip screenings because taking time off work means losing wages or risking their job. Ensuring paid time off for preventive medical care would remove that barrier and allow workers to prioritize their health without financial consequences. In doing so, New York City would become a national leader in reimaging paid time off as a tool for prevention and early detection, not just treatment and recovery.
“Even when people do get screened, the path to survivorship is winding, complex and filled with barriers, thanks to the nature of our health care system. Investing in patient navigation services helps bridge the gaps by connecting patients to trusted, community-based support that guides them from screening through treatment and survivorship. Focusing these investments in neighborhoods with the highest cancer mortality rates would improve outcomes, strengthen continuity of care and save lives.
“At the same time, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable cancer deaths. Menthol cigarettes, in particular, have fueled this epidemic in our city, and Black and Brown New Yorkers have disproportionately been impacted due to decades of targeted, nefarious marketing by the tobacco industry. Ending the sale of menthol cigarettes would reduce smoking initiation, increase quit attempts and help prevent future generations from becoming addicted, as other cities have already demonstrated.
“Cancer prevention, early detection and quality treatment should not depend on whether someone can afford to miss a day’s pay, whether they can navigate our health care system or whether their neighborhood is saturated with menthol cigarettes. Together, these proposals address the root causes of cancer deaths by expanding access to timely screening, providing essential patient support and reducing exposure to a deadly, addictive product. The Mayor and City Council have both the power and the responsibility to act, and the cancer community urges them to move swiftly to pass these measures and reaffirm New York City’s commitment to health equity, prevention and saving lives.
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage our volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states and our nation’s capital. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.