CONTACT: Rudy Arispe
(210) 207-8172

SAN ANTONIO (December 8, 2021) - San Antonio was recognized with an overall gold medal by CityHealth for passing policies that improve the health and well-being of its residents with initiatives that include complete streets, food safety, and access to pre-kindergarten, among others.
CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, works to advance a package of tried and tested policy solutions that ensure all people in the largest U.S. cities have access to healthy choices - and the opportunity to live healthy, full lives. Each year, cities are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals according to the strength and number of the policies they have in place.
"This acknowledgement by CityHealth is testament that San Antonio is committed to adopting policies to ensure our residents have a safe place to live and opportunities to improve their health and well-being amid a healthy environment," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.
Metro Health Director Claude A. Jacob added, "This overall gold medal ranking has proven that San Antonio continues to be on the right track in implementing policies for individuals to enjoy a greater quality of life through efforts, such as curbing tobacco use among young adults and smoke-free indoor air."
City Health's research closely examines whether the nation's 40 largest cities have nine key polices in place that experts say help residents lead healthier lives and make communities thrive. San Antonio earned a gold medal overall, demonstrating that city leaders understand the role of policy as a valuable prescription for public health.
San Antonio's 2021 CityHealth Medal Results are:

• Overall: Gold
• Complete Streets: Gold
• Healthy Food Procurement: Gold
• High Quality, Accessible Pre-Kindergarten: Gold
• Smoke-Free Indoor Air: Gold
• Tobacco 21: Gold
• Food Safety/Restaurant Inspection Ratings: Silver

The CityHealth policies where San Antonio did not earn a medal in 2021 are Affordable Housing, Earned Sick Leave, and Safer Alcohol Sales.
CityHealth policies include recommendations on employment benefits, education, affordable housing, active living and transportation, public safety, tobacco control, food safety and nutrition. Each recommendation is backed by evidence, supported by qualified experts and has a track record of bipartisan support. Learn more about CityHealth's policies and see how San Antonio compares to other large cities here.