The coalition of community, labor, academic, professional organizations and individuals supporting this forum came together to ensure that issues relating to public health and access to health care would become a key focus in the upcoming citywide elections. The topics discussed here reflect our concerns for the state of public health in the City of New York. We hope that this forum will trigger, between now, January 16 and the November elections, a full airing of the positions on these issues by all of the candidates for Mayor of the City of New York (NYC).