— IN THE PAST WEEK —
Vallone Leads Hearing on 16-Bill Package That Seeks to Dramatically Improve
NYC Food Policy and School Lunches
On Wednesday, Council Member Paul A. Vallone, in his role as chair of the
Committee on Economic Development, led a joint hearing with the Committees
on Education and General Welfare where a package of 16 bills and two
Resolutions relating to New York City’s Food Policy were heard. The bills
coincide with Speaker Johnson’s recently announced food platform, which
includes expanding existing food programs and tying economic opportunity to
farming and nutrition, all under a comprehensive citywide plan coordinated
by a newly empowered Office of Food Policy.
Council Member Vallone sponsored a bill that seeks to increase reporting on
the city’s food system. Currently, the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy
publishes an annual Food Metrics Report, which provides a snapshot of a
variety of city initiatives related to food. However, this report does not
provide enough information for the City to adequately tackle food
insecurity. For example, the report outlines the number of individuals 65
or older who receive SNAP benefits, but does not track the number of people
eligible for public food programs but are not enrolled.
Vallone’s bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Johnson, would mandate more
comprehensive reporting on topics including changing patterns of food
available in retail stores, density of fast food establishments and metrics
on populations experiencing food insecurity. These findings would be
reported on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis and be used to address the
gaps in health and food access that still persist in the city and create
future city policy that better addresses food governance and waste, school
lunches, urban agriculture and overall access to healthy food.
“In the greatest city in the world, we cannot stand idle while over one
million of our New Yorkers face food insecurity,” said Council Member
Vallone. “This bill will allow us to take an in-depth look at food
production, distribution and access in the five boroughs, a critical step
in developing the equitable and transformative food policy strategies of
tomorrow. I thank City Council Speaker Johnson for bringing attention to
this important issue and I am proud to collaborate with him on this
impactful piece of legislation and chair this vital hearing.”
“Our children cannot learn on an empty stomach,” added Vallone. “An
in-depth look at the types of meals we are providing to our city’s over 1
million public school students will help us ensure our kids are being
served nutritious food that will help them do their best inside and outside
of the classroom.”
Read Coverage:
[1]Queens Courier
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Vallone Decries DeBlasio Subsidy to One of the Worst-Performing School Bus
Companies
[2]
"One of the city’s worst-performing school bus companies is also one of the
most expensive for taxpayers – collecting a special subsidy from Mayor de
Blasio that other firms don’t get.
Reliant Transportation had the second most delays and breakdowns in recent
school years, but Hizzoner has still poured hundreds of millions into the
company after fundraising thousands from its executives and workers.
Reliant executive Alex Lodde, for example, donated $100,000 to de Blasio’s
efforts to flip the state Senate Democrat in 2014, with the cash steered
toward the Putnam County Democratic Committee.
The company’s school buses logged 28,963 delays and 3,367 breakdowns in the
last four school years, according to a Daily News analysis of city figures.
Just over 99% of Reliant’s delays and breakdowns were for buses carrying
special education students.
"The Mayor routinely circumvents the City Council to funnel funds directly
to unreliable Reliant Transportation," Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Queens)
said. "It comes as no surprise that Reliant can't even be bothered to get
our students to school on time, despite receiving the largest school bus
contract in the city.”
“This mayoral overreach, which costs taxpayers millions of dollars each
year while yielding poor results for our city's students and families, must
come to an end," said Vallone, who was one of six Council members who voted
against the original 2014 grant."
Read More:
[3]NY Daily News
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— MORE NEWS —
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Early Morning Visit to PS 41!
Great visit to PS 41 Monday morning, where I helped out with some of the
start-of-day announcements! Always a pleasure speaking with Principal Joe
Ferrara and Assistant Principal Caroline Galan about the great things
happening at this school!
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Swearing in the Auburndale Improvement Association Board
It was a pleasure swearing in the new Auburndale Improvement Association
Board at the group's monthly meeting on Tuesday! Our civic associations are
the ears and eyes of our communities and I look forward to our continued
work together.
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Celebrating the Signing of Our Constitution
Fun Tuesday night commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution at
King Manor, a New York City Landmark right here in the great borough of
Queens!
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Join Us For Our Final Outdoor Movie Night of the Year!
The summer may be winding down, but we still have one more outdoor movie to
enjoy this fall!
Mark your calendars and bring a chair, find a great spot, and enjoy the
show!
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Thanks for reading! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do
not hesitate to contact my office.
Sincerely,
Hon. Paul A. Vallone
New York City Council, District 19
42-40 Bell Boulevard, Suite 507
Bayside, New York 11361
718.619.8611
[email protected]
Follow me on [4]Facebook, [5]Twitter and [6]Instagram
References
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