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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.”
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Queens Courier
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