Contact: Jonah Allon, [email protected]; 929-291-8881
“When it comes to promoting food justice and equity, Brooklyn Borough Hall hasn’t just talked the talk; we’ve walked the walk. Under my administration, we have notched important victories in the fight against health disparities and food insecurity. We’ve catalyzed a movement for City agencies to introduce Meatless Mondays in schools and hospitals; gotten the City to end its procurement of processed meat; invested millions of capital dollars in rooftop farms and hydroponic gardens; partnered with Bellevue Hospital on a revolutionary plant-based lifestyle medicine program that has a wait list of more than 600 people to date; mobilized hundreds of families and advocates in major demonstrations to demand the Department of Education serve healthy, scratch-cooked meals, and so much more.
“But our work is far from done. I am glad to hear that Speaker Johnson is fast-tracking legislation authored by me and Council Member Espinal, a great champion for food justice, to boost the growth of urban agriculture in the five boroughs. Our bill to create the City’s first-ever comprehensive urban agriculture plan — which has been sponsored by 46 City Council members and Public Advocate Williams — is essential to untangling the bureaucracy that’s holding back the multi-billion dollar potential of this local industry. Urban farming is a win-win-win-win for our city: It makes communities healthier and more equitable, reduces our carbon footprint through reduced trucking, enhances local resiliency, and beautifies our neighborhoods. I thank Speaker Johnson for adding his support for Intro 1058 and our push for the City to use its procurement policy to promote healthier lifestyles. Cutting agency purchases of processed meat was a start, but now we need to make investments in more plant-based options and healthier ingredients, starting in our school cafeterias. The City shouldn’t be in the business of feeding the health care crisis, and we must be even bolder in combating the twin challenges of Big Pharma and Big Farm that are profiting off our poor health,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams.
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