Posted on 04/16/2010 8:31:37 AM PDT by Maelstorm
Half of all community districts in Queens lack reliable access to fresh and healthy foods, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The problem has contributed to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases — the leading cause of death in the United States. In many high-need communities like Jamaica and Far Rockaway, which have been labeled “food deserts” by lawmakers, corner delicatessens or bodegas are the only convenient sources of food, and while most may stock up on canned items, few offer fresh produce and meats.
Additionally, the USDA reports that 23.5 million people in the United States live more than one mile from a supermarket. Residents who can’t drive, don’t own a vehicle or lack public transportation may find themselves with no other option than to purchase preserved foods. In most of these cases, delivery isn’t an option, either. While trucks from companies like FreshDirect, which offers many organic food options, are ubiquitous in affluent and middle-class neighborhoods, the company doesn’t offer delivery service to Far Rockaway, and only services parts of Jamaica. Fortunately, help may be on the way. Advocacy groups and legislators this week announced the launch of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, a federal program spearheaded in part by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) and Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn and Manhattan), in coordination with First Lady Michelle Obama, who included the initiative in her “Let’s Move” program to fight childhood obesity. The program would invest $1 billion through loans and grants to build more than 2,000 grocery stores in high-needs communities across the country, including 273 in New York City. President Barack Obama has set aside $345 million in his FY2011 budget for the effort, which lawmakers say would also create about 200,000 new jobs nationally, including 26,000 in the city. “Low-income communities face higher incidences of obesity and diabetes and a big part of the problem is the lack of access to healthy foods,” Velazquez said. “This initiative is about empowering families to make healthier food choices so they live longer.” In New York City, 21.5 percent of the population, and 55 percent of adults, are overweight or obese, according to a 2009 New York Department of Health Report. The department also determined that an estimated 530,000 city residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, while approximately 260,000 more may be living with diabetes and not know it. Cardiovascular illnesses, including heart disease and strokes, kill 70,000 New Yorkers each year, the DOH reported. “We have a health crisis in this country in terms of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, that is disproportionately impacting low-income people and communities of color,” said Angela Glover, founder and chief executive officer of PolicyLink, a national research and action institute. “Nationally, only 8 percent of African Americans currently live in a census tract with a supermarket, and far too many blacks and Latinos reside in areas underserved by a grocery store. “To ensure that people are eating healthy diets, we must push to make healthier choices available in their neighborhoods. With the announcement of this new legislation, we are taking a pro-active step towards fresh food access and creating jobs in communities that have struggled without both for far too long,” Glover said.
Isn't this one of the most stupid things? I mean if you can't find fresh food in Queens then you must be an idiot. Does everyone now deserve a Wholefoods next door? What is going to happen is they are going to waste these funds on another billion dollars in bad loans that most likely won't be repaid because the stores will go out of business. Also Walmart tried to build a superstore in Queens and guess what the local politicians and activist groups steamrolled the idea. So screw them.
Wal-Mart Drops Plans for Its First Store in New York City
http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/bails_newyorkcity.php
Most retarded waste of government money in history.
They’ll put existing businesses out of business and they’ll have to subsidize these Gov’t Grocers forever.
No, they just want someone to bring them free food to their houses so they won’t have to get off their lazy a$$es and actually have to do something for themselves.
Nonsense. I was born and raised in Queens. My mother still lives there. If you can’t find a GROCERY STORE in Queens, there is something seriously wrong with you.
Regards,
Does everyone now deserve a Wholefoods next door?
Yes, it is now one of the basic rights, like health care, internet with broadband, housing, transportation, etc.
I recently moved to a house where it’s about 4 miles to the grocery store. I demand one be built closer to my home!
Plus, I want a farmer’s market next door!
A few years ago the news out of Detroit was about the chain retailers were packing up and leaving town because there was no money to be made there.
Unintended consequence will be to put the bodegas out of business.
That ought to go over well.
I want a pipeline that delivers beer to my house. Infrastructure.
Growing up we lived more than 30 minutes away from the grocery store but then again we grew our own food and hunted and fished and had cows, chickens, pigs, et. What gets me is that they suggest that obesity is caused by not having a grocery store within walking distance. It is crazy idiocy and just another indicator of our entitlement society.
Not true.
Recent phenomonon in TX, pizza joints opening up that deliver unbaked pizzas and other items to food stamp recipients.
Regulars customers often find their pizzas got accidentally baked, and by ordering the expensive pies, salads, breadsticks and whatnot wind up in the order.
There’s no end to the food stamp fraud potential in NY. Do you really think they’ll be on the phone demanding delivery of butternut squash and fresh green beans?
The corner deli makes a "food desert"?
Lack of reliable food in... Queens?
If this isn't from the Onion, then Gabriel really, truly needs to blow his horn NOW.
We we visited NY...we had no difficulty in finding ANY KIND of store you wanted....and I’m from TEXAS!
The city of Dallas subsidized a downtown grocery for a while, it was a real stupid idea. The city of Dallas owns a radio station and is starting on a $500 million city-owned hotel in a depressed market where the hotels can’t get enough business.
Fresh vegetables are often sold out of the back of vans in those nabes..
But they don’t pay taxes so they don’t count.
All they needed was a federal subsidy I guess
I couldn’t believe it when I read it. This is wrong on so many levels.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.