"“While obesity is a serious public health issue, it is puzzling that the Mayor seems more concerned with the possible long term effects of sugary drinks than the potential instantaneous results of a bicycle crash, such as a traumatic brain injury,” Mr. Liu said. ”As thousands who are unfamiliar with the City’s terrain are set to hit the streets this summer through the bike share program, the Mayor should reconsider his opposition to the City Council’s helmet legislation.”
Christine Quinn, the City Council speaker and a mayoral ally, pointed out that the key to getting people to eat healthier is to give them healthier options, and said during an avail today that she was concerned about the ban being excessively punitive.
Fighting the obesity epidemic comes down to personal decisions and that’s why knowledge about nutrition is important because with it, people can make healthier choices. Another important factor is access to healthier foods. We’ve seen that if better choices are available, people will often take advantage of them. That’s why we’ve expanded Green Markets and the EBT program. However, limiting people’s choices is not about knowledge, empowerment or access. It seems punitive and I worry that in the end, this proposal won’t yield a positive result. Because after all, the person who doesn’t understand why it’s not healthy to drink 18oz of sugared soda, is simply going to get two 10oz cans or extra refills.
A spokesman in Manhattan borough president Scott Stringer’s office said that he hadn’t yet received a briefing on the plan from the mayor’s office and is still evaluating it.
We have reached out to the other contenders, including former City Comptroller Bill Thompson and public advocate Bill de Blasio, and will update with their responses when we receive them."
http://politicker.com/2012/05/2013ers-skeptical-of-bloomberg-soda-ban/
