The City Spurs Grocery Stores to Underserved
The Bloomberg administration, which has already cut down on trans fats and distributed fruit vendors to produce-anemic neighborhoods, is now seeking to provide incentives for grocery stores to open in areas where most families spend their food budget at bodegas and drug stores. The City Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposal on Wednesday, reports The…
The Bloomberg administration, which has already cut down on trans fats and distributed fruit vendors to produce-anemic neighborhoods, is now seeking to provide incentives for grocery stores to open in areas where most families spend their food budget at bodegas and drug stores. The City Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposal on Wednesday, reports The New York Times, which would grant zoning and tax incentives to grocery stores, with set requirements about how much produce and other foods they sell. The city is eying northern Manhattan, central Brooklyn, the South Bronx, and downtown Jamaica in Queens. Many city officials, food experts, and grocery store executives approve of the plan, meant to spur economic growth in addition to encouraging health (and fighting the rising rates of obesity and diabetes), but the Times mentions a recent report to Congress by the Department of Agriculture that shows an uncertain correlation between obesity and access to healthy, fresh foods. Avi Kaner, a supermarket operator, said education is the main solution. If you force distribution of product to a population that’s not interested in it, or not educated in it, and the grocery stores can’t make a profit, he told the Times, they’ll eventually leave. Check out the Times article for more details about the program, similar programs across the country, and a finer breakdown of the pros and cons.
A Plan to Add Supermarkets to Poor Areas [NY Times]
FRESH Food Store Program Overview [DOCP]
NYC’s Neighborhood Grocery Store and Supermarket Shortage [DOCP]
Photo by Royce Bair
People generally overestimate the calories they are burning with exercise, and they may reward themselves by eating more. Additionally, many studies have found was that diet plus aerobic exercise provides only a very marginal benefit (in terms of weight loss) when compared to diet alone.
This is NOT to say that physical activity isn’t important. It just points out that it isn’t everything. Sedentary lifestyles aren’t great, but they are almost certainly not the reason that obesity rates have skyrocketed in recent years.
That is more likely the direct result of portion sizes, processed foods, high fructose corn syrup, corporate junk food subsidies, engineered and processed everything, and the altogether human propensity to eat what is put in front of oneself – the doughier and higher calorie the “better”.
it’s funny cuz kids are exposed to WAY more criminals and perverts online on the computers in their bedrooms than they would be playing outside.
*rob*
“If it is less safe it’s because everyone keeps there kids in cuz they think it’s less safe.”
Denton, it might be a self-fulfilling prophesy to an extent for sure.
No, things are NOT that much worse. Crimes by strangers against children are not more common, just more publicized (especially if said children are white, in which case they go on 24-hour rotation on cable).
My daughter takes the subway alone all the time; started doing so in sixth grade when she was 11.5.
biff, I don’t think it’s factually less safe. When I was a kid there were pedophiles all over the hood. If it is less safe it’s because everyone keeps there kids in cuz they think it’s less safe. Also with AC and TV, you don’t see adults hanging out on the stoops in the evenings anymore a la Jane Jacobs, keeping things safe.
biff and nsr, valid point. What’s worrisome is have things gotten that much worse than 25 years ago or has the definiton of safe changed. Granted I grew up in a rural area, but I had little concept that I would ever be un safe, ignorant-maybe.
Later that night I told my father what had happened. He was not fazed in the least that we had taken the subways so far. He WAS thrilled that the token clerk had scolded me on the value of money.
Posted by: benson at September 24, 2009 2:59 PM
And now we have to suffer through your scoldings day-in and day-out. 🙂
Biff at this point we’re wondering if we’re ever going to see the kid. My MIL is already blocking out a bedroom for it in her apt. and has said we can visit whenever we want. She’s shipping me food (Omaha Steaks- I need iron). She calls me every day to see how I’m doing.
We’re already looking into the details of what’s involved with regard to restraining orders.
Chinatown, while affordable, can be hard to navigate for the uninitiated–incredibly crowded with little English spoken. I imagine it’s overwhelming for many non-Chinese–and has been for me at times.
Posted by: tinarina at September 24, 2009 12:53 PM
tinarina, there’s a street market of veggies on Mulberry just south of Canal.
Lots of fresh fish places (and fruit-veggie stores) on Mott between Hester and Grand, starting a block north of Canal.
No problem for a non-Chinese and/or non-Chinese-speaker. Close to the B/D at Grand or the N/Q/6/J/M/Z at Canal and Centre St.
The Hong Kong Supermarket on Allen and East Broadway burned down but the former Dynasty supermarket on Hester and Elizabeth is now part of the Hong Kong chain. (Gee I wonder about that fire!) There’s another huge supermarket, with better fruits and vegetables, just east of East Broadway under the Manhattan Bridge, not far from the East Broadway stop on the F train.