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Tag: New York City Mayor

  • NY Mayor Bloomberg Sounds Off on Trans Fat Ban

    Earlier today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a new classification for trans fats that would essentially ban partially hydrogenated oils from being used in food.

    While the proposal has reignited a national debate government regulation and public health, other parts of the U.S. have had trans fat bans for years. As with many public health laws, New York led the way with a limited ban on trans fats that was passed back in 2006. Philadelphia months later followed with its own trans fat ban. Many larger U.S. cities now ban trans fats from use in local restaurants.

    Having led the charge for the trans fat ban, New York Michael Bloomberg took today’s news as an opportunity to brag about his city’s foresight in leading the way to a trans fat ban.

    “Seven years ago we became the first city in the nation to prohibit restaurants from using trans fats,” said Bloomberg. “Since then, at least 15 states and localities have followed suit and banned trans fats – and more than ten fast food chains have eliminated trans fats entirely. Today, we’re greatly encouraged that the FDA proposed measures that would virtually eliminate the artery-clogging and unnecessary ingredient from our nation’s food supply.”

    The mayor went on to point out other public health initiatives that New York has led the way on. The city was one of the first to ban smoking in restaurants, a health measure that has now spread widely throughout the U.S. The city was also first to require restaurants to provide calorie information for their menus, something that is now mandated in the U.S.

    New York’s latest high-profile health initiative was a ban on large sugary drinks in restaurants. That mandate was struck down by a New York Appeals Court back in July.

    “Our prohibition on trans fats was one of many bold public health measures that faced fierce initial criticism, only to gain widespread acceptance and support,” said Bloomberg. “Smoke-free restaurants and bars are now the norm in much of the country and increasingly around the world. Calorie counts are now required at all restaurants chains in the United States. The groundbreaking public health policies we have adopted here in New York City have become a model for the nation for one reason: they’ve worked. Today, New Yorkers’ life expectancy is far higher than the national average, and we’ve achieved dramatic reductions in disease, including heart disease. The FDA deserves great credit for taking this step, which will help Americans live longer, healthier lives.”

  • Bill de Blasio Leads Polls In NYC Mayoral Primary

    Bill de Blasio, the 52-year-old underdog of the New York City Democrat Mayoral Primary held Tuesday, has reportedly ended up as the race frontrunner. Political analysts have projected de Blasio to win in a landslide victory over his fellow candidates, namely former Comptroller of New York, Bill Thompson (who previously ran unsuccessfully in the 2009 Mayoral Election) and predicted favorite Christine Quinn (the first openly homosexual female candidate.) The final results have not been officially determined in the city; however, as ballots are continuing to be counted de Blasio has racked up 40.2% (of the 98% of the votes reported.) That being said, de Blasio has already won the minimum 40% of votes he would need in order to almost guarantee a ‘W.’

    De Blasio is currently the New York City public advocate, who only weeks ago had been cast aside as a remote fourth in various voter projections. The Brooklyn native topped the polls in every borough in nearly every Democratic group of voters. De Blasio ran on the pretenses of repairing flaws and issues that “had been ignored by the Bloomberg administration.” After three consecutive four-year terms under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, citizens of New York have mixed emotions regarding the current stage of politics in “The Big Apple.” An overwhelming approval rating of 46% of voters support what has occurred during Bloomberg’s time as Mayor. Regardless, New Yorkers are showing tonight in their support of what looks like a de Blasio win that they, too, want to move in a different direction.

    De Blasio has been vocal in his support of issues such as education and schools, and employment; he has also been extremely public with his opinion on the previous administration’s lack of gusto when it comes to dealing with specific issues, ones that he believes Bloomberg’s office typically ignores. The de Blasio campaign utilized a concept discussed in Charles Dickens’ novel “A Tale of Two Cities” – the realization of the social and economic inequality throughout the vast city. Although not expected, de Blasio’s tax the wealthy concept has apparently caught the approval of the city’s inhabitants.

    De Blasio recently stated in a comment made earlier in his campaign, “Tonight is for every one of you out there who have ever been counted out.” But, by the way things are starting to conclude tonight, it doesn’t look like anyone will be counting him out in the near future.

    Image courtesy @BilldeBlasio via Twitter.

  • New York Gas Rationing Begins in Storm’s Wake

    New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg this week signed an emergency order establishing gas rationing throughout the city. The implemented system uses odd-even license plate numbers to designate alternating days on which customers can purchase gasoline and diesel fuel. Commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, busses, doctors, and taxis are all exempt.

    The mayor stated that the rationing was needed to reduce wait times and long lines at gas stations. Flooding and winds from Hurricane Sandy damaged the petroleum infrastructure in and around New York City. Some refineries were shut down, terminals in the region were closed, and many pumping stations lost electricity. According to Bloomberg, most of the region’s infrastructure has been restored and the supply of gas in rising. According to the mayor’s office, the rationing will “ease disruptions and wait times for drivers attempting to fuel their vehicles.

    “Last week’s storm hit the fuel network hard – and knocked out critical infrastructure needed to distribute gasoline,” said Bloomberg. “Even as the region’s petroleum infrastructure slowly returns to normal, the gasoline supply remains a real problem for thousands of New York drivers. Earlier today, I signed an emergency order to alternate the days that drivers can purchase gas, which is the best way to cut down the lines and help customers buy gas faster.”

    NYPD officers have been dispatched to all open gas stations in each of the five boroughs, and will remain there to “maintain public safety.”

  • Bloomberg’s Social Media Headache: Too Much Criticism

    Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York traveled to Singapore to accept the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prizaward for outstanding leadership and achievement in sustainable policy. It’s an international award given out biennially that celebrates sustainable urban policies that are cost-effective and practical.

    Despite the fact that Bloomberg maintains an outstanding social media presence, he warned citizens of Singapore of the downfalls of social media when it comes to leading a community.

    In the following statements Bloomberg addresses his frustrations with leading a city where social media offers constant criticism and commentary on what decisions and policies are being made:

    “Social media is going to make it even more difficult to make long-term investments”

    “We are basically having a referendum on every single thing that we do every day,”

    “And it’s very hard for people to stand up to that and say, ‘No, no, this is what we’re going to do,’ when there’s constant criticism, and an election process that you have to look forward to and face periodically.”

    Singaporean professor Kishore Mahbubani, who presided over the ceremony, responded to Bloomberg with enthusiasm:

    “I think the Singapore government sympathizes with your point about social media,”

    “We are having the same daily referendums in Singapore.”

    Mayor Bloomberg has not been available to clarify on what exactly he meant with the comments, but some folks in New York have taken the statements to heart and feel that Bloomberg intended the remarks as an insult to the city.

    In his stead, Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson attempted to clarify the meaning of the mayors comments:

    “The immediacy of social media, he has found, creates both opportunities — for information-sharing and for citizen empowerment — and challenges, for governments, for businesses, for media, to see beyond the next tweet, or the next blog post,”

    “It’s more about planning for the next 20 years as opposed to the next 20 minutes,”

    We’ll wait to see what the mayor has to say when he returns from his travels in Asia. It seems the remarks were simply taken the wrong way by folks who live in New York.