Sen. Gillibrand Proposes More Fresh Food Stores

Sen. Gillibrand Proposes More Fresh Food Stores

NEW YORK—Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said on Monday she is looking to build 2,100 grocery stores in so-called “food deserts” in New York and throughout the country.

The proposal would use $1 billion in federal grants and loans to provide fresh produce and other food for communities that need it.

Three million New Yorkers live in “food deserts,” and have virtually no access to nutritious and fresh foods, said Gillibrand who was joined by Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) and other elected officials.

In New York City alone, 273 stores would be built within city limits and 350 statewide. The stores would be constructed mainly in low-income areas.

The legislation was authored by Sen. Gillibrand who is coordinating the effort with first lady Michelle Obama, and was also sponsored with Rep. Velazquez and endorsed by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. It will provide some 200,000 new jobs across the United States. New York would get 26,000 extra jobs if the legislation is passed.

“Obesity and diabetes rates are reaching crisis proportions in our country and it is time to take aggressive action,” said Sen. Gillibrand. “Millions of New Yorkers do not have access to fresh, healthy food.”

She added, “By building new grocery stores in underserved areas across the state we can give people the opportunity to live longer, healthier, lives, save billions in health care costs, and create tens of thousands of good paying jobs.”

President Barack Obama has already proposed similar measures, dedicating $345 million for his 2010-2011 budget proposal.

Rep. Velazquez said low-income households face higher obesity and diabetes rates because they “lack access to healthy foods.”

She added that the legislation is capable of “empowering” low-income families by giving them access to better food choices.

Rep. Velazquez is introducing Sen. Gillibrand's legislation, called the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, in the House of Representatives and is being supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, PolicyLink, and City Council Member Margaret Chin.

According to a report released in January by the Food Research and Action Center, several congressional districts within New York City were rated as the hungriest districts.

The 16th Congressional District in the South Bronx was rated the top hungriest district while the 10th Congressional District in Brooklyn ranked No. 6. Seven out of the 13 congressional districts in New York City face food hardships.

The New York City Department of City Planning released a report which noted that 83 percent of Brooklyn residents and 75 percent of Bronx residents have no have access to fresh and healthy food. Queens and Manhattan were at 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively.