Melissa testified today before the NYC Board of Health regarding the proposed ban on large sugary drinks, explaining that this is a distraction from the real solutions to our obesity epidemic, such as the need for more youth recreation programs, school sports and physical education, increased funding and renovations for parks and open spaces, as well as increased access to healthy food programs in low-income communities.

Good morning, my name is Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. I represent District 8, which encompasses El Barrio/East Harlem, Manhattan Valley and part of Mott Haven in the Bronx. I appreciate the opportunity to speak before you today regarding Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed soda ban, which would prohibit the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages over 16 ounces by most food establishments.

Like the Bloomberg administration, I am very troubled by the city’s staggering rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes—which are especially high in communities of color like the one I represent. In fact, I have been working hard to address these epidemics in my community for a number of years. Although I share the Mayor’s goal for a healthier New York, I remain deeply concerned about this proposed ban for a number of reasons.

This proposed ban would be arbitrary and ineffective. Unlike the trans fat ban which was applied across the board, thereby creating a level playing field, this ban creates an un-level playing field; while the ban will cover soft drinks and teas at any establishment that receives a letter grade from the city’s Health Department including restaurants, fast-food restaurants, movie theaters, sports arenas and food carts, it does not prevent consumers from going next door to where they are eating to purchase a large soda at a grocery store or bodega.

This is a major concern for many local East Harlem food establishments – most of which are sandwiched between grocery stores, delis, and bodegas. I recently participated in a walking tour of East Harlem to see how the soda ban might affect our local businesses. After speaking face-to-face with restaurant owners, I am convinced that this ban will have an adverse economic impact on our community’s small businesses and could result in job losses.

In addition to hurting our small businesses, it is important to note that this proposed ban is a distraction—a proposal that attracts a lot of media attention and generates a lot of public discussion, but does not address the root causes of the obesity epidemic. As I stated in a letter to the editor published in the New York Times, it is ironic that while the mayor is touting the health benefits of his proposed ban, his Executive Budget would have denied young people exercise opportunities by cutting after-school recreation programs, if not for restorations by the City Council; school sports and physical education are severely underfunded; schools are being built without gyms; and community leagues are not given the resources that they need.

In East Harlem, more than one in three adolescents exercise fewer than 20 minutes a day, three days a week, as recommended, and teenagers in my community are three times less likely to have a daily gym class compared with students in other neighborhoods. Where are the bold proposals from the Bloomberg administration to reduce these disparities? The City should ensure that our schools meet the New York State mandate of 120 minutes of physical education per week; this is one way that we can lay the foundation for healthier lifestyles at an early age.

The administration should be focusing its attention on issues that will have a greater impact on public health than a beverage ban that might hurt small businesses. The City should be expanding youth recreation programs, school sports and open space, as well as creating programs to subsidize healthy food access and rehabilitating parks, playgrounds and indoor recreational spaces that would encourage New Yorkers to exercise. We need to get to the root of the problem which goes much deeper than the size of a cup of soda.
Thank you.

Melissa is featured in the Educational Video Center’s powerful new documentary on Stop and Frisk titled ‘Life Under Suspicion,’ which recently won an award from the New York Civil Liberties Union’s Freedom of Expression Contest. The film documents the criminalization of an entire generation of young men of color in New York City.

“The Educational Video Center has done a remarkable job empowering youth in our community,” said Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito. “This project is giving voice to those who are most victimized by the alienating stop-and-frisk policy. These young people are being trained to be journalists and documentary film makers who can fight this injustice and make a difference.”

This weekend, Melissa appeared on ABC’s Tiempo to discuss rise in gun violence in communities of color, the NYPD’s stop and frisk practices and the work of our Youth Violence Task Force.  Click here to watch the interview.  Be sure to watch Segments 2, 3 and 4.

Melissa also appeared on NY1 Noticias’ Pura Politica to discuss the ongoing campaign to provide earned paid sick leave to all New Yorkers.  Click here to watch that interview (in Spanish).

Melissa published a new piece on Huffington Post regarding her position on the East 91st Marine Transfer Station, which is part of the city’s larger Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP):

“A group of residents from the Upper East Side suddenly has a newfound interest in its neighbors to the north. Residents for Sane Trash Solutions, a group led by Upper East Siders, has waged a relentless and well-funded campaign to “save East Harlem-Yorkville” in an attempt to stop the construction of the municipal waste marine transfer station at 91st Street in Manhattan. Simply put, this group is exploiting East Harlem. By incorporating this neighborhood into its campaign, the group seeks to bind itself to the struggle of New York’s environmental justice communities, which have endured the hardships of environmental inequality for decades.”

Read the full post here.

New York (July 13, 2012) – Today, New York City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito denounced the intimidation tactics used against Puerto Rico House Representative Carmen Yulín Cruz-Soto. The Councilwoman expressed outrage regarding the incident and is concerned that more likely than not, it could occur again because Cruz-Soto is a woman.

“Unfortunately, it is still too few women who venture forth into elected office despite the fact that we represent over half the population. Carmen Yulín is an inspiring elected representative who is vocal and engaged, and has an impressive record of accomplishment. Perhaps it is for these reasons that she has been targeted. This incident is reflective of the lowest form of political campaigning,” denounced Mark-Viverito. “Carmen Yulín is one of those few people who have chosen to run for elective office for the right reasons, to represent her constituents with dignity, and to improve the quality of life and the future of Puerto Rico. As a woman, and as a Puerto Rican, she serves as an inspiration to me and many others.”

The New York Councilwoman expressed solidarity with the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) representative and candidate for Mayor of San Juan urging her to neither be intimidated by such tactics nor to be steered off course from her campaigning schedule.

Concejal Mark-Viverito condena acecho a Carmen Yulín

Nueva York (13 de julio de 2012) – La concejal del Distrio 8 en Nueva York, Melissa Mark-Viverito, denunció hoy las tácticas intimidatorias contra la representante Carmen Yulín Cruz-Soto. Mark-Viverito sostuvo que el incidente es preocupante e indignante; y añadió que es muy probable que haya ocurrido, y que pueda volver a ocurrir, porque Cruz-Soto es mujer.

“Desafortunadamente, todavía somos muy pocas las mujeres que incursionamos en la política, a pesar de representar poco más de la mitad de la población. Carmen Yulín es una de esas personas políticas muy vocales y activas, y lleva una trayectoria muy exitosa en su carrera. Serán esas las razones por las que le ocurre este tipo de incidente, que deben provenir del más bajo mundo politiquero que hayamos podido conocer”, denunció Mark-Viverito. “Carmen Yulín es una de esas personas que están en la política por las razones correctas, para representar con dignidad a sus constituyentes y para ayudar a mejorar la calidad de vida y el futuro de Puerto Rico”, aseguró.

La concejal neoyorquina se solidarizó con la representante del Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) y candidata a la alcaldía de San Juan, y la instó a no dejarse intimidar y continuar con su apretada agenda de campaña.