The Buffalo News

According to studies, 57.5 percent of adults in Erie County are overweight or obese, while 25 percent of children in New York State are obese. In spite of these alarming statistics, the Tonawanda Town Board just approved Read More…

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

How disappointing that school leaders from the Webster, Le Roy and Gates Chili districts chose to criticize Comptroller DiNapoli’s audit of competitive foods, rather than absorb the facts. The audit revealed each of these districts failed to follow its own nutrition policy. Read More…

NYS Senate Back to Work; Calorie Labeling Bill Still a Priority of Governor Paterson

Governor Paterson continues to maintain that a calorie labeling bill is a priority for passage this year. Now that the NYS Senate has finally gotten back to work, we will let you know if and when the Senate begins to take action on calorie labeling. Read More…

Statewide Calorie Labeling Bill S.5665 Duane/A.8506 Ortiz Moving Well Through the Legislature
Governor Paterson’s calorie labeling bill introduced by Senator Duane and Assemblyman Ortiz, is moving well through both houses and we are hopeful it will pass this year. It still needs to pass through Senate and Assembly committees over the next few weeks (session ends June 22nd unless it is extended.)

If you have not contacted your local legislators and asked them to co-sponsor this bill, please do so ASAP. Your calls are making a difference as many new legislators have signed on to co-sponsor this past week.

We’re down to the wire so please make those calls!!!

To reach your Assembly member call the Assembly switchboard at 518.455.4100
To reach your Senate member call the Senate switchboard at 518.455.2800
To look up your Assembly member: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
To look up your Senate member: http://www.nysenate.gov/

Senator Oppenheimer Introduces a New Healthy Schools Bill S.5785
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, chair of the Senate Health Committee, introduced a Healthy Schools bill last week. The bill, which is a brand new compromise school nutrition bill, is definitely moving in the right direction. NYSHEPA will be putting out a supportive statement for Senator Oppenheimer’s efforts although we are not ready to support the bill just yet. We hope to tighten up some provisions before we throw our support behind the measure.

The bill addresses the issue of additional reimbursements (15 cents per meal starting in 2011-2012 school year) as well as setting school nutrition standards for the entire school day for cafeteria, a la carte and vending. I’ve attached a copy of the new bill, for your review. There is no same as in the Assembly, right now.

The Governor’s Healthy Schools Act does not seem to be moving right now, although that can always change.

Complete Streets Bills Introduced in NYS Legislature (S.5711/ A.8587) – Please sign our Memo of Support
Complete Streets bills were introduced in both the NYS Senate and Assembly recently. To read the bill, go to: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=a8587

Click on See Text for full bill text.

Our Memo of Support for the bill is attached. If your organization would like to sign on, please let me know ASAP.

More Local Calorie Labeling Measures Introduced in NYS
If our state bill does not pass this session, three counties will proceed to vote on strong calorie labeling laws that have been introduced. Those counties are Rockland, Nassau and Albany. NYC and three counties, Westchester, Ulster and Suffolk, have already passed strong calorie labeling measures.

Chairman Harkin, Ranking Member Chambliss, and members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, thank you for the opportunity to testify today about the need for reforming nutrition for children in school.  As a concerned mother and director of the New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance (NYSHEPA), I’ve been working to improve standards on both the local and state level since March 2002 - that’s when my then 10-year-old daughter came home from school and excitedly announced that she’d won a fitness contest in gym class. Her prize? A candy bar. Read More…

The Buffalo News

Gov. David Paterson’s bold proposal to add an 18 percent tax on sugary soft drinks makes a lot of sense. Soft drink manufacturers have spent millions to market their products to be consumed like water - anytime, anywhere and in excessive amounts. Read More…

Syracuse Post Standard

Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to add a tax on sugary soft drinks makes sense on many levels. Read More…