Top NYC Officials Speak in Support of Hunger Relief

Posted At: February 16, 2010 12:23 PM | Posted By: Food Bank
Related Categories: Nutrition & Food, Public Policy & Legislation, Government Supports, Events & Campaigns

by Daniel Buckley

Every year, the Food Bank For New York City convenes our Annual Agency Conference — the largest gathering of our city’s hunger relief community — for workshops, a panel discussion, keynote speeches and more to strengthen our city’s response to hunger.

In addition to members of our food program network and other hunger-relief organizations throughout the five boroughs, leading legislators, policy makers and academics often attend, adding their voice and support to the struggle to end hunger. At this year’s conference – January 12, 2010 – the Food Bank was honored to provide a forum for NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Comptroller John Liu and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to present their views and goals on subjects ranging from food stamps to food production.

While we face drastic cuts to emergency food proposed by New York City and State, the appearance of four of our city’s most prominent leaders at the Food Bank’s conference shows that there is strong awareness and support of the needs of low-income New Yorkers in city government.

Their words give us hope for the future of our city – please take a moment to hear them for yourself:

NYC COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN

“I can’t actually imagine how difficult and challenging your job is every day, to see people in so much need…And we all pledge to do everything we can, as soon as we can, to put you all out of business.”

PUBLIC ADVOCATE BILL DE BLASIO

“[T]here are very few things that the government does that are more fundamental than making sure the people of this city are fed. So let’s stop having emergency food be a political football and actually move forward and make sure that the city is providing sufficient funding.”

COMPTROLLER JOHN LIU

“The fact of the matter is, in New York City, we still have too many people hungry, or not getting enough nutrition or just not being able to live a healthy life – and in this day and age that’s totally unacceptable.”