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Bill de Blasio Says He Will Totally Try To Ban Big Soda, Too
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Oct 19, 2013
Modified Oct 19, 2013
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Oct 19, 2013
Modified Oct 19, 2013
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It turns out probably-Future-Mayor de Blasio shares something in common with Bloomberg that juuuuust might rile up some haterz; he's a big fan of Bloomberg's controversial soda ban, and he plans to push it through when he's elected.
The proposed ban, which would have outlawed certain food establishments and concession stands from selling sugared drinks in cups larger that 16 ounces, was ruled unconstitutional in NYC Supreme Court and the state's appeals court earlier this year, but the city's been trying to get it appealed again in the New York Court of Appeals. And though de Blasio (wisely) hasn't done much to align himself with Bloomberg lately, he says he'll take up the mayor's fight when he's in office. "I think the mayor is right and I would continue the legal process. We have to, of course, look at the specifics with our own lawyers to handle the mechanics, but there’s no question I want to see this rule go through," he said yesterday. START STOCKPILING THE COCA-COLA, BILL'S COMING FOR OUR CUPS, Y'ALL.
De Blasio says that as a parent of two totally awesome city kids, he's concerned about rising obesity rates, particularly among young New Yorkers. "You know, it takes a lot of energy to keep on top of kids and make sure they do the right thing," he told WCBS 880′s Rich Lamb. "Unfortunately, as parents, it feels like every day we’re fighting an enemy and that is the growing availability of bigger and bigger sugary drinks." Like Bloomberg, de Blasio links childhood obesity in part to oversized drink cups, and after speaking with Bloomberg’s Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, sees the ban as a solid way to curb it. "[Farley] said when we were growing up a typical Coca-Cola was 6.6 ounces,” de Blasio said. “The largest available individual drink in a fast food restaurant today is 64 ounces—10 times more.”
And so, de Blasio vows to pick up Bloomberg's soda-beating staff and carry it with to small cub victory one day. What's next—reinstatement of Stop and Frisk? Condos turning East New York into East BushWillBurgStuy? A dashing collection of comfort sweaters? Terrible Spanish? Is de Blasio just Bloomberg in disguise?
But really, there are some very good arguments for the soda ban, so don't start sporting that Lhota pin just yet.
Tagged
soda ban
department of health
bloomberg
thomas farley
de Blasio
Rebecca Fishbein
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