Boston and Baltimore Mayors Jump Start City Food Policy Innovation
U.S. Conference of Mayors Food Policy Task Force Holds First Meeting at Winter Conference
Mayor Tom Menino (Boston) and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (Baltimore) U.S. Conference of Mayors-Washington DC
Prior to the meeting, the two Mayors exchanged good natured jibes and wagered a Lobster Dinner vs. Maryland Crabcakes on who would win last night’s NFC Championship game between the Patriots and Ravens. The Pats barely beat the Ravens in a nail-biter of a game – 23 to 20. No word on when Mayor Rawlings-Blake will send the crabcakes.
Nonetheless, it’s clear that good, healthy food is a key issue for both big city leaders. Mayor Menino kicked off the innovative City Food Policy Task Force with a well-received plenary speech on the importance of the upcoming farm bill for the nation’s cities. He then joined Mayor Rawlings-Blake and 16 fellow mayors for an hour’s discussion on the key role the Farm Bill plays in city food policy and a series of initiatives underway by Boston, Baltimore and other cities to improve nutrition, reduce obesity and strengthen urban food systems.
Mayor Menino was selected to Chair the Task Force, which will draft a City Policy Report to be considered by the full Plenary of Mayors at the annual meeting in Orlando this June. Emphasis will be on the Farm Bill and outlining best practices that cities have developed to address issues of food policy, nutrition, diet and obesity.
Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan spoke to the mayors about the many USDA programs that are available for to help cities as they overcome problems related to nutrition, diet and poverty. Some of the programs Merrigan highlighted included those that will help cities support urban food systems. The Deputy brought senior staff from Food and Nutrition Service and Inter-Governmental Affairs to ensure timely follow-up.
Key leadership and encouragement for the initiative came from policy advisors to several of the mayors including Edith Murnane (Boston), Paula Daniels (Los Angeles), Holly Frieshtat (Baltimore), Kim Kessler (NYC), Theresa Zawacki (Louisville) and Steve Cohen (Portland, ORegon). They had been meeting annually to discuss innovations during the Wholesome Wave City Food Policy Convenings in New York City in 2010 and 2011 .
