[Councilwoman Price response] Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I understand your position, although I don't think a resolution to support a public awareness campaign is as big of a waste of money and time as you think. The money associated with this item is nominal, at best, since the resolution is worded the same nationwide. There was no original work product associated with the creation of this resolution.
To be fair, I don't think your objection to this is really a fiscal resource allocation issue, it's the idea that the government might suggest what people should or should not eat. I agree that government has no business telling people what to eat. I don't think the resolution suggests that at all. It's a public awareness campaign designed to educate people to make healthier food options. Resolutions like this are voted on with bipartisan support regularly on national and local level to spread public awareness campaigns. We have as a nation, and as a City, approved a "Denim Day" resolution supporting wearing denim one day a year to support victims of sexual assault. We have approved "Red Dress" day to help encourage people getting more regular health screens in order to help lower heart disease. Similar campaigns and resolutions have been approved related to smoking, asbestos, vaccinations, etc. This is not a mandate, it's support for a public message.
I understand your position and am grateful that you reached out to share your view point with me. I really do value your position greatly. Let's be clear that you have every right to have whatever meal you choose 7 days a week and that will never change. You will always have that right.
I hope you have a good rest of the week.
On May 19, the Council voted 7-2 (Supernaw and Mungo dissenting) to have the City Attorney draft a formal resolution for Council approval. The formal resolution text comes to the Council for an enacting vote tonight (June 2.)
