Q&A
Council Member Riley discusses chronic disease, Intro 641, and fentanyl test strips with DOHMH
1:01:35
·
4 min
Council Member Kevin C. Riley engages in a Q&A session with DOHMH representatives, discussing chronic disease outreach in Co-op City, enforcement challenges with Intro 641 regarding nutrition standards for kids' meals, and the distribution of fentanyl test strips.
- Riley expresses interest in collaborating with DOHMH for community outreach in Co-op City
- DOHMH representatives explain enforcement concerns with Intro 641 and agree to follow up for further discussions
- Brief discussion on the timeline and usage of fentanyl test strips
Kevin C. Riley
1:01:35
Thank you, chair Shulman.
1:01:37
How you doing, commissioner?
1:01:38
So I just wanna piggyback off of council member Narcisse.
1:01:41
I'm happy to hear about the surveys.
1:01:44
I represent the largest retirement community in the nation, which is Co op City, which is built around the New England three way.
1:01:51
So chronic disease and chronic illnesses is something that's really, really important to my community.
1:01:57
Have you done any outreach to the community in Co op City?
Michelle Morse
1:02:02
Thank you so much for that question, council member Riley.
1:02:05
We are very aligned with you around wanting to prioritize neighborhoods that suffer from a higher burden of disease, and thank you for highlighting, some of the challenges in Coop City.
1:02:17
I might actually, turn to my colleague, Liz Solomon, who helps to lead many of our chronic disease programs, to share more about any, specific outreach in Coop City.
Elizabeth Solomon
1:02:30
I actually don't have anything to add in terms of outreach in Coop City, but we we do have a wide range of chronic disease prevention programs and policies, and there is a lot of engagement within those programs.
1:02:44
For example, we have Health Bucks that are, coupons that are distributed across the city, can be used for fruit and vegetable purchases at at New York City Farmers Markets.
1:02:53
And that program, we, work with over 600, programs in community based organizations to distribute the health box, and we meet with them annually to get feedback on that program.
1:03:09
So that's an example of how we might approach.
Kevin C. Riley
1:03:11
So may maybe we could connect after this meeting to figure out how we could do some outreach in Co op City.
1:03:16
I usually hold a community conversation every month, and I usually move it around the district.
1:03:20
I'm thinking about doing one focused specifically on health and would love if you guys will come by, you know, and pretty much be a part of that.
1:03:28
Wanna go into my bill, intro 96, excuse me, intro 641.
1:03:33
Can you please describe the d o DOHMH inspection and enforcement, scheme for nutrition standards and menu options for kid menus, within restaurants in New York City?
Michelle Morse
1:03:44
Thank you so much for the question, council member.
1:03:47
We do have a series of regulatory and other responsibilities around monitoring the food environment for children, for DOE and other sister agencies.
1:03:57
This one, I'm gonna also pass to my colleague, Liz Solomon, to describe a little more in detail how we do
Lynn Schulman
1:04:07
that work.
1:04:07
Thank you, acting commissioner Morrison.
Elizabeth Solomon
1:04:07
Thank you for that question.
1:04:08
We do as we do have an enforcement, division in in our agency that has inspectors who
Lynn Schulman
1:04:15
who, inspect restaurants, and nutrition
Elizabeth Solomon
1:04:15
requirements are part of that inspection.
1:04:18
Doctor Morris mentioned, as mentioned, as written, the bill is not, enforceable from the health department, and, restaurants really would not be able to comply with it.
Kevin C. Riley
1:04:44
Chair, if I may.
1:04:46
Chair Shaw?
1:04:48
Chair Shulman?
1:04:50
May I thank you.
1:04:51
Can you explain the enforcement concerns with this legislation that you have?
Elizabeth Solomon
1:04:56
Yes.
1:04:57
The the data needed for both in for enforcement is not required to be disclosed by all restaurants, per FDA rules.
1:05:08
So the health department would not have the data to to enforce the bill.
Kevin C. Riley
1:05:13
Is there any additional resources, if any, that could be implemented in this legislation for it to move forward?
Elizabeth Solomon
1:05:19
Well, we would love to, continue to work with counsel to amend amend the bill, to consider ways that we can work together to support child nutrition in the restaurant setting and and support access for healthy meals for children.
Kevin C. Riley
1:05:37
Okay.
1:05:38
Can we follow-up, as soon as possible, to discuss?
Elizabeth Solomon
1:05:42
We would love to follow-up for with further conversation.
Kevin C. Riley
1:05:45
And my last question, commissioner, you spoke about fentanyl test strips, I believe.
1:05:50
Could you please describe the timeline on that and the substances that you could utilize those test strips on?
Michelle Morse
1:05:57
Absolutely.
1:05:57
We'd be happy to follow-up with more details or ways in which, community partners can request those fentanyl test strips.
1:06:05
They're specific for fentanyl.
1:06:06
There are other more advanced and extensive test strips that we can also offer in, unique cases, but we'd be happy to follow-up with you offline Thank you.
1:06:15
Without access to those as well as to naloxone.
Kevin C. Riley
1:06:17
Thank you so much.
1:06:18
Thank you, chair.
