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Proposal for implementing a food grading system in NYC shelters
1:34:37
ยท
103 sec
Council Member Salamanca proposes the idea of implementing a food grading system for shelter food providers, similar to the letter grade system used for restaurants and food carts in NYC. The discussion reveals the current state of shelter evaluations and considers the potential for a specific food grading system.
- DHS currently has scorecards for shelters that cover various facility issues, with food being one component
- There is no specific letter grade system for food quality in shelters
- The Mayor's Office of Food Policy expresses interest in the idea but notes the need for careful consideration of its implementation
- Council Member Salamanca expresses concern about the quality of food provided to homeless families, especially when contracts are awarded based on the lowest bid
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
1:34:37
Alright.
1:34:38
Is there a scorecard for these providers similar to a restaurant?
1:34:43
You know, the food carts that are out there, they need to have a letter grade.
1:34:47
Right?
1:34:48
A b c.
1:34:49
Is does the city, DHS have something similar to that?
Jill Berry
1:34:53
We do have scorecards for our shelters that look at a variety of facility issues.
1:34:58
Food is just one component of that.
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
1:35:00
Alright.
1:35:01
But is there a particular scorecard or letter grade system for food?
1:35:05
No.
1:35:05
Alright.
1:35:06
Would it be something you'd be willing to implement?
Kate MacKenzie
1:35:11
It's an interesting idea.
1:35:13
I would say, you know, again, of the 400 shelters that we're describing here, there's a host of responsibilities that they have.
1:35:22
Food is certainly very important, and we would just wanna wanna carefully consider how that might be operationalized.
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
1:35:30
Yeah.
1:35:31
Look, I I understand that there's a certain budget that is given to the providers and within their contract and how much they could spend per family.
1:35:41
And I know within that there's cost, right?
1:35:43
They have to pay their overhead, they have to pay their staff, and then there's a portion that's paid for for food.
1:35:48
My concern is, you know, when you mentioned that they have to find the cheapest they have to get bids, and then they go with the cheapest option.
1:35:55
And it just worries me when we're giving them the cheapest options, the quality of food that we're giving these homeless families.
1:36:01
With that, thank you very much.
1:36:03
Thank you, madam chair, for the opportunity to ask questions.
Julie Won
1:36:09
Did you get all your answers?
Gale A. Brewer
1:36:10
Okay.
Julie Won
1:36:15
Yeah.
1:36:15
I'm gonna pass it over to the legend, council member Brewer.
1:36:19
No