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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Rae Gomes, Food Equity Consultant from Cultivating Justice LLC
1:48:16
ยท
145 sec
Rae Gomes, representing Cultivating Justice LLC, expressed disappointment with the proposed solutions by MFP and EDC for addressing long-standing food issues in New York City. She argued that relying on emergency food organizations and businesses has not solved food insecurity despite significant budget increases.
- Gomes provided examples of budget increases for various food organizations between 2019-2022, highlighting that food insecurity persists despite these increases.
- She emphasized the distinction between profit-based institutions like Hunts Point and community-centered solutions, advocating for alternative food systems that prioritize community support over profit.
- Gomes urged the council to consider these alternative approaches to address entrenched food insecurity and high food costs in the city.
Rae Gomes
1:48:16
I can go next.
1:48:17
Hi everyone, my name is Ray Gomes, I'm representing Cultivating Justice LLC, it's my food equity consultancy.
1:48:24
I've also been in food access and food systems work for over ten years.
1:48:31
So I was very disheartened to hear some of the ways that MFP and EDC plan on solving some of these problems that have been ongoing in in New York City for years and I just want to read a couple of things.
1:48:47
I did some quick and dirty research around and especially hearing you know wanting to support capacity building in emergency food organizations and also centering businesses.
1:48:59
So those are the two things I just want to address.
1:49:03
So in 2020 Food Bank of New York had $35,400,000 in their budget and in 2022 they had $97,500,000.
1:49:14
City Harvest had $2.00 $9,000,000 in 2020 and then in 2021 had $337,000,000 and then Campaign Against Hunger in 2020 had $8,500,000 in their budget and in 2022 they had $16,500,000.
Gale A. Brewer
1:49:34
I don't know how many people are New
Rae Gomes
1:49:40
York Common Pantry in 2019 had $12,600,000 in their budget and in 2021 had $20,300,000.
1:49:47
All this to say that if these organizations wanted to solve food insecurity in New York City, their budgets doubled during COVID and the problem of food insecurity still exists.
1:49:59
The status quo to center businesses and corporate emergency food structures has not worked.
1:50:04
It will not work, it will continue to not work and as long as we keep relying on these approaches, food insecurity, high food costs will persist in the city.
1:50:15
And I also just want to distinguish between profit based institutions and community centered solutions.
1:50:20
Hunts Point is a profit based center, their food hub and food system solutions that center communities, start with community and are only interested in supporting community and not increasing their profits.
1:50:33
And I implore you all to please look at these alternative food systems as a way of solving these entrenchment issues.
1:50:40
Thank you.