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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ethan Peña, Student and Researcher from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health
6:05:00
·
125 sec
Ethan Peña, a public health policy student from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health, advocates for Intro 702-2024, which would establish an emergency student food plan for public school students during remote learning. He emphasizes the importance of such a plan to address food insecurity and maintain academic achievement during school closures.
- Peña cites that nearly 55 million meals were served in NYC schools in fiscal year 2024, highlighting the significance of school meals.
- The proposed bill involves collaboration between various city departments to implement a meal delivery plan during remote learning or school closures.
- Peña calls for support from the council to pass the bill and fund a plan that engages both public and private sector services, including local vendors, pantries, and community organizations.
Ethan Peña
6:05:00
Good afternoon.
6:05:01
My name is Ethan Panna, and I'm a public health policy student and researcher from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and advocating for introduced bill zero seven zero two twenty twenty four that will establish an emergency student food plan for public school students to access in remote learning settings.
6:05:18
Turning to the Department of Education's school food report in the fiscal year twenty twenty four, across the five boroughs, nearly a 55,000,000 breakfasts, lunch, and after school snacks and suppers were were served in schools.
6:05:31
However, there currently isn't an emergency preparedness food plan implemented to safeguard students from preexisting diet, disparities and food insecure conditions that they may live in if schools were were to transition to remote learning.
6:05:45
This could compromise their health and ability to pursue academic achievement.
6:05:50
Last March, bill zero seven zero two twenty twenty four was proposed by public advocate Williams as an opportunity to address this risk.
6:05:58
It would involve a collaboration between the committee of fire and emergency management, the office of food policy, and the department of education to implement a plan to deliver meals to students if schools must transition to remote learning or close by order of the governor, mayor, or chancellor.
6:06:14
An emergency prepare plan can help consider a variety of programs and funding mechanisms to sustain a plan where students can continue their school day from home without them or their families worrying that they will not have access to a meal.
6:06:28
To ensure nutritious meals can effectively reach students from remote locations across the five boroughs, I'm calling for additional support and collaborative efforts from this council to prioritize the wellness of school children and sustain their opportunities for academic success.
6:06:42
I ask the council to support passing this bill and funding a plan that engages and utilizes services across the public and private sector, working with local vendors, pantries, community, and faith based organizations that students and their families may lean on, along with revitalizing partnerships with emergency delivery services that were utilized during the COVID nineteen pandemic.
6:07:02
Thank you so much for your time and opportunity to testify.