Advocates Call On Mayor To Make Good On Pledge To Make Classroom Breakfasts Available In NYC Schools
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Advocates stood in front of City Hall Tuesday to say Mayor Bill de Blasio is not keeping a campaign pledge to make free breakfasts available in New York City classrooms.
This does not require the president of the United States to approve it, doesn't' requite the U.S. Congress to approve it, doesn't require the governor to approve it, doesn't require the legislature to approve it, doesn't require the city council to approve it. The mayor and the chancellor have the authority under federal law to start this tomorrow," Coalition Against Hunger Executive Director Joel Berg said.
Advocates Call On Mayor To Make Good On Pledge To Make Classroom Breakfasts Available In NYC Schools
As Berg pointed out, New York school rank near the bottom nationally when it comes to using federally-funded in-classroom breakfasts.
New York
City schools already offer breakfast but it's served in the cafeteria before the regular school day.
City Council member Stephen Levin said it's hard for working parents who may have children in more than one school to get their kids to school that early.
"It presents a ton of logistical problems," said Levin, who joined other advocates on the steps of City Hall to call for school breakfast after the bell.
More than three-quarters of New York City public school students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and Levin said that only 34 percent of those pupils are currently eating breakfast at school.
