While Defending Proposed Ban On Super-Sized Sugary Drinks, Bloomberg Celebrates National Donut Day
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Super-sized sugary drinks bad, donuts good.
That seems to be the message being sent by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as he continues to defend his proposal to ban large, sugar laden drinks while celebrating National Donut Day on Friday.
1010 WINS' John Montone reports
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The event featured a signed Proclamation Letter by the mayor honoring the 75th annual National Donut Day at Madison Square Park where the largest box of Entenmann's Donuts ever created was unveiled.
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The proposed ban puts a 16-ounce limit on sugary drinks sold at city restaurants, movie theaters, sports venues and street carts, including bottles and fountain drinks.
On Friday, Bloomberg was challenged about celebrating National Donut Day days after revealing his soda proposal.
"One donut is not going to hurt you, in moderation, most things are OK," Bloomberg said while appearing on The Today Show. "That's what we're trying to do with soft drinks, is get you to drink in moderation. So instead of getting the big 32-ounce, get two 16-ounce drinks if you want. But history shows, all the tests show, that you'll probably only drink one."
CBS 2's Marcia Kramer spoke with a bunch of New Yorkers who seemed confused by the mayor's apparent hypocrisy.
"It's definitely is hypocritical," said Ashton Johnson of the Bronx.
"One way he's trying to stop people from gaining weight and then he's saying have donuts. I don't know if that is such a great decision," Joseph Battista of Bensonhurst added.
"I don't know what he's thinking, honestly. I mean unhealthy is unhealthy, so you can't pick one then have another," added Aaron Winfield of the Lower East Side.
"It's definitely confusing. He could have made it national carrot day or national watermelon day or national strawberry day, New York strawberry day," said Amy Jolson of Chelsea.
Then there was this simple, yet poignant declaration.
"He's speaking out of both ends of his mouth," a person said.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who hopes to succeed Bloomberg, said she's dead set against the ban because it's "punitive," and she'll undo it if she wins.
"Whoever the next mayor is is going to have to look at all the former mayor's executive orders and policies and rules and, you know, whoever is in that position, me or anybody else, will look at all of them, including this one," Quinn said.
On Thursday, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs was also asked if City Hall is sending mixed messages.
1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports
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"The celebratory events, the naming days in honor of individuals or items or frivolities that are fun and exception joy, are quite distinct from a public health agenda," she said.
LINK: The History Behind National Donut Day
National Donut Day is held every year on June 1 and was created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the "donut lassies'' who served the sweet treats to soldiers in WWI and as a way to raise money for social service programs.
At Friday's event in Manhattan, Entenmann's donated $25,000 to The Salvation Army.
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