Will Bloomberg's big beverage ban fizzle?
Briefing: Michael Bloomberg and David Dinkins. Kristen Artz via flickr
8:22 am Jun. 1, 2012
Michael Bloomberg's proposal to ban the size of sugary beverages got support from the News and Post editorial boards, who normally express reservations about what critics call the mayor's "nanny state" tactics.
But for all the talk about the measure being the first of its kind and a possible national model, it may also be short-lived.
Three mayoral candidates are opposed to it and two others others are keeping quiet on the issue; Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver may push to stop it from Albany, where other big Bloomberg initiatives have died, and, of course, there are the courts.
What it may come down to is that the politics of opposing this incredibly high-profile health initiative are too easy. As one woman told the Times: "You know he's going to have a riot. Cause a lot of people drink soda."
Events
10 a.m. Andrew Cumo attends the funeral of State Trooper Amanda Anna at 420 South Main Street in North Syracuse.
11:30 a.m. Lt. Governor Bob Duffy discusses youth employment, in the Capitol.
Noon. Adriano Espaillat joins TWU Local 100 President Jon Samuelsen and others calling for more worker protections, at the intersection of 218th Street and 10th Ave. in the Bronx.
1 p.m. State health commissioner Nirav Shah discusses protecting people with special needs, at 101 Old Falls Street in Niagara Falls.
4:30 p.m. Christine Quinn delivers the commencement address at Hostos Community College's graduation at 131 West 55th St.
John Edwards
He was found not guilty on one charge and the jury was deadlocked on five others. "The mistrial represents a setback for the Justice Department's Public Integrity unit, which had relied on an aggressive interpretation of campaign-finance laws to bring the charges against Mr. Edwards." [Valerie Bauerlein]
In the Court of Public Opinion: "[T]he most low-rent, relentless, reckless and narcissistic candidate ever to seek the presidency." [Daily News]
SD-17
Lew Fidler's concession statement. [Ned Berke]
Storobin's tenure may be short-lived, thanks to redistricting. [Associated Press]
Bob Turner said "fiscal integrity" played a key role in the victory of Storobin and other Republicans elected in Brooklyn. [WNYC]
City Hall
Bloomberg shouldn't ban large drinks, but rather "should be focusing its energies on programs that educate" New Yorkers on healthier choices. [New York Times]
"It's certainly worth a try" since it's meant to "discourage" not "ban" the consumption of large, high-caloric drinks. [New York Post]
The big-drink ban is "an untried experiment with limited data from which to project success" but it'll probably help city residents consume fewer calories. [Daily News]
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver may block it with state legislation. [David Seifman, Josh Margolin, and Bob Fredericks]
The next mayor can simply overturn Bloomberg's Big Gulp Ban: Christine Quinn, Bill Thompson and John Liu oppose it. Bill de Blasio and Scott Stringer are considering it. [Michael Howard Saul]
Bloomberg vetoed the Living Wage legislation, saying it'll chase away busineses. [Sally Goldenberg]
The City Council is expected to override Bloomberg's vetoes. [Michael Howard Saul]
The mayor has vowed to go to court to block the Living Wage bill from being enacted. [Reuven Blau]
Street Reaction: "It's bananas!" [Carrie Dennis]
Street Reaction: "You know he's going to have a riot. Cause a lot of people drink soda." [New York Times]
City Hall released a list of people supporting the ban. [Anemona Hartocolllis]
NYPD
The Manhattan D.A. may not be as convinced as the NYPD of the value of Pedro Hernandez's confession in the Etan Patz case. [Jamie Schram, Laura Italiano and Dan Mangan]
Transportation
Chuck Schumer announced the government closure of 26 bus operators in New York. [Jennifer Fermino and Gillian Kleiman]
Cross-town bike lanes, connecting Eighth Avenue to First Avenue. [Jennifer Fermino]
Albany
Headline: "Dead soldiers' absentee ballots to be counted if they died in combat." [Erik Kriss]
Candy for the Brain
Lower Manhattan is a desert when it comes to giving birth to rappers. [Ben Yakas]
From Capital
Farewell, confusing roof-top signs on taxi cabs. [Dana Rubinstein]
Some key African-American Obama bundlers are helping Hakeem Jeffries with his congressional race. [Reid Pillifant]
Republican Governor Haley Barbour's "wet kiss" complaint about liberal media bias has been around for a long, long time. [Reid Pillifant]
Henry Ferris, who edited Obama's "Dreams of My Father," helped ink the deal for Christine Quinn's memoir. [Dana Rubinstein]
The Columbia graduate and onetime Brooklyn resident who defeated an eight-term Democratic congress member from Texas got help from the same anti-incumbency PAC targeting Rep. Charlie Rangel. But another key factor in the race: that insurgent candidate is really talented. [Andrew Rice]
Here's the anti-Obama video Fox aired twice, but later pulled off its web site and apologized for. [Joe Pompeo]
David Greenfield and Charles Barron say the mayor is focusing on banning drinks when he should be more concerned with bike helmets and budget cuts. [Azi Paybarah]
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