If Gov. Paterson's really worried about NYers' health,

[SoCalDem]

instead of a new tax on "soda pop & snack foods", why not:

1.) remove SODA MACHINES FROM SCHOOLS..and put back chilled-water fountains
2.) how about an "experimental" 5 year exclusion of ALL foods with HFCS..and a re-evaluation of the obesity/diabetes data.
3.) MANDATORY ONE HOUR A DAY physical education/recess
4.) Upgrading PARKS & play areas for ALL kids to use..
5.) Bring back REAL food to the schools..there are plenty of people who would love a job cooking for school lunches..real food..not packaged/microwaved/warmed-over junk..

[DJ13]

1. Cant make money with those proposals, so it wont happen

[brooklynite]

2. Soda Machines WERE replaced...by SNAPPLE Machines

The Mayor pushed through an exclusive deal for them several years ago.

Actually, the Governor has limited official power for most of these aspects of school services.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. That is what the public schools were like when I attended in NYC..but that

was back when the dinosaurs were still roaming the streets.

[ThomCat]

4. Unfortunately, he has to cut funds, not spend more.

:(

[SoCalDem]

5. My point.. He's being callously disingenuous when he claims it's for the "health"

If he needs MONEY, he needs to slap some luxury taxes on those high-rise glass & steel monuments & target like a laser-beam , at the still fat bank accounts of the rich folks..

Raise fees for private planes & helicopters & business licences for the upscale establishments..

Store owners will just have to find more "lock-down" space for those items if they suddenly become too expensive..