Rivera Post Toasted

In today's letter section of the NY Post the paper's readers take aim against Councilman Rivera's suggestion that we use zoning laws to curb the proliferation of fast food outlets. The thrust of the opposition view is expressed by Nat Weiner of the Bronx who suggests that Joel Rivera "attack the root causes of obesity."

Well Nat, Rivera must be listening to you because included in the just concluded budget deal is an initial $250,000 Rivera-sponsored grant to expand the Health Corps program to three additional high schools in the fall. The Health Corps goal is to change the attitudes of young people aboujt health and nutrition. So, while we partially agree with letter writer Karen Parisi of Maryland that, "it is not the government's job to control what our children eat," we also believe that government can and should play an educational role in this area.