Diaz Srikes a Blow for the Neighborhood

Ruben Diaz Jr. is about to introduce legislation to protect local supermarkets. He is concerned with the impact that the spate of supermarket closings, and the threatened closure of the Key Food in Soundview, will have on the health of low income communities; that is why he showed up at yesterday's rally and led the community with the chant: "Keep the Key Food Open."

Here's the full text of the Assemblyman's:

For Immediate Release:Wednesday, May 14th, 2008
ASSEMBLYMAN RUBEN DIAZ JR. CALLS ON ALBANY TO PROTECT LOCAL SUPERMARKETS

Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. announced today that he will soon introduce significant legislation designed to protect local supermarkets.

Citing the possible eviction of a local Key Food supermarket in the Soundview section of the Bronx, Assemblyman Diaz said: “I am currently in the process of reviewing the appropriate legislative measures and potential economic incentives needed to protect our local groceries from any further closures and to promote supermarket growth. We can not allow our children, seniors and hard working families to lose another community based supermarket especially when we are already confronting an emergency situation in terms of the accessibility of affordable fresh produce in the Bronx.”

“Simply put, our neighborhoods are already severely underserved when it comes to the availability of healthy food choices and therefore facing a substantial public health crisis due to the alarmingly high incidences of diet related illness. I plan on making every possible effort to ameliorate this condition for the people of the Bronx.” concluded Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr.