PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Panel: Injustice Created Through Unhealthy Food Choices William J. Ford WI Staff Writer
5 Volunteers await to put bags and boxes of food in vehicles at distribution giveaway Sept. 11 at Kingdom Fellowship AME
prevalent in the Black community. A Church at High Point High School in Beltsville. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer) panel led by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N. J.) said the country’s lack of healthy about seven years, spoke during a to produce a healthier society such as: , said government officials should innearly one-hour session entitled “Food Provide financial incentives for new corporate zoning laws to limit the loThe Centers for Disease Control food options are part of the reason. and Prevention notes the ongoing “We have a savagely broken food Justice: The State of Food and Nutri- businesses that manufacture healthy cation of fast-food restaurants. products. “We have 7.8 billion on this Earth, coronavirus pandemic affects those system that is hurting everyone but tion in Black Communities.” According to Move for Hunger of Cook school lunches versus serving but [only] a handful of corporations with underlying conditions such as big, multinational corporations where heart disease, high blood pressure and too many Americans are overfed, but Red Bank, N. J., about one in six chil- processed food heated in microwaves. controlling our food system,” she said. Show videos of how animals are “Our number one target is our childiabetes. undernourished,” he said Tuesday, dren “face hunger each day” and 42 dren.” The federal agency noted how the Sept. 14 during the Congressional million Americans are food insecure, killed to produce food. Read the labels that showcase calLevya, who produced a film two pandemic “has brought social and ra- Black Congress Foundation’s 50th or lack resources to provide affordable ories, sugar and information on food years ago called “The Invisible Vegan” cial injustice and inequity to the fore- annual legislative conference. “It is and healthy food options. Three women – Tambra Raye Ste- and drink products. at, said she would “wave my wind and front of public health.” making our nation tragically sit on epvenson, Karen Washington and JasWashington, co-owner and farmer require truth.” Various health studies and reports idemic levels.” For instance, she said chicken prohave shown health ailments are more Booker, who’s been a vegan for mine C. Leyva – outlined several ideas at Rise & Root Farm in Chester, N.Y. cessing features the use of chlorine, the chemical used in swimming pools to existing, proposed development,” kill bacteria and found in some houseBellamy said during a more than hold cleaning products. four-hour public hearing on Mon“Rebuild the trust between the peoday, Sept. 13. ple and the government,” said Leyva, The virtual hearing with the who resides in Los Angeles. “If you are county’s planning board and Dis- putting out policies on top of distrust, William J. Ford Park in Capitol Heights near InterBellamy, chief executive officer trict Council allowed comments you’re not going to have people getstate 95 would affect current con- for Velocity Companies in GreenWI Staff Writer Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 14 on ting involved in wanting to see these struction of an office building slated belt that helped redevelop the mall, the “countywide map amendment.” policies flourish in getting the support Brandon Bellamy believes a pro- to include Prince George’s County’s said the industrial employment The hearings count as part of the fi- [officials] need.” Office of Aging. designation doesn’t fit with the posed zoning change at Hampton nal step for members of the County land currently zoned for mixedStevenson, who serves on the D.C. Council, which sits as the District Food Policy Council, said what’s needuse transportation. (The property Council on land use and zoning ed for a healthy society in the Black includes an IHOP, Dunkin Domatters, to possibly approve new community that includes: invest in nuts and Home Depot.) maps and zoning districts by No- educational programs to hire Black However, he said the mall could vember. be rezoned under the new “comnutritionists and dieticians, conduct “We know it will be a benefit to research on African-based diets and semercial, general office” designathe development of Prince George’s cure equitable funding from the Small tion. A summary shows that the County,” Councilmember Todd Business Administration to support zone which he recommends “proTurner (D-District 4) of Bowie said Black entrepreneurs. vides for a broad and diverse range before Monday’s hearing. of retail, business, civic and mixed“These are the issues that need to “Given the time, the effort and be addressed,” said Stevenson, who use development at major intersecthe money that’s been spent on this founded Women Advancing Nutritions and other highly-visible and process, it’s nice to say that we are tion Dietetics and Agriculture at www. accessible locations.” getting close but until we say that it’s iamwanda.org. “An inclusive food sys“This is the zone that is most 5 The University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center in Largo sits within similar to the zone we have right tem is a resilient food system.” WI the zoning district labeled regional transit-oriented, high intensity. (Robert R. Roberts/ now and is most reflective of the ZONING Page 53 @jabariwill The Washington Informer)
Residents, Merchants Make the Case for Zoning Changes in Prince George’s
12 SEPTEMBER 16 - 22, 2021
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