See: http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0428071.html

Given that New York City has already begun to take significant steps to improve the quality of all school meals, and that virtually all City schools that provide school lunches already make breakfasts available, this bill would have somewhat limited direct impact on New York City schools. Still, it surely will provide even more momentum to the accelerating movement in the city to improve the nutritional content of school foods.

Additionally, in the rest of the state, more than 600 middle and high schools (about 11% of all schools) provide lunches but not breakfasts. Thus, Spitzer's bill, which would require all schools that provide lunch to also provide breakfasts, could help reduce the hunger of teenagers in those areas, assuming that such an expansion would also be accompanied by on-the-ground efforts to actually get these students to eat breakfasts at school. Also, by creating tough, state-wide school nutrition standards, this bill could provide a much-needed boost to any school districts statewide that are still lagging in the nutrition area.

While this bill is certainly helpful, we continue to urge Governor Spitzer take even bolder steps to reduce hunger and food insecurity in New York State. We are still working to convince him to create a Food Policy Council, to ensure easier access to the Food Stamp Program, and to conduct a state-wide outreach campaign on school breakfasts and summer meals.

-- Joel Berg (April 30 2007)