Yesterday, Chicago saw the inauguration of Rahm Emanuel, our first new mayor in more than two decades. While flipping through Time Out Chicago magazine on my way to work today, I found myself reading the Entrance interview: Rahm Emanuel article in full. I admit that the more I read, the more excited I became as I imagined the things our new leader might accomplish, truly shaking up politics and lives in Chicago.
Towards the end of the article Emanuel states:
“My first priority [in reference to another topic mentioned in the article,] is dealing with the food desert issue. There are two ways I want to come at that. I’m going to convene a mayor’s conference with all the major and minor grocers about their plans for the next four years in the city of Chicago. I want them to report on what they’re doing. In addition, we have the most antiquated laws and ordinances as it relates to urban agriculture, in getting areas converted for year-round growth of fresh fruits and vegetables, employment opportunities, and then selling food from that place.”
Intrigued, I seeked more information on Emanuel’s stance on the topic. “There is something fundamentally wrong in a city or society where 600,000 people, on the last count, do not have access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” he said in a CBS Chicago report. He brought the subject up again at an event this past Saturday, as stated in Mayor-elect: ‘We all have a role to play’ from the Chicago Tribune.
As the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, diminishing food deserts and creating opportunities for community gardens or urban agriculture, is a big priority to Feeding America as well. With the Feeding America national office in Chicago, and with a 16.1% food insecurity rate in Cook County (research from the Map the Meal Gap project, released March 2011), I look forward to seeing Mayor Emanuel’s words in action and doing my part to help make these promises a reality, not just for Chicagoans, but for Americans in every city across the United States.