[nfbmi-talk] FW: [stylist] Blind NYC vendors targeted by Mayor Bloomberg, NFB member asking for assistance

Fred wurtzel f.wurtzel at comcast.net
Tue Jun 7 16:02:10 UTC 2011


Hello,

now, here is what can happen when writers get their teeth into a misguided
paternalistic move to limit blind vendors and their customers.  

Thank you Writers Division!

Warm Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Judith Bron
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 11:35 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Blind NYC vendors targeted by Mayor Bloomberg, NFB
member asking for assistance

Who the heck is the government to tell us what to eat and when to eat it? 
What if someone is a cancer patient and has been told by a doctor that the
more calories he or she takes in the merrier?  Where did Mike get his
medical license?  He is making New York streets safe for his tyranny and
letting all of us know that only he knows what is good for us.  I drink diet
soda.  My grandkids drink whatever they want.  My kids and their spouses
drink what they want.  I'm a mother in law.  I learned a long time ago that
when it comes to a mother in law no opinions please.  All my daughter in
laws look like walking hunger strikes.  My daughters, unfortunately for
them, are their mom's daughters and drink only diet bevarages.  But what
they drink is their business.  Not mine, not yours and certainly not the
business of an arrogant idiot named Michael Blumberg.  While we're at it we
better tell whatever department of the feds that we don't need them at our
dinner table, looking over our shoulder when we want something to eat or
drink when walking down the street or what our child should serve his
friends at a birthday party.  Perhaps what we need to do is tell big
government that we don't need them, don't want them and they should keep
their food dictates to their own dinner tables.  Perhaps this petition
should be expanded to include intrusions into our lives that people living
in a democracy shouldn't have to tollerate.  Judith
----- Original Message -----
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>; "Performing Arts
Division list" <perform-talk at nfbnet.org>; "nfbp-talk" 
<nfbp-talk at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 10:57 AM
Subject: [stylist] Blind NYC vendors targeted by Mayor Bloomberg,NFB member
asking for assistance


> Hi Friends,
>
> This is a forward from Christine Grassman, a blind teacher, blogger 
> and NFB member. Please help circulate and protect the livelihoods of 
> blind vendors in New York.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Donna Hill
>
>
>
>  _____
>
> From: Christine Grassman [mailto:cgrassman1009 at gmail.com]
> Sent: Monday, June 06, 2011 10:57 PM
> To: cgrassman1009 at gmail.com
> Cc: Gary Grassman; Neil W. Browne; David Stayer; cjake1222 at nyc.rr.com; 
> mmurberg at wsfssh.org; D.W. Hill
> Subject: Dr. Bloomberg Is At It Again: Mike Wants to Slim Waistlines 
> and Wallets
>
>
>
> Dear All:
>
>
>
> Christine Grassman here.  I am sending a blog post I have just written 
> in response to the ridiculousness regarding mandates involving sugary 
> beverages on city-owned properties.  The petition generated some time 
> ago is at the end of the post.  Please send to anyone you think might 
> be of assistance in this matter: public officials, media, friends, 
> family, etc.
>
> Christine
>
>            BElow  is a petition that interested customers of blind 
> vendors who manage facilities on New York City-owned properties can 
> sign.  Later this week, I will get to work on a vendor petition.  If 
> you read the petition, it is quite self-explanatory. Please feel free 
> to circulate and publicize this.
>
>
>
> I wish to point out a few things:
>
> . In October, 2009, this travesty was brought to our attention -- but 
> vendors were told that the matter was being "put on hold."  When this 
> was pointed out this morning at a meeting betweenNew York State 
> Commission for the Blind staff and an elected representative of the 
> New York State Blind Vendors Committee,  and representatives  of the 
> Mayor's office and  of the City Department of Health, the reason for 
> this was "that was a public relations issue."  Anyone remember, back 
> in October, 2009, what "public relations issue" might have put this 
> health initiative by Dr. Mike on the back burner?  Why, yes, it was 
> the notorious third term election coming up in a few short weeks.  Who 
> wants to risk the potential media nuisance of slimming the wallets of 
> blind vendors while protecting the public from itself?
>
>
>
> You will notice below that one of the self-appointed billionaire 
> health czar's edicts is that beverages containing more than 25 
> calories in eight ounces are not permitted.  This would include items 
> such as whole milk, orange juice, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, etc.
>
>
>
>            Currently, there are nine blind vendors who would be 
> directly affected by these mandates.  NOne of these individuals 
> commands a salary greater than $50,000.  There are nine employees 
> hired cumulatively by these nine vendors.  Ah, hell, eighteen people 
> and thousands of customers --
> nothing to concern ourselves with, right?   What of the customers whose
> choices are being impacted by these mandates?  Then, there is that 
> pesky slippery slope -- once the city gets away with impacting blind 
> vendors and their customers, why not go for bigger game?  Your bodega, 
> convenience store, delicatessen, your bar -- might be next.
>
>
>
>            Of course, for now, customers of blind vendors  could go 
> outside the city-owned buildings to the city-owned streets, where 
> vendors with street cards do not have to comply with these mandates.  
> Those vendors spend quite a lot on city permits and licenses; it is 
> doubtful that the mandates will be extended to them any time soon.
>
>
>
>            It brings a tear to the eye the way these tax-avoiding
> millionaires and billionaires work to protect us from our proletarian 
> vices.
> The small business owner who is not savvy enough to be floating about Wall
> Street  collecting taxpayer-funded bailout bonuses, who is selling 
> tangible
> items that cannot be faked in fraudulent swaps and nonexistent loans, who
> hands over what the customer wants, whether or not it is good for his or 
> her
> cholesterol, blood pressure, or waistline -- is being treated like a 
> naughty
> child who needs  the protection and guidance of those who   are worried 
> just
> enough about our health to affect the income of the little guy or gal and
> and the well-being of the obese, sugar-addicted, caffeine-addled 
> customers,
> but not enough to want to fund preventive health care.  The compassion and
> largesse have their price, but it is paid by small business people, 
> disabled
> small businesspeople, and customers who can step outside and find the
> verboten products in a cart up the street -- a city street, with city
> licenses and permits.  Well, now, that's a tad more exercise for them each
> time they get a hankering for something -- those steps can add up.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> PETITION IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED CITY-WIDE BEVERAGE STANDARDS
>
>
>
> We the undersigned are vehemently opposed to New York City's proposed
> implementation of the following measures with respect to the sale of
> beverages:
>
> Vendors will be mandated to allot no more than two columns in 
> refrigerators
> or vending machines to high-calorie beverages.
>
> * High-calorie beverages may not exceed 12 ounces.
>
> * Aside from these columns, any other beverages must not exceed 25 
> calories
> per 8 ounces.
>
> * Water or seltzer may not contain artificial sweeteners, colors, or
> flavors.
>
> * Vendors will be asked to offer more favorable prices on "healthier"
> beverage choices.
>
> The undersigned are appalled, offended, and outraged that our right to
> purchase beverages is being restricted and controlled by government. The
> mayor and the city council are not our parents and we are not children.
> These measures would be an inconvenience and insult to us, as well as 
> cause
> economic harm to the vendors we patronize.
>
> IGNATURE:      ADDRESS:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> =======
> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.
> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.21, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17670)
> http://www.pctools.com 
> <http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>
> =======
>
>
>
>
>
> =======
> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.
> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.21, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17670)
> http://www.pctools.com/
> =======
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> stylist:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonline.n
et
> 



_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>

stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/f.wurtzel%40comcast
.net





More information about the NFBMI-Talk mailing list