FOOD TALK

Congress Passes Farm Bill – WSJ.com

Congress Passes Farm Bill
Associated Press
May 15, 2008 2:16 p.m.

WASHINGTON — With veto-proof margins, Congress on Thursday sent President Bush a bill boosting farm subsidies and money for food stamps to help the poor deal with rising grocery prices.

CLICK  [WSJ.com ] FOR FULL STORY.

Bloomberg: Congress won’t run NYPD

amny.com/news/local/ny-nyseanbell0515,0,3494118.story
amNY.com
Bloomberg: Congress won’t run NYPD

BY MICHAEL FRAZIER

michael.frazier@newsday.com

7:03 PM EDT, May 14, 2008

Mayor Michael Bloomberg reminded a group of congressional representatives Wednesday that the city’s police department is his concern, not theirs, as the House Judiciary Committee considers nationwide policing reforms in response to the shooting death of Sean Bell.

“We are going to run our police department, and Congress is not going to run our police department,” Bloomberg said after an unrelated news conference in the Bronx. “This is a police department that works and doesn’t exactly need more oversight.”

click [amNY.com] for more.

Wolf banging at Citymeals-on-Wheels’ door

Wolf banging at Citymeals-on-Wheels’ door

BY STEPHANIE GASKELL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, May 15th 2008, 4:00 AM

Citymeals-on-Wheels depends on two things that are getting more expensive by the day – food and fuel.

The charity, which delivers meals to the elderly, is struggling just to keep up.

“Citymeals-on-Wheels is 26 years old and this is the worst time in that entire period,” said Executive Director Marcia Stein.

The organization used to deliver a hot meal for $5. Now it costs $6. And in this economy, fund-raising has become more challenging as New Yorkers tighten their belts.

“Every $6 we don’t raise is a meal we don’t deliver,” Stein said.

The charity is not only getting socked by the rising cost of food and gas, it lost one of its major fund-raisers.

“The sudden downfall of Bear Stearns resulted in a $500,000 loss to Citymeals-on-Wheels,” Stein said.

The investment banking firm, which was recently bought by JPMorgan, sponsored one of Citymeals-on-Wheels’ largest fund-raisers.

Stein said New Yorkers are still making donations to the charity, “but the gifts are smaller.”

Stein said she’s been trying to cut costs where she can.

“You can postpone some things – like research, advocacy – but how do you postpone delivery of a meal to a 95-year-old person in a wheelchair?”

To donate to Citymeals-on-Wheels, go to www.citymeals.org or call (212) 687-1234.

sgaskell@nydailynews.com

Wolf banging at Citymeals-on-Wheels’ door.