Join the FSNYC Public Policy Committee!

FSNYC POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE -- CONCEPT PROPOSAL

I. MISSION AND OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE

 
The purpose of the FSNYC Policy Subcommittee is to educate our members about timely policy issues related to food and farms, and to provide a networking platform for anyone interested in these topics. We are not an advocacy committee. But part of our role as educators and connectors is to inform people of ways they can take action on their own, and to direct them to advocacy groups already working on the topic.

The FSNYC Policy Subcommittee will meet once a month. As chair, Heidi Dolnick will update the Leadership Committee by email after each subcommittee meeting, informing the committee of our present work and future plans. This will ensure that Leadership Committee members have the opportunity to give suggestions and feedback.

Next steps:

* Form subcommittee, identify co-chair, submit to FSNYC Leadership Committee for approval
* Subcommittee or leadership committee (either or both), will vote on:
o Policy topic or topics to be pursued in 2010-2011.  
o Action steps (see part III below): e.g., Present a workshop series open to the public but separate from the open networking meetings; write a blog; organize debates, etc.  
* Draft an action plan and timeline.

II. PRIORITY TOPICS

A. The 2012 Farm Bill. The next farm bill will undoubtedly be a historic one. Negotiations and congressional hearings have already begun. The chorus of legislators, lobbyists and advocates grows louder by the day, as interest groups jostle for a seat at the table. The bill is sprawling and covers a staggering range of topics. As with every policy topic, the FSNYC subcommittee will focus on how aspects of the legislation impact New York, such as government financial safety nets, nutrition, poverty, conservation, regional food systems, and market incentives.

B. NY Regional Food Economy. The policy subcommittee would look closely at the existing policies affecting aspects of NYC's food system like distribution, processing, and government procurement. We'd then turn to new policies in the works, beginning with Speaker Chris Quinn's FoodWorks initiative. We'd also examine efforts underway to include food in Bloomberg's PlaNYC. To inform the discussion we'll explore innovative state and city programs nationally and internationally. Some examples are:

* The 2009 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act of Illinois: a stimulus package aimed at increasing the amount of local food bought and consumed in Illinois.   
* Ontario's Greenbelt Farm Stewardship Program, a cost-sharing program to preserve farms in Ontario's Greenbelt, and Greenbeltfresh.ca, an online farmer's market for the Greenbelt farmers.
* San Francisco Food Policy Directive -- A comprehensive package of legislation and initiatives aimed at increasing the availability of healthy and sustainable food in the city.

III. POSSIBLE ACTION STEPS

A. Workshops and debates (Separate program from Open Networking Meetings)

B. Committee updates at every Open Networking Meeting

C. Online presence:

* Articles for newsletter
* Blog
* “Daily Pol Watch “ -- An ongoing tally of votes and bills (sponsored and introduced), for each New York legislator at the city, state and federal levels.