IN THIS ISSUE: Editorial / Perspectives on Food Policy Priorities from the Field / Additional Readings and Resources / Previous Video Recording / Upcoming Events

EDITORIAL

Greetings CUNY Urban Food Policy Monitor readers and members of our food policy learning community! 

As New York City prepares for the mayoral election —with the primary on June 24 (early voting begins Saturday, June 14) and the general election on November 4—this issue of the CUNY Urban Food Policy Monitor offers several highlights of how food policy continues to shape, and is shaped by, democratic engagement, civic leadership, community-centered data insights, and community action. From hunger and food equity to the fight for universal school meals and the future of community composting, this issue offers insights into some of the recent debates and decisions that will influence the health and well-being of New Yorkers for years to come. 

We begin with a focus on the 2025 NYC mayoral race. Our recap of the 2025 Mayoral Candidates Forum: Hunger, Poverty, and Food Policy in NYC highlights what candidates had to say about food justice, from access to healthy meals in schools to zoning for neighborhood-level food security. A companion opinion piece by Kim Moscaritolo, State Policy Director at Hunger Free America, and an overview article from Craig Willingham, Managing Director of the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, provide critical context for understanding what’s at stake in this election and how the next mayor can lead on food equity. CUNY students who need information on voting can go to CUNY Votes. 

Then we turn to the Policy & Research Highlights section of this issue, which includes state and national updates with direct implications for local communities. We have been closely following the Predatory Marketing Prevention Act (PMPA), a bill designed to curb unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children and adolescents. Sponsored by Senator Zellnor Myrie, the legislation passed the New York State Senate on June 9 and was delivered to the Assembly the same day. As of the close of the 2025 legislative session on June 12, the Assembly has not yet voted on the bill, meaning it will need to be reintroduced in the next session beginning January 2026 unless taken up in a special session. The importance of regulating predatory food marketing was also raised during the recent Mayoral Forum, highlighting its growing relevance in the broader food justice conversation.

This policy momentum aligns with our own research on unhealthy food marketing led by Institute staff and collaborators, including a recent narrative review published in Obesity Reviews examining 25 years of evidence on youth exposure to unhealthy food marketing. The review documents how cumulative, multi-platform marketing disproportionately affects low-income and Black and Latinx youth, contributing to diet-related health inequities. These findings reinforce the urgency of policy measures like the PMPA to reduce harmful marketing practices and advance public health equity. 

We also cover Governor Hochul’s reaffirmed support for universal school meals and the troubling threat of federal SNAP-Ed funding cuts that jeopardize NYC’s CookShop program, an essential tool for nutrition education in public schools. A second recent publication co-authored by Institute Director Nevin Cohen in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health compares universal and sustainable school meal policies in NYC and three European cities. The article emphasizes the multidimensional benefits of such policies in reducing food insecurity, promoting equity, and supporting climate resilience—insights especially relevant as New York continues to strengthen its school food programs. 

Next, in our research and evaluation highlights, we introduce a few selected opinion and evaluation articles written by Institute staff exploring local and national innovations in food policy. From community composting’s role in just and sustainable waste management in NYC to the GOODS program tackling rural food access in Mississippi, these examples remind us of the diverse strategies required to advance equity across geographies. 

We are also thrilled to celebrate the recent recognition of two of our colleagues honored as part of the 2025 NYC Food Policy Center’s “40 Under 40” leaders transforming food systems across the city: Jacquelyn Sullivan, a research assistant at the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute team, recognized for her impactful work in community-based food systems research and policy advocacy, and CUNY SPH PhD Student and former research fellow at the Institute, Holly Isenberg, recognized for her research on the impact of SNAP benefits on college students, alongside work on various other food policy projects and initiatives, including work related to the Global Network of Farmers Markets’ Initiative. 

At the end of this issue of CUNY Urban Food Policy Monitor, we highlight several opportunities for continued learning and engagement. These include a new volume of the Food Empowerment cookbook created by youth from The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis), a new issue of City Health from CUNY SPH featuring work by Institute Director Nevin Cohen and Director of Evaluation Katy T. Fraser (Have Enhanced Nutrition Programs Improved Access to Healthy Food?), and additional resources such as the New York State Comptroller’s recent report on food affordability in New York. We also feature upcoming events and engagement opportunities, including youth-run farmers markets, webinars on strategic science, and a new leadership certificate program for community gardeners across the state. 

Thank you for continuing to read, learn, and take action with us. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts, participate in our events, and join the ongoing conversation about creating a fairer, healthier food system for all. 

 

In solidarity, 

The CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute team 

 

Editors of this Issue: The CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute Staff

Digital Content Specialist: Liv Collins, Communications Assistant, CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute

Production Coordinator: Rositsa T. Ilieva, Director of Policy, CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute