Mayor Soglin, Second Harvest Food Bank Push Responsible Food Policy

posted February 11, 2015 – 12:22pm

Today, Mayor Paul Soglin joined Dan Stein, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin, to call on State and Federal Government to join Madison in responsible food policy and investment in equitable local food systems.

On the heels of Gov. Scott Walker’s latest budget proposal to require drug-testing for all SNAP (FoodShare) participants, Mayor Soglin and Mr. Stein stressed the importance of the safety net that food assistance provides for the most in need.

“Food Share is the most effective tool available to ease the burden of food insecurity for the most vulnerable,” said Dan Stein. “The average time spent on food assistance is roughly eleven months, so we are not talking about ‘abuse’ of the system. It is essential that we make this program accessible.”

Mayor Soglin critiqued the current state of the food system and described components of a healthy local and regional food system and how the state and federal governments could follow the lead of the city in investing in a strong, equitable food system.

“It is time that we all gather across levels of government, and within both the public and private sectors to push a responsible food policy agenda that works for everybody,” said Mayor Soglin. “As the great Wendell Berry said, ‘the motive of competition has failed us’. We must work together to ensure fair, living wages within the food system and invest in key infrastructure, such as food hubs and markets, that make a local food economy work.”

Mayor Soglin pointed to examples of other states adopting “food charters” to guide responsible policymaking and investment and local food policy councils, such as Madison and Dane County’s that have led local and regional efforts.

“It can be done,” believes Mayor Soglin. “Madison continues to be a leader in this arena, but we cannot do it alone. We look forward to working with our partners from the State and Federal levels of government in making this a fair, equitable, and just food system for us all.”