The impact of Nanny Bloomberg

The New York Post – by Kate Briquelet

With the election of Bill de Blasio, Mayor Bloomberg may be on his way out — but his pro-health policies will continue to mold New Yorkers from the cradle to the grave.

In his three terms, Nanny Bloomberg waged war on salt and soda, banned smoking in parks and pushed breast-feeding by having hospitals hide the formula.

Now in the twilight of his administration, Hizzoner is fighting for a slew of edicts before he exits, including mandatory flu shots for children and a crackdown on tanning beds.  

Here’s how Bloomberg’s measures will affect New Yorkers for years to come — for better or worse.

CONCEPTION

City schools launched a birth-control blitz to stem teen pregnancy, doling out the “morning-after” pill and other contraceptives in record numbers.

In February, The Post revealed that school health centers disbursed 12,721 doses of Plan B emergency contraceptive pills in the 2011-2012 school year — more than double such handouts in 2009-2010.

BIRTH

City hospitals are pressuring new mothers to breast-feed by keeping infant formula under lock and key — forcing moms to sign out formula like medication.

Under the Latch On NYC initiative, 27 of the city’s 40 hospitals also agreed to stop giving away formula and formula-related promotional materials.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Kids could be forced to get flu shots as young as 6 months old. Under a new Health Department proposal, children under 5 would be required to get immunized — and schools and child-care centers failing to keep documentation on the shots would face fines.

Soda pitchers at kids’ birthday parties could be a thing of the past if Bloomberg’s ban on Big Gulps moves forward.

State courts twice struck down the city’s law prohibiting eateries, movie theaters and other establishments from selling sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces.

It’s now in the hands of the state Court of Appeals, which will rule on the case next year. Democratic Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio has vowed to make Bloomberg’s ban a reality.

ADOLESCENCE

Schools no longer have bake sales or junk food in vending machines. In 2009, the Department of Education banned homemade baked goods and set strict guidelines for drinks and snacks.

Health officials are plotting a social-media campaign to warn teens about the risk of hearing loss that comes with listening to music with ear buds.

Teens could be barred from tanning beds under a new Health Department proposal that cracks down on tanning salons. The city would enforce the law prohibiting children under age 17 from frequenting the shops and would launch a new public-education campaign warning of the dangers of UV radiation.

EARLY 20s

Smokers now have to be 21 to buy cigarettes and electronic-vapor cigarettes. Last week, the City Council raised the legal age for buying tobacco from 18 in a bid to stop young people from lighting up.

This summer, Bloomy said he’d introduce legislation to alter the building code to make stairways more appealing. Signs would be posted near elevators encouraging people to hike the steps.

Apartments are going smoke-free under a voluntary anti-cigarette initiative that started last year. Contractors hired by the city’s nonprofit Partnership for a Healthier New York City are asking tenants and property owners to make their buildings butt-free zones.

In September, The Post reported five residential buildings voted to ban smoking and seven properties were considering adopting smoke-free policies.

ADULTHOOD

Smoking in city parks, beaches and public plazas including Times Square has been banned since 2011.

Packaged goods are coming with less salt. In 2007, Bloomberg’s Health Department pushed for a 10-year plan to reduce sodium levels in processed foods. The mayor says 21 US companies including Kraft and Subway slashed salt by up to 20 percent.

The city became the first to force chain restaurants to post calorie counts on their menus in 2008.

Artificial trans fats have been banned since 2007, forcing city restaurateurs to sizzle french fries in healthier oils.

In 2003, Bloomberg banned smoking in the city’s bars and restaurants.

OLD AGE

The mayor helped roll out the nation’s first senior center geared exclusively to gay and lesbian New Yorkers, in Chelsea in 2012.

Hizzoner’s Department for the Aging opened seven other “Innovative Senior Centers” to provide wellness programs, health-care services and vegetarian and organic meals.

http://nypost.com/2013/11/10/the-impact-of-nanny-bloomberg/