It's July, and it's Gioia! ("Joy-ah.")
Eric Gioia, New York City Councilmember from Queens, just completed the Food Stamp Challenge. Some in Congress tried to do it. Have you? Could YOU live on $28 of food a week?
Did Eric pass the Challenge, or fall apart from an overabundance of empty calories? Check out how he did: http://www.ericgioia.com/...
Heck, I didn't know how much the average weekly food stamp allotment was, until I read about it. $28 of food a week. That's how much some people spend on an entree at a nice restaurant. And that's just for one meal. Imagine spreading $28 out over an entire week, and having the energy and brain-power to run a family, get kids to school, and do everything many of us might take for granted.
We're having a meet and greet for Eric Gioia TOMORROW, here in New York City, at Bar Nine, where I will ask him how HE tried to survive this Challenge.
I'm thinking of doing it - wouldn't it be great if MORE of our electeds got a little dose of a lot of folks' reality?
If you can stop by, come meet Eric and get the juicy details (or maybe the grueling ones) on how he did. Challenge yourself, or ask him anything. Talk one-on-one with a great young City Councilmember who wants to talk with YOU.
It's FREE. No charge. No $28. But you may need to shell out a couple of bucks for a beer at Bar Nine. - Great nachos, fyi.
Bar Nine - 807 Ninth Ave., between 53rd and 54th Sts.
MONDAY, July 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Meet and talk with Eric Gioia, City Councilmember from Queens. Hear the latest in local New York City politics, what's up with Bloomberg(!), the Food Stamp Challenge, reasonable alternatives Eric is proposing, etc. Make new friends and influence people! :) We're cool people and since you are, too, we want you to meet Eric.
Send an email to Ruth at Ruth_Benedict@comcast.net, or just show up. Tell 'em Blue Waters sent ya. Thanks!