Ban the ice cream man?
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| Students crowd around four ice cream trucks parked at lunch time Thursday at Novato High School. |
School officials want trucks to steer clear
By Tim Omarzu
Just after noon Thursday, Adam Doodokyan joined a throng of students who crowded around four ice cream trucks from Vallejo parked in front of Novato High School.
“Once in a while it’s OK to treat yourself,” Doodokyan said, as he opened a bag of Skittles candy.
Novato Unified School District officials don’t necessarily agree.
School officials want the city to pass an ordinance banning ice cream trucks from parking near schools, similar to a San Francisco law that makes mobile catering vehicles stay 1,500 feet away from school grounds.
Novato school district employees say they work to make sure students get healthful lunches, and state laws passed in 2005 ban the sale of junk food and soda pop on campus.
School officials feel the ice cream trucks undermine their efforts by selling candy, ice cream, chips, soda and other such verboten goodies.
“The guys that drive these trucks, they’re nice guys, and I know they’re trying to make a living. But they’re doing it at the expense of the kids,” said Novato High School Principal Rey Mayoral.
“They’re like seagulls,” he said of the ice cream truck drivers, who know exactly when lunches start. “Sunshine, rain, hail — they’re here. They show up at all kinds of stuff. They were at graduation.
“The litter’s horrible. It attracts outsiders. It’s just a nuisance. We’ve had a couple of fights because kids are pushing and shoving in line.”
The principal has asked the trucks to move. “I even had staff park their cars to block them,” he said.
But school district Food Service Director Miguel Villareal said that without a city ordinance, the district can’t make the trucks move.
“There’s nothing even you and I, even the neighbors, can do,” said Villareal, who’s been advocating for a ban on ice cream trucks since at least 2007. He met in May with Novato City Manager Michael Frank and Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold to see about getting an ice cream truck ban passed here.
Novato City Councilwomen Denise Athas and Pat Eklund support putting an ice cream truck ban on the Novato City Council’s agenda for further discussion.
“The kids, being kids, are going to eat the stuff that isn’t good for them,” Athas said.
“I hate that government always have to be involved. But in this case, I think (the schools) do need help,” Athas said. “I really do think the parents would be in favor of it.”
“I don’t think that we have to reinvent the wheel. We can talk to other cities that already have this established,” she said.
“Once in a while it’s OK to treat yourself,” Doodokyan said, as he opened a bag of Skittles candy.
Novato Unified School District officials don’t necessarily agree.
School officials want the city to pass an ordinance banning ice cream trucks from parking near schools, similar to a San Francisco law that makes mobile catering vehicles stay 1,500 feet away from school grounds.
Novato school district employees say they work to make sure students get healthful lunches, and state laws passed in 2005 ban the sale of junk food and soda pop on campus.
School officials feel the ice cream trucks undermine their efforts by selling candy, ice cream, chips, soda and other such verboten goodies.
“The guys that drive these trucks, they’re nice guys, and I know they’re trying to make a living. But they’re doing it at the expense of the kids,” said Novato High School Principal Rey Mayoral.
“They’re like seagulls,” he said of the ice cream truck drivers, who know exactly when lunches start. “Sunshine, rain, hail — they’re here. They show up at all kinds of stuff. They were at graduation.
“The litter’s horrible. It attracts outsiders. It’s just a nuisance. We’ve had a couple of fights because kids are pushing and shoving in line.”
The principal has asked the trucks to move. “I even had staff park their cars to block them,” he said.
But school district Food Service Director Miguel Villareal said that without a city ordinance, the district can’t make the trucks move.
“There’s nothing even you and I, even the neighbors, can do,” said Villareal, who’s been advocating for a ban on ice cream trucks since at least 2007. He met in May with Novato City Manager Michael Frank and Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold to see about getting an ice cream truck ban passed here.
Novato City Councilwomen Denise Athas and Pat Eklund support putting an ice cream truck ban on the Novato City Council’s agenda for further discussion.
“The kids, being kids, are going to eat the stuff that isn’t good for them,” Athas said.
“I hate that government always have to be involved. But in this case, I think (the schools) do need help,” Athas said. “I really do think the parents would be in favor of it.”
“I don’t think that we have to reinvent the wheel. We can talk to other cities that already have this established,” she said.
No ice cream for you...but have some free condoms. These kids can have abortions without need ing a parents consent but, not ice cream nearby.
Most of these kids have cars, I know the area very well as it's my hometown, all they need to do is go to the local Coldstone Creamery just a couple of minutes away. So the hysterical global warmists will make the kids drive numerous cars to get ice cream instead of having the more environmental solution of having it brought to them. Liberals are freedom sucking totalitarians and that includes the First Lady.
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