14 THE COURIER SUN • MARCH 14, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com ON ICE SODA BAN FIZZLES, MAYOR VOWS FIGHT BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com In a Jackson Heights McDonald’s, the large sodas still fl ow. And customers were just happy they still had the choice of ordering sugary drinks bigger than 16 ounces. “I think people are smart enough to decide what’s good for them and what’s just too big,” said 19-year-old Chris Rojas. Less than 24 hours before it was to take effect, a judge halted the city’s sugary drink ban that was set to start on Tuesday, March 12. The same day, Mayor Michael Bloomberg vowed to appeal the ruling. In a press conference Monday, Bloomberg cited the leading role of sugary drinks in the obesity epidemic and the history of the New York City Board of Health taking “bold action to confront major health problems” as reasons why the ban is important. “With so many people contracting diabetes and heart disease, with so many children who are overweight and obese, with so many poor neighborhoods suffering the worst of this epidemic, we believe it is reasonable and responsible to draw a line — and that is what the Board of Health has done,” he said. Bloomberg also said he was certain that they city’s ban would eventually go forward as planned. “There are many, many instances where a lower court decision has gone against us and then been reversed. If lower court rulings had always stood, Grand Central Terminal would have been knocked down 40 years ago,” he said. “We’re confi dent that the court’s decision will ultimately be reversed, too.” In October, the American Beverage Association and six other groups with members affected by the ban fi led the suit against the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, arguing that the board did not have the authority to pass the ban. In his ruling, State Supreme Justice Milton Tingling found that the Board “may supervise and regulate the food supply of the city when it affects public health, but the Charter’s history clearly illustrates when such steps may be taken, i.e. when the city is facing eminent danger due to disease, and that hasn’t been demonstrated.” In the suit, the plaintiffs argued that the ban unfairly targets certain drinks and certain food establishments, while ignoring others. Large-sized non-diet sodas would have been prohibited, but sugary alcoholic drinks are not. Pizza places would not have been allowed to deliver a two-liter soda to a family of four, but the 7-Eleven chain could sell a Big Gulp to one person. “If you want to educate people and say listen, the sugar is no good for you, fi ne. But to ban the two-liter bottle is absolutely ridiculous,” said James Coady, co-owner of Cascarino’s, a pizzeria with multiple locations. “Nobody is sitting there and drinking a two-liter bottle and guzzling it.” ‘CANNIBAL COP’ GUILTY BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com Guilty on all counts. After four days of deliberation, the jury has found “cannibal cop” Gilberto Valle guilty of both counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and for accessing a federal government computer database without authorization. The six-year NYPD veteran who planned to kidnap, kill and eat 100 women, made the decision to not take the stand during his trial and reportedly only spoke to the judge on the last day to discuss his decision “not to testify.” The trial began February 25 and closing arguments were given on Tuesday, March 5. During the trial, testimony was given by possible “targets” in Valle’s “deranged” plot, which included his estranged wife who broke down as she took the stand to describe the details of her husband’s plan. FBI agents also provided evidence of Valle’s “sick web chats with fellow fetishists” and Internet searches including “recipes for human flesh” and “how to chloroform a girl.” Valle could face life in prison. Photo courtesy Facebook
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