The New York Post  

By FRANKIE EDOZIEN

February 28, 2008 — After much backroom negotiation and wrangling, the City Council passed a watered-down version of the Bloomberg administration’s “green carts” proposal.

Administration officials had hoped to flood low-income neighborhoods with 1,500 vending carts stocked with fruits and veggies to fight obesity and diabetes.

The bill was opposed by many grocers and lawmakers but was passed by the council, 37-9.

The revised version cuts down the number of carts to 1,000 and precincts where the vendors can operate from 43 to 34.

“Does this solve every problem? No. But it’s just one of many pebbles that we have to throw in an ocean of neglect where people are not taking care of themselves in a healthy way,” said Leroy Comrie, (D-Queens) chairman of the council’s Consumer Affairs committee