Politics & Government

De Blasio Plans to Uphold Soda Ban

Mayor announces leader for Health Department, plans to push forward Bloomberg's controversial soda ban.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his pick to lead the city’s Health Department on Thursday and said that he would uphold Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s controversial soda ban.

Doctor Mary Bassett will serve as the leader of the city’s Department of Health and Hygiene.

“There’s no better time to be the health commissioner of New York City than now, with an administration that places social justice at the heart of its agenda,” Bassett told NY 1.

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De Blasio said that while he agreed with many of Bloomberg’s health initiatives, including the ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces, his administration would take a different approach to decision making.

A judge blocked Bloomberg’s ban one day before it was scheduled to go into effect last year. The Bloomberg administration then filed an appeal on the matter, but the case has yet to return to court.

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