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Supporters back Food Is Medicine but urge more community representation and clearer funding
Summary
While witnesses and health officials supported CB67's goals, some public commenters and council members urged adding unaffiliated resident representation to the work group and sought clearer funding commitments and a faster implementation timeline.
Supporters of CB67 described pilot benefits and urged the committee to preserve community voice and ensure funding and speed of implementation.
Tiffany Harmon, a resident and participant in prior county pilots, said she supports the bill's intent but urged the committee to add community representation: “The proposed work group ... includes 21 members, all affiliated with institutions, agencies, or organizations. There is no designated seat for a community resident unaffiliated with any formal entity,” she said, and requested at least one resident seat and a public nomination process. Chair responded that the draft would be revised to add a resident seat.
Committee members and staff acknowledged funding and timeline concerns. Kathy Cannon explained the work group is intended to help implementation and that the health department will begin connecting residents to existing programs while the work group convenes. Several witnesses recommended multiyear funding commitments and using existing pilot infrastructure to accelerate service delivery.
