Salt becomes illegal in NYC [moved from Manhattan]

[NYJewboy]

Here is a ridiculous bill that seems like a joke:
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local...

[Kelli2006]

This bill is far less enforceable than prohibition was in the 20s and we all know how that ended.

If it actually passes I will buy cases of salt at the nearby Morton salt plan and sell them clandestinely in the alleys of Chinatown, Little Italy and the meat packing district.

Hey buddy wanna buy a box of kosher salt, Fiddly bucks.

[david t.]

Is this some raw food diet craze?

This guy clearly has never so much as boiled an egg. It would be much easier to simply ban cooking, which is essentially what banning salt does.

[Kelli2006]

I assume that it is a publicity stunt because the effect this law would have would be to decimate the NYC food scene and cost thousands of jobs and billions in tax revenue.

[Davwud]

Which is why he should lose his job.

DT

[nofunlatte]

And we'll have salt runners bringing in the goods from Canada, secretly replacing the spare tire with smuggled salt.

[FrankD]

Naah - we'd just continue tunneling the giant salt mine in Windsor, Ontario, across the river to Detroit. I mean, if we popped up in the middle of that ghost town, who would notice?

[FrankD]

Does Ortiz, the legislator that introduced the bill, ever think things through? Manhattan's economy is already reeling from layoffs in finance. What does this fool think this would do to the tourism economy? How many foodies, thinking of a trip to NYC, will go to Chicago instead? How many people from Jersey and Connecticut will decide to go home to eat, rather than dine in Manhattan? And, of course, it being Manhattan, for sure there will be guys on every other street corner, or hanging out in front of McD's, selling little packets of salt.

Either this guy is a fool, or it's just a poorly thought out publicity stunt.

[MikeG]

Either this guy is a fool, or it's just a poorly thought out publicity stunt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That was my thought. I know politicians do things for the durndest reasons but you really have to wonder what the thought process behind this was. It's so blatantly absurd on so many levels.

[Edit: The bill doesn't even define "salt in any form" which is no little omission considering the sweeping nature of the bill. Is it meant to, or not, include soy sauce and fish sauce, soy bean pastes, salt-packed anchovies, capers, and the myriad other salt-providing ingredients out there? No more pickles? Olives? Etc, etc.]

Note also - for better or for worse - this is a New York State, not City, bill, no less. Makes me feel a bit like someone moved me 3000 miles westward overnight in my sleep. (g,d&r)

[rds246]

perhaps he's friends with the guy in California who wants to outlaw divorce!

[MrsT]

This is the same guy who wanted a "pole tax." He wanted to increase the taxes on strip clubs and strippers earnings.

[MrsT]

By focusing on banning salt, Ortiz is trying making sure we all get more exercise with the elimination of the B37 bus and service cuts on on the R train. Both run through his district.

[Fuller]

The official bill:

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?defa...

[Davwud]

I'd start a petition to have this guy punted next election. What a waste of time.

DT

[DGresh]

Well just because an idiot introduces a bill, doesn't mean anyone will pay attention to it. That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

[NYJewboy]

Exactly. However the fact that it was even introduced is pretty shocking.

[goodhealthgourmet]

seriously, are we sure this isn't an April Fool's joke that was released early? i'm not opposed to reducing *excessive* levels of salt in food, but this is freaking ridiculous.

[LindaWhit]

Completely idiotic. As one of the commenters in the article noted, it's going to be against the law to make corned beef in NYC? Yeah. I don't think so.

But Davwud's suggestion of a petition to have this guy voted out next election is a good idea!

[alkapal]

you don't petition to vote him out, you vote him out!
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=051
provocative children's clothing and eating disorders -- now salt. good thing he focuses on the important issues facing the people!

sorry i can't vote in new york. or...can i? ;-).

[Davwud]

Well what I meant was make people aware of this and make sure he and all who follow know that stupid bills will cost them their jobs.

DT

[LindaWhit]

Exactly. Publicize the fact that this guy is wasting time and money in the NY State government. Get him out of there!