via cnn.com
San Francisco, California, Mayor Gavin Newsom vetoed Friday the city’s ban on most McDonald’s Happy Meals with toys.
In making the veto, the mayor released a new report on how a public-private partnership is combating childhood obesity and how San Francisco’s more than 55,000 public school students are now eating fresher and healthier foods.
“Parents, not politicians, should decide what their children eat, especially when it comes to spending their own money,” said Newsom. “Despite its good intentions, I cannot support this unwise and unprecedented governmental intrusion into parental responsibilities and private choices.”
Under a partnership with the private sector, the local government has been remedying the root causes of obesity, Newsom said.
Since the city launched its “Shape Up San Francisco” program in 2006, the city has received state funds to expand physical exercise for schoolchildren, put gardens in schools, delineate safe school routes to walk and bike to school, and educate kids about making healthy choices, Newsom said.
His spokesman added the mayor is looking for the Board of Supervisors not to override his veto, even though eight of its 11 members had voted for the ban.
“He hopes some members will reconsider should it be put up for an override,” said spokesman Tony Winnicker. “One of the eight is not entirely comfortable with it and some of them are getting heat as this thing is being mocked around the world.”
The mayor, he said, is “doing what he thinks is the right thing.”
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Article courtesy cnn.com