Vanessa Gibson is a frequent In Focus guest, here whenever the topic is food insecurity. She has represented her Bronx district for seven years, and has just won election as Bronx Borough President, representing the borough with the highest rates of food insecurity and the largest number of food deserts in the city. 

She joins In Focus this time to talk about the growing need throughout New York City, as the number of food insecure New Yorkers has gone from around 1 million to nearly 2 million since the start of the pandemic. Gibson admits that city program after city program has not made dent in the hunger numbers, and so she introduced legislation that forced the city to offer a 10-year plan to end hunger, or at least bring the number of food insecure down. 

The plan is called “Food Forward," and, she explains, it’s not just about making sure people have enough food, but the right food, healthy food for children and adults alike. She also pays heed to the community-based groups who have been charged for years with feeding the hungry, and which are stepping up once more in this holiday season, and she talks about why the "Build Back Better" plan is urgent when it comes to getting hungry New Yorkers the food they need.