The Manhattan Times

This past Sun., Apr. 22nd, residents of northern Manhattan, local community leaders and elected officials, including Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, New York City Comptroller John Liu, New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat and the Dean of the Columbia School of Engineering Feniosky Pena-Mora gathered in the auditorium at the George Washington High School campus to hear "The State of the District" address from New York City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez.

It was a fitting setting for the former high school teacher of social studies.

Councilmember Rodriguez touched on the issues of education, affordable housing, economic development and quality of life, and his address was preceded by a series of performances that represented the diversity of his constituency in music and song.

Stewed fish with vegetables are prepared with rich, colorful sauces.

Open 24 hours for lobster tail, oxtail, curry goat, shrimp, fish with a Jamaican twist and so much more, the Gold Star Jerk Center on 219th Street and White Plains Road is a welcoming delight for the taste buds no matter the hour.

Homesick Jamaican palates can get their fix at Gold Star, and so can any seeking out well-seasoned dishes that speak of richly flavorful island dining.

The restaurant is widely regarded as home to some of the best Jamaican food in the city with clients crowding in around the clock.

"Sometimes we create a dish, and we sell out in an hour," explained Jackie Cowan, manager at Gold Star. "Dishes don't last long on the board, because there are always people here."

As it favors island ingredients like coconut, mint, papaya, and curry, the locale has a faithful clientele with lines that can start around the corner.

"The curry crab, the red snapper, and the jerk chicken – these are all my favorites, especially for dinner," said Njeri Archer who has been eating at Gold Star for a little over two years.

"Everything here is great. You can't go wrong, and the seafood is certainly worth it," she added.

Un Plato de Pollo al estilo curry con vegetales y arroz blanco.

Abierto las 24 horas para cola de langosta, rabo, chivo al curry, camarones, pescado con un toque jamaiquino y mucho más, el GoldStar Jerk Center localizado en la calle 219 y White Plains Road, es una acogedora delicia para la papila gustativa.

El paladar del jamaiquino nostálgico puede lograr su cometido en Gold Star (Estrella Dorada).

El restaurante es considerado como el hogar de la mejor comida jamaiquina en la ciudad, con clientes que se aglomeran todo el tiempo.

"En ocasiones creamos un plato, y se vende todo en una hora", explicó Jackie Cowan, gerente de Gold Star. "Los platos no duran mucho tiempo en el panel, porque aquí siempre hay gente".

Panel included (left to right): Gary Jenkins, MPA, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, NYC New Human Resources Administration, Division of Food Stamp Services; Edward Cooney, JD, Executive Director, Congressional Hunger Center; Y. Claire Wang, MD, ScD, Professor of Health Policy and Management, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health; and Mark Bittman, Food Columnist for The New York Times.

When both the anti-hunger community and the public health community are at odds on an issue, it's time to sit up and take notice.

Last Thursday, a panel held at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health was a window into the nuances of the city's obesity and hunger problem, and how the public health and anti-hunger communities have come to stake out different ground on the issue.

The issue is of particular relevance for thousands of families in northern Manhattan and the Bronx.

More than 1.8 million New Yorkers, including about 250,000 in the Bronx, receive food stamps. And the New York City Coalition Against Hunger reports that Manhattan has 227,506 people living in food insecure homes, while the Bronx has 417,119 people – the highest rate in the city.

Last August, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rejected Mayor Bloomberg and the city's proposal to ban the use of food stamps to buy soda and sugary beverages.

Los panelistas debatieron una prohibición sobre el uso de cupones para alimentos para comprar refrescos y bebidas azucaradas en la Escuela Mailman de Salud de Columbia.

Cuando tanto la comunidad que combate el hambre y la comunidad de salud pública están en desacuerdo, es tiempo de sentarse y tomar cartas en el asunto.

El pasado jueves, un panel celebrado por Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health (Escuela Mailman de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Columbia), sirvió como una ventana sobre los matices del problema de la obesidad y el hambre en la ciudad, y de qué forma las comunidades de salud pública y los que combaten el hambre han llegado a tomar posiciones diferentes respecto al tema.

El tema afecta a muchas familias en todo el Norte de Manhattan y en el Bronx.

Más de 1.8 millones de neoyorquinos, incluyendo cerca de 250.000 en el Bronx, reciben cupones de comida. Y La Coalición de Nueva York Contra el Hambre divulga que Manhattan tiene 227.506 personas viviendo en hogares escasos del alimento, mientras que el Bronx tiene 417.119 personas - la tarifa más alta de la ciudad.