Supervisor Ken Yeager

My boyfriend and I lived in an old downtown neighborhood of San Jose for many years before moving to San Francisco.  The area was called ‘The Rosegarden’, and most of the homes in the area were built in the early part of the twentieth century, along wide avenues laid out perpendicularly to The Alameda, a boulevard which connects central San Jose to Mission Santa Clara.  Its a small area located basically between the University of Santa Clara and downtown San Jose. 

Its a leafy tree-filled neighborhood much sought after for its beautiful older homes in various styles but well-known for its Craftsman bungalows. The central feature is a municipal Rosegarden and park.  Its an area where neighbors get to know each other, jog, walk the dogs, or just stroll around evenings and weekends to enjoy the area.  We met many gay couples, and straight couples, while we lived there.  Ken Yeager lived a few blocks from us, and we used to play poker on card nights.  Ken is a professor at San Jose State University, and became the first out gay City Councilman for the City of San Jose.  My boyfriend worked on his campaign, and became of his Chief of Staff.  

Ken is now the first out gay Santa Clara County Supervisor, and was recently noted for his work on legislation to improve nutrition in California.  

 

(from the eBay Area Reporter)

Friday, January 25, 2008

The California Association of Nutrition and Activity Programs has awarded Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager its inaugural California Advocate for Nutrition Award for his work in fighting obesity.

When Yeager served on the San Jose City Council, he convinced his colleagues to pass a measure that required the city to offer more healthy food options in its city-operated vending machines. Under the policy, vending machines in city libraries are only stocked with snacks and beverages that don’t contain trans fats and that are low in sugar, saturated fat and sodium.

Half of the food and drink choices in all other city-operated vending machines must also be healthy options.

“People regularly underestimate the number of calories they consume on a daily basis,” Yeager said in a release last week announcing he had won the award.

“Having more healthy options in vending machines helps our residents make better choices and prevent obesity, heart disease and diabetes.”

Since being elected to the county board in June 2006, Yeager has continued to battle against the bulge for his constituents. He recently ensured that the county would consider healthy eating options when drawing up new contracts for the vendors operating the county’s several cafeterias.

The cafeterias, which serve thousands of county employees, jurors from the Hall of Justice, and residents each week, are currently in the process of revising their menus.

 

FILED BY MATTHEW S. BAJKO IN POLITICS