Keep Foie Gras Free From New York Politics

Arguments over the ethics of an ancient delicacy should take place around a dining table, not in the political arena.

Foie gras discussions belong only at the dinner table.

As the silly season draws to a close, we have a late entrant for its silliest news story: A feud between the governor of New York and the mayor of New York City over — wait for it — luxury goose and duck liver. Kathy Hochul and Eric Adams, who differ on issues of genuine importance, like the housing of migrants, are butting heads over foie gras, the delectable staple of high-end restaurants.

At issue is whether the city has the authority to stop its sale. Mayor Adams is keen to impose a ban, signed into law in 2019 by his predecessor, Bill de Blasio, as part of a slate of animal-rights measures. It was supposed to go into effect late last year, but the state blocked it, citing a law that bars urban centers from dictating what farmers can produce and sell. (Two upstate farms had already sued the city on the same grounds.)