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by amyk from Lake Mary, FL

Last Post 9 days, 16 hours Ago


LA blocks new fast-food outlets from poor areas

LOS ANGELES (AP) - City officials are putting South Los Angeles on a diet. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to place a moratorium on new fast food restaurants in an impoverished swath of the city with a proliferation of such eateries and above average rates of obesity. The yearlong moratorium is intended to give the city time to attract restaurants that serve healthier food.

The action, which the mayor must still sign into law, is believed to be the first of its kind by a major city to protect public health. "Our communities have an extreme shortage of quality foods," City Councilman Bernard Parks said.

Representatives of fast-food chains say they already offer healthier food items on their menus. "It's not where you eat, it's what you eat," said Andrew Puzder, president and chief executive of CKE Restaurants, parent company of Carl's Jr. "We were willing to work with the city on that, but they obviously weren't interested."

Thirty percent of adults in South Los Angeles area are obese, compared to 19.1 percent for the metropolitan area, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Research has shown that people will change eating habits when different foods are offered, but cost is a key factor in poor communities, said Kelly D. Brownell, director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.  "Diets improve when healthy food establishments enter these neighborhoods."

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Pretty interesting stuff here. 

Should city council members be allowed to dictate which restaurants can go up in certain parts of town based on their menu? 

Does this cross the line of infringing on our freedoms? Or are they doing the people of L.A. a public health service?

20 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 20
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candyaquino read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 8:59 AM

Absolutely NOT......City Council are to help the City in which their serve better the communities NOT BANNING FOOD PLACES. This is ridiculous and it will not help THE OBESE...one must understand THAT THERE WERE OBESE PEOPLE WAY BEFORE McDONALD WAS CREATED...this is more like a punishment for those that like to rush through lunch and now will be forced to travel out more. What a crock of bull. What is the mentality of these people to think by banning fast food WILL PUT A BAN ON FAT.......YEAH RIGHT......WISHFUL THINKING........lol

afelton read my blog
Jul 30, 2008 | 9:14 AM

instead of fast food restaurants, how about banning the liquor stores thats on every corner in the poor areas?!! We have enough!!

BornToBeWild read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 9:17 AM

Although I think this isn't a bad idea...the City Council shouldn't tread on the people's domain and should never try and overstep their boundaries simply because it is the people who make the decisions for themselves! The City Council can bring it up as a suggestion then let the people decide on voting for it! It is within our own means to make those kinds of decisions...that is our right!

BornToBeWild read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 9:21 AM

Oh My Dearest Afelton...how precess you are! While they are at it they should include more of the porn books, movies & games! Help to "Clean up America"...you know what I mean! Great suggestion afelton!

BornToBeWild read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 9:23 AM

Oh My Dearest Afelton...how precious you are! While they are at it they should include more of the porn books, movies & games! Help to "Clean up America"...you know what I mean! Great suggestion afelton!

Mater01 read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 9:30 AM

You have to admit he does have a point and it's a brillant idea as long as they are only meaning to prevent more and not stating the threat of closing down what is already there because it would hurt the economy just that bit more!

Mater01 read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 9:42 AM

As BTBW stated...Don't ALLOW any official to overstep their boundaries!

Abunai read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 9:44 AM

LOL! Too bad we can't ban all the gang violence, drugs, and illegals! I suggest we go to the resturants that are now allowed by the Cali Kastopo, and lets measure the fat can calories in all the meals they serve! Do the remaining resturants have the fat/calorie counts posted in their menu?

Watch now as soon those very areas that banned these fast food joints start complaining about a rise in unemployment.

oxnnag read my blog
Jul 30, 2008 | 11:43 AM

Where will it end? You can't start telling people what they can and can not eat that is not the City Council's job. They have bigger problems to worry about. This is ludicrous!

Hawkeye read my blog
Jul 30, 2008 | 12:18 PM

How about the larger picture..Who's going to lose the MOST with the elimination of these jobs in a time of economic hardship??

Hard to BLAME anyone for resorting to selling drugs when you have NOTHING else to do..

ALL so that SOME Liberal Elitist can pat him/herself on the back and tell everybody else what a WONDERFUL Person they are..That they CARE....

Truthguys read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 2:51 PM

I doubt it will not help. People who are fat dont know how to eat correctly.. like it is secret. I venture to guess if you see Fat parents and fat kids you see fat foods in their kitchen.

northton read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 2:52 PM

I find it very disturbing that there are several people here who think banning businesses, food and drink items, and even reading materials, is somehow okay!

IT IS NOT OKAY!

It is not and should never be the right of government to tell people how to live their lives!

Next they'll be banning the bible because it is misleading and is bad for your mental health. Maybe they'll ban your favorite entertainers, writers, tv shows, and anything else they feel is unhealthy or wrong.

Yeah, it would be nice if everything was to your liking, but when we allow the government to ban one thing, we are allowing them to ban anything.

ADeltonian read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 3:03 PM

I think I look sexy in my white sequined jump suit dont you? Im eating donuts when it was taken too.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

tfromtx read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 4:43 PM

Which pounds are they worried about. Pounds in their friends and supporters pockets that hang out at city hall that own the little mom and pop restaurants around the area. This is how you strum up business and win bids if you are running a business. Hang out with the council members and attend all their meetings. Scratch their backs and they'll scratch yours.

tfromtx read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 4:47 PM

Wonder is any council members own restaurants in the area ?

northton read my blog view my photos
Jul 30, 2008 | 4:56 PM

Damn! Even I'd go for banning sequined jump suits.

LadySnow
Jul 30, 2008 | 9:54 PM

It won't help, fast food junkies will go to great lengths for their fix. What's the name of the next town...?

ilikepink read my blog
Jul 31, 2008 | 4:56 AM

Thats great, but in reality, how many kids are going to go down a street and beg mama for a big "healthy" salad? It's easier for mama to give the kid $5 and send them out to MickyD's. If the parent wasn't lazy, they could take the $5, buy a roaster chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and make a "healthy" meal for their family. For obesity, sign the kids up for basketball or baseball camp, get them off their "rumps" and away from the "playstations"!

80sMetalHead read my blog view my photos
Jul 31, 2008 | 5:55 AM

That's not going to help. They'll just oink their way to the nearest Mickey D's. My cousin has always been a behemouth. When we were kids, her mom put her on a diet and she used to go to great lengths to find junk food-- Wherever she could.

Starbuddy
Jul 31, 2008 | 1:06 PM

When is the government going to be more concerned with 4 bucks a gallon, versus the personal choices of one's eaterie's???

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amyk

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Member Since: 8/4/2006