L.A. Ban Takes Aim At Fast Food

To Battle Obesity, City Wants To Block New Fast-Food Eateries That Don't Offer Less Fatty Fare

(AP)  In the impoverished neighborhood of South Los Angeles, fast food is the easiest cuisine to find - and that's a problem for elected officials who see it as an unhealthy source of calories and cholesterol.

The City Council was poised to vote Tuesday on a moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in a swath of the city where a proliferation of such eateries goes hand-in-hand with obesity.

"Our communities have an extreme shortage of quality foods," City Councilman Bernard Parks said.

The aim of the year-long moratorium, which was approved last week in committee, is to give the city time to try to attract restaurants that serve healthier food.

The California Restaurant Association says the moratorium, which could be extended up to two years, is misguided.

Fast food "is the only industry that wants to be in South L.A.," said association spokesman Andrew Casana. "Sit-down restaurants don't want to go in. If they did, they'd be there. This moratorium isn't going to help them relocate."

The proposed ban comes at a time when governments of all levels are increasingly viewing menus as a matter of public health. Last Friday, California became the first state in the nation to bar trans fats, which lowers levels of good cholesterol and increases bad cholesterol.

It also comes as the Los Angeles City Council tackles issues beyond safety, schools and streets. The council last week decided to outlaw plastic bags.

Fast-food restaurants have found themselves in the frying pan in a number of cities. Some places, including Carmel-by-the Sea and Calistoga, have barred "formula" restaurants altogether; others have placed a cap on them - Arcata allows a maximum of nine fast-food eateries; others have prohibited the restaurants in certain areas, such as Port Jefferson, N.Y., in its waterfront area.

Most initiatives were designed to preserve a city's historic character. The Los Angeles bid is one of a few that cite residents' health.

The mounting pressure has caused chains to insert healthier food choices in their menus. McDonald's offers salads and low-fat dressings; Burger King stocks Kids Meals with milk and apple pieces.

That's why the restaurant industry says it's unfair to blame them for fat people.

"What's next - security guards at the door saying 'You're overweight, you can't have a cheeseburger'?" Casana said.

But public health officials say obesity has reached epidemic proportions in low-income areas such as South Los Angeles and diet is the key reason.

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 30 percent of adults in South Los Angeles area are obese, compared to 19.1 percent for the metropolitan area and 14.1 percent for the affluent Westside. Minorities are particularly affected: 28.7 percent of Latinos and 27.7 percent of blacks are obese, compared to 16.6 percent of whites.

Perry says that's no accident. South L.A. residents lack healthy food options, including grocery stores, fresh produce markets - and full-service restaurants with wait staff and food prepared to order.

A report by the Community Health Councils found 73 percent of South L.A. restaurants were fast food, compared to 42 percent in West Los Angeles.

If the moratorium is passed, Perry wants to lure restaurateurs and grocery retailers to area.

Rebeca Torres, a South Los Angeles mother of four, said she would welcome more dining choices, even if she had to pay a little more. "They should have better things for children," she said. "This fast-food really fattens them up."

[drivelphobe]

The social engineers at work again. The "impoverished" need guidance in their eating behavior? How about some guidance in working for a living? How about some guidance in birth control? Instead, just give them more food stamps, section 8 housing, and free health care. With millions of illegals lapping up entitlements from the taxpaying citizenry in the Los Angeles area, couldn''t our City Council find something to do to terminate the sanctuary city status and get rid of the blight on this city? No. Instead they want to go after the McDonalds, El Pollo Loco, etc. We have all these outlets in my area and only the fat people eat there. You can''t stop this. The "impoverished" are impoverished due to their own doing and taking away their favorite food source isn''t going to change anything. How about deporting the illegals?

[three-o-six]

Only in California does the government tell you what you can and cannot eat.

[govwatch-2009]

What make these officials think they are any better at deciding what other people should eat than the people who are doing the eating. By the way they are doing SUCH a great job controlling illegal drugs TOO.

[beader59]

oh my god! What''s next? Telling us we can''t wear shorts because we look bad in them. They are stepping way out-of-bounds on this one. How much governmental control are people going to tolerate? This is way to in your face control. Don''t eat the food if you don''t want it, the same way don''t watch that TV show if you don''t like it.

[daysrnumbrd]

For $5 or less, a lower wage working-class person can have a full meal and be fairly well nourished. With the prices at the grocery store, the "value" menus at the fast-food restaurants are even more enticing for budget purposes. They are nowhere near the healthiest choices! But to satisfy hunger these days, on a tight monetary and time budget in this country, the choices are minimal.

[lilvinnyb]

The same citys that are beginning to ban recess, dodge ball, and many other activities that give kids exercise are now banning fastfood joints.

Told you people before that once they start, they wont stop....cigarettes, trans fats, fast foods...make no mistake, video games will be next since they keep kids in the house.

[papabc]

Hay Democrats why don''t you MOTHER us to death?

What a bunch of Jackasses telling us what to eat.
Next it will be what to think, read, feel, act, how to decorate our homes.

Oh! I forgot. For Democrats these basic freedoms will become a think of the past as then dictate how we live our lives. ROBOTS are we becoming.

[papabc]

Posted by lilvin
The same citys that are beginning to ban recess, dodge ball, and many other activities that give kids exercise are now banning fastfood joints.

Told you people before that once they start, they wont stop....cigarettes, trans fats, fast foods...make no mistake, video games will be next since they keep kids in the house.
-----------------------------------------


Do not think for even a second that the control people will stop until there is control over your whole life.

They and ONLY THEY know what is best for us.

[obama8years]

It looks like the Liberals and Obama are starting to excercise there Marxist Ways. This is just the tip of the iceberg if Obama wins with the Liberal Democrats Controling the House. Can you feel the Freedoms slippiing away.

[sistatee-2009]

"You are under arrest! Drop the French fry and step away from it!"

[Syndicate]

Liberals. Enough said.

[wardoglrs]

I hope the people that live there will get up and throw out the Neo Cons. Fries anyone?

You cant do this and you cant do that and what do you have left?.
You have a new Mommy and Daddy called Government.
Like the Government knows anything there idoits

[barbaram99]

Who the HELL thty hink they are. The PROBLEM is ye won''t lower food prices..So us poor have to eat krap. Have ye priced the healthy food. I buy TV dinners to mic. Food banks give out junk. I am aware there are fat persons. Ye tell them they can''t. Ye think it is bad now.
We had recess,phy ed,etc. Now they are sissies. WHO is the blame. the nanng govt..That right.I am 53.

[swtgapch]

People need to stop blaming the fast food restaraunts and the gov for being fat. Stop going to the fast food places and cook at home. It is not that expensive. You can get the ingredients to make a nice home cooked low fat meal for the same price as four meals at micky d''s. It does require getting up off the couch and actualy doing something besides hitting the drive thru though.

[gangesdak]

It is not a pretty sight seeing all the ever increasing number of fat people around us. It is not the genes; no use blaming the ancentors. Too much food and bad food habit are the reasons. Just close down the fast food places. All right, they can use the coupon to enter the fast food place once a week. Rest of the time, cook your food yourself.

[rohink-2009]

Rebeca Torres, a South Los Angeles mother of four, said she would welcome more dining choices, even if she had to pay a little more. "They should have better things for children," she said. "This fast-food really fattens them up."

Hey Rebeca, I have an idea that will not only help feed your children a healthier diet, it will also cost less. Cook for your family instead of eating out.

[papabc]

Posted by WarDogLRS
I hope the people that live there will get up and throw out the Neo Cons. Fries anyone?

You cant do this and you cant do that and what do you have left?.
You have a new Mommy and Daddy called Government.
Like the Government knows anything there idoits
-----------------------------------------------------

Confused by your post. The ones passing this ban are Democrats that wish to control the way others live. Republicians and Conservitaves are not proposing this.

I am for a healthy diet and I do this at home. Only buy Fast Food once or twice a month and that is Salads at that.

We should not look to the government to solve personal problems.

[sociald63]

here''s a solution - double-charge the fat customers

[sociald63]

oh wait - here''s a better solution - put all of these fast food places on the second floor so that fat people will walk up the stairs to get thier big mac combos

[mbcsmith]

Half the country''''s fat. Enough said.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by rafterman1 at 12:44 PM : Jul 29, 2008



And it''s their constitutional right. LIBS in CA are going to tell everyone how they have to live. LIBS ARE FASCISTS.

[rudy654-2009]

Regardless of the politics of right or left, I think Los Angeles is misguided to think that they are going to control obesity by controlling the amount of fast food restaurants. It would serve them better to work with the fast food establishment so as to produce better and healthier food. I have had no problem with going into a fast food restaurant and finding plenty of low fat choices. Los Angeles'' officials are completely misguided in their efforts.

[jamjholmes]

The gov needs to stay out of peoples freakin lives. Land of the free minus this minus that minus the constitution...hmm wait.....we arent free in this tyrannically headed country.

[bretster7]

Where are all the foaming at the mouth liberals defending this? Isn''t it ammusing that those same people use the word facists to describe conservatives? The left are the true facists,wanting to control every aspect of ones life. It further proves that they know not of which they speak

[mjvw2]

I''m sure the health food stores will be lining up to open new businesses in the "impoverished neighborhood."

[simpsonman19]

Great idea! Most of people living in these neighborhoods are most likely on some sort of state sponsered health insurance so the less obese people the less money being spent by the state on healthcare for any problems they may have.

People say it''s a nanny state and that people should have should make their own choices, but it doesn''t seem like they''ve been making too many good choices in the past. Although if they''re paying for they''re own insurance then it''s not as big of a deal, at least it''s not my tax dollars at work funding their insurance.

[republic1776]

California, the big brother state.
Other states will follow their lead. (New Jersey)

[rudy654-2009]

It''s a shame they are featuring Pollo Loco in the picture. Pollo Loco is one of the healthiest of the fast food restaurants. They don''t fry anything. It is all cooked over open grills. And they serve lots of vegetable side dishes.

[rudy654-2009]

"But public health officials say obesity has reached epidemic proportions in low-income areas such as South Los Angeles and diet is the key reason."
*******

You can blame our system of charging high prices for good healthy produce. And it is going to get worse. Farmers have received subsidies to turn their corn into ethanol, so there are going to be a lot less healthy choices in the market. Junk food is cheap.

[tammy3455]

People need to be responsible for their own choices. The government has no place in this. I know buying healthy food is typically more expensive, but there are better choices that can be made at any restaurant, whether it''s McDonalds or a sit-down establishment. If these "obese" people can afford to eat fast food, they can afford to pay for a healther food choice from that same menu. (Besides, portion control is also a huge factor.) I''m betting they don''t make healthy food choices when they go to the grocery store either, where there is an abundance of healthy items. They simply choose not to and government involvement will certainly not change that.

[redbds]

No doubt a bunch of leberals trying to tell you what you should and shouldn''t eat and what kind of business you can open.

[ubrew12]

republic1776 said: "California, the big brother state.
Other states will follow their lead. (New Jersey)"

California gets about 60 cents from the Federal gov''t for every dollar in taxes they send to the Federal gov''t. New Jersey gets even less (55 cents). For states that rely on big brother to pay for their lifestyle, try any Red State. They typically get $1.50 to $2.50 in Federal spending per dollar sent to the Feds.

We in California know who the welfare queens really are.

[redbds]

We in California know who the welfare queens really are.

Posted by ubrew12 at 01:53 PM : Jul 29, 2008

Sounds like someone is offended.

[bretster7]

For states that rely on big brother to pay for their lifestyle, try any Red State. They typically get $1.50 to $2.50 in Federal spending per dollar sent to the Feds.


ubrew, can you site the source for your data? Or is that just a dailykos taliking point?

[bretster7]

"No doubt a bunch of leberals trying to tell you what you should and shouldn''''t eat and what kind of business you can open"


Of course, the libs are the true facists.

[papabc]

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast - Light salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon.

In a cast-iron skillet add 3 tb spoons EVOO, medium heat and cook Chicken. Once chicken is 3/4 cook place in 275 degree oven.

Cut up
Squash - Yellow Summer, zucchini.
1 Yellow Onion Sliced
1 cup Sliced Mushrooms
1/4 Bell Pepper
2 Garlic

Saute these veggies in EVOO with light Salt, pepper, lemon until tender.

Baked potato as you wish.

Add to this a dish of slices Pears, Apples, Grapes

Takes 30-40 minutes to cook and is faster than driving to get a BIG MAC.

[mbcsmith]

LIB FASCISTS!
Get OUT of peoples lives.

[payasyougo]

We understand that caffeine is bad for you in large quantities. Time to start shutting down Starbucks to save people from that coffee that does so much harm.

Oh wait, liberals love Starbucks. And cigarettes.

[bretster7]

payasyougo said,
Oh wait, liberals love Starbucks. And cigarettes.



How true. The liberals will demonize an activity (such as smoking) so they can justify suing the manufacturers, and taxing the *** out of it, all the while taking part in the activity ,(is Obama still a closet smoker)look at hollywood. They want to make smoking in movies a reason for a PG13 rating, but how many of the "stars" smoke? Total hypocricy.

ubrew. Are you going to site the source of your stats?
Didn''t think so...

[bikerb54]

If they are so concerned with people''s health, let''s start with the cost of health care. Then let''s go to the quality of air we breathe. People are going to eat what they want, they just need to be motivated to get their butts off the couch, chair, whatever, and MOVE. Exercise, people!!! Remember when you were a child (in the 50''s and 60''s) before video games, computer games and all night TV? Playing outside, riding bikes, playing kick ball, playing with your friends??? We weren''t overweight then (or at least not so much) and McDonald''s was around. Ice cream stands and hot dogs, cotton candy, soda and all the stuff they tell us now that it''s bad for us. What is the difference between then and now? We Moved!!!

[denn034]

Education will lead to less business for fatty fast food businesses so, there''s no need to mess with market forces. This just seems dictatorial to me. If people want to eat fatty food, so be it but, forcing fatty food stores out is contrary to the whole concept of free enterprise. Just educate people and let them make the decision to keep those businesses or not with the power of the purse is what I say.

[barbaram99]

I am 53. I sat on the ground ,steps, That is what I did. Why/ I am legally blind with c/p. Not all were/are ablwsbodied.
I know who the gangs are they tag every where.

[grammawhamma]

Fast food is not cheap. You can go to the grocery store and buy a pound of frozen veggies for under $1.30. Raw unprepared chicken is also cheap per pound. Get off your butts and turn on that thing called a stove. But I agree the government has no right to dictate what we can and can''t eat.
~~~~~~~~~~~
If California bans all plastic bags...what are the drug dealers going to package their drugs in?
~~~~~~~~~~
California....the land of earthquakes, wildfires and big brother. Paradise indeed!

[grammawhamma]

Fast food is not cheap. You can go to the grocery store and buy a pound of frozen veggies for under $1.30. Raw unprepared chicken is also cheap per pound. Get off your butts and turn on that thing called a stove. But I agree the government has no right to dictate what we can and can''t eat.
~~~~~~~~~~~
If California bans all plastic bags...what are the drug dealers going to package their drugs in?
~~~~~~~~~~
California....the land of earthquakes, wildfires and big brother. Paradise indeed!

[grammawhamma]

You can blame our system of charging high prices for good healthy produce. And it is going to get worse. Farmers have received subsidies to turn their corn into ethanol, so there are going to be a lot less healthy choices in the market. Junk food is cheap.

Posted by rudy654 at 01:39 PM : Jul 29, 2008

But rudy, all this time you have been telling us that the reason produce is affordable is because of the illegal immigrants willing to work in the fields for slave wages. Now you changed your tune?

I don''t know if you are for or against it...but in my opinion ethanol production from corn is not a good idea.

[meinnv]

I think food prices depends on where you live and how much you make. If there is a choice between your health by eating healthier or having a roof over your head, would you prefer to be healthy & homeless or unhealthy and have a home?

If you only have so much to feed your family on, a 99cent double cheeseburger is cheaper than $1.30 for veggies. Both last the same amount of meals. One is cheaper. If a salad is $5 and all you have is $2, can you get the salad? Yeah, if you steal it.

[meinnv]

By the way, I cook at least 5-6 days a week, only one time I go out. As far as double charging the over-weight people, that is discriminatory.

What next, double-charge anyone we don''t feel as though deserves what they work for? The government has no place in this matter. This is AMERICA. LAND OF THE FREE????????

Fat people pay taxes too. They are entitled to whatever skinny people are. And, some "fatties" are healthier than you think. Anyone remember Florence Griffth-Joyner? She was an athlete, she died of natural causes and she wasn''t fat. IMAGINE THAT.....

[meinnv]

The one thing the government could do is lower prices on the healthier items, encourage us to keep our grocery receipts and get more of a deduction at year''s end.

That would encourage me. Give me a tax break, that way I can continue to afford to eat healthier. But I don''t want ANYONE telling me what to do--fat or not.

[meinnv]

Oh, by the way--let''s ban alcoholic beverages. ALL OF THEM. DUI kills people, worse than fast food kills overweight people.

DUI is a crime, but people still go out drink, drive, then cause accidents killing & disabling people. So, I want the government to ban alcoholic beverage sales & make it a crime to drink any of it. There will be less DUI''s and less fatalities from it. Less lives will be ruined.

[meinnv]

Here''s another thought. Let''s say everyone decides to cook at home, which I do. I get a 10lb bag of chicken at Sam''s Club and FRY them. I am still eating fried chicken.

I get hamburger at the store, press it into patties and put cheese and all the conidments on it. Still eating cheeseburgers. For 50 cents I can get a cheap bag of frozen fries, and throw them in the deep fryer. I can also make tacos & pizza. No more McD''s, KFC, Taco Bell or Pizza Hut here.

BUT........

I''m still eating the same way, the only thing I''ve done is maybe put the fast food chains out of business, MORE PEOPLE OUT OF WORK, and more unemployment out of our hard-earned money.

It''s called personal freedom and choice. I say do away with the IRS and we take care of our own and stop all social programs. Our money should stay our money. That way we are only paying for oursleves.

[mjvw2]

Anyone know a imporverished neighborhood where I can open a high end health food store?