LA Votes to Enact Fast Food Moratorium

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In an attempt to get obesity under control, the Los Angeles city council has decided to put a 1 year moratorium on building fast food restaurants. There will be opportunities to extend the ban every 6 months.

But this moratorium doesn't affect all of Los Angeles; only a specific square-mile area. The area in question is most of south and southeast Los Angeles where obesity rates for children top 30% versus a 25% average around other parts of the city.

Jan Perry, the councilwoman who originally wanted a 6 year ban, believes that keeping out fast food restaurants will lure healthier restaurants into the area, ultimately benefiting the citizens.

"I believe this is a victory for the people of South and southeast Los Angeles, for them to have greater food options," she said.

Statistics show that 45% of restaurants in the banned area are fast food restaurants compared to 3% of restaurants classified as "speciality" restaurants, i.e. delis and tea houses. Other areas of LA have a fast food restaurant percentage of 25. There are approximately 550,000 residents that live in the south/southeast LA area.

Fast food restaurants obviously had opposition to this ban, claiming that they don't just sell fat-enriched burgers.

"McDonald's believes in healthy choices," said Don Bailey, who has owned and operated the company's restaurants in South Los Angeles for 22 years.

Others sited that fast food restaurants also provide job opportunities and access to nutritious menus.