L.A. Votes to Forbid New Fast Food Restaurants In Poor Area

L.A. is leading the way with stupid ideas.

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.

First off, I should state that I do think it is the city’s prerogative to do this.  That being said, this is idiotic.  Here’s why:

1) Notice that they are banning new fast food restaurants only in the poor area.  In other words, they are forbidding more of the least expensive kind of food (except for home-cooked, of course) for the poorest people.  Nice, eh?

2) Banning new fast food joints does not decrease the amount of fast food being sold.  All it does is freeze the market.  If I were the owner of a fast food place in this area, I’d be lobbying my elected leaders for this to protect my profits!

3) Fast food, like most foods, is fine in moderation.  The people who get obese off of it have a behavior issue - not a food supply issue.  This will do nothing to address that behavior. 

4) With all of the problems in L.A., should they really be fighting obesity? 

Again, they are free to do this, but understand that it’s a worthless feel good policy. 

1. 4) With all of the problems in L.A., should they really be fighting obesity? 

   That is my favorite comment…

   What the hey!?! 

   What about the housing crisis, homelessness, violence - can’t they focus on real “people” issues instead of petty things that waste people’s time and money?  Sheesh!

   *and man its a really good place to find yourself a taco (Los Angeles by Counting Crows)

   Posted by on July 29, 2008 at 2147 hrs