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 — which the mayor still must sign into law — is intended to give the city time to attract restaurants that serve healthier food. The action is believed to be the first of its kind by a major city to protect public health.
Newsflash: Fast food restaurants are in poor areas because poor people can afford to eat there. “Restaurants that serve healthier food” would be in these areas if it made economic sense. Plus, almost every fast food restaurant has healthy menu items.
Can’t we let people be responsible for their own fat asses just once? Maybe LA could start an ad campaign: “Don’t eat your face off, and you won’t be so fat you have to walk through doors sideways.”
Uh oh. Look what I found out:
McDonald’s $1 Double Cheeseburger: 440 calories, 23g fat
Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger: 518 calories, 30g fat
Quick! To the suburbs! The middle class is getting fat at Applebee’s!
The LA City Council (photo credit: Baby Kermit)