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New York City Councilman Joel Rivera is proposing a radical solution to the "obesity epidemic." Specifically, he wants to enact new zoning laws that limit the number of fast food venues that can be built in a specific area. Low-income neighborhoods, which Rivera said have the greatest concentration of fast food restaurants, could be particularly affected under Rivera's plan, which he plans to hold hearings on. He seems to feel that the easy availability of fast food due to the sheer number of restaurants was the biggest contributing factor to the fact that roughly half of all New Yorkers are overweight.
A professor of urban policy and planning at NYU offered a reassuring voice of reason, noting that such laws could not be applied or enforced because they couldn't distinguish between different types of fast food. In New York, a city that is perpetually on the go, far more than pizza and burgers can be considered fast food.
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6-27-2006 @6:34AM Linda Bajada said... That idea is ridiculous. What happened to freedom in this country?. Government is taking our choices little by little in benevolent idea of saving us from ourselves. People need to grow up and make wiser food choices and fast food places need to make more options as well. You should be able to get the combo meals with a choice besides fries for everything. How about a burger, small salad and unsweetened ice tea combo!
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6-27-2006 @6:47AM Connie Roberts said... Hey...A lot of the fastfood places already offer choices...go for the salad or the fruit most offer already...or don't eat there...and you know sometimes I just want a greasy hamburger...duh!!! We can make up our own minds by the way Mr. Politician!!!
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6-27-2006 @6:53AM E Schreiber said... Limited the number of locations won't help. Lets educated people on how to eat properly. My family may eat fast food 10 times a year usually when we travel. We make every effort to eat dinner at home as a family. Parents and kids are always in a rush due to all the activities we join. Stop and pack a healty meal before you leave the door. Pack a healthy lunch for work...stop eating fast foods. We need to rethink what we are letting our children eat....we have a responsibility as parents and adults to control and limit the garbage they eat. Instead we buy them what they want so we don't have to deal with them complaining. Parents need to do a better job parenting and setting a better example.
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6-27-2006 @7:19AM ty said... most people are missing the point!--- in most low-income neighborhoods in NYC, that is ALL there is to eat, McDonalds, Burger King and scores of KFCs... there is no health food store, or even decent grocery stores with raw produce... forget about a decent selection of apples or tomatoes, unless you're interested in paying exorberant amounts, and if you're living in a neighborhood where corn in the can is69 cents, versues 2.99 for two ears of corn, which one are you going to buy?
And organic? what is that?
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6-27-2006 @7:31AM Karen Paling said... Freedom of choice is what this country was founded on. Educating all, not just our youth, is the key to stopping the obesity epidemic. Just because something states good doesn't mean it is good for us and we need to make the right choices, today not next week or at the next meal. Everything counts! Even one french fry, so perhaps targeting the fast food industry to use healthier ingredients would start to make a difference. The oils, the grains used in the buns, the grade of beef (% of fat in the meat they use) should be the focus of the goverment. Then when some fast food junkie does order that double beef whopper with cheese he won't be killing himself or we won't be paying his health care costs down the road. The ripple effect of this obesity epidemic is like a clogged artery to all of us!
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6-27-2006 @7:33AM Lydia said... The part about this that I don't understand is that the polititians want to remove these fast food restaurants from low income areas of the city. But, lets think about this; where do the low income people that live in that city work? Well, a lot of them work at those fast food restaurants. So, if you zone fast food out of those areas you are only opening up a whole new can of worms to deal with. And in a state that already has so many problems, I don't think you can handle any more.
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6-27-2006 @7:41AM Jerry Stephan said... What happend to the government trying to solve real problems, such as high taxes, traffic congestion, and crime. Oh well they didn't help much there either.
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6-27-2006 @7:55AM Karyn said... I totally believe some changes need to be done in this country to help alleviate more overweight issues. Since we love our children, I believe it's our job as parents to step up and help our children make better choices. Although, it can be a little difficult, especially for lower income families, to eat healthier because the healthier foods can be expensive. I really cannot believe how much chemically sprayed produce costs, not to mention organic foods that would be far better for us to consume. For instance, I would love to buy strictly organic foods, but my grocery bill would be astronomical. I would love to see something done to help America have better eating habits. How about raising the prices on junk food and lowering the prices of the healthier foods?
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6-27-2006 @8:07AM sEAN said... There is no way you could legally do this in a free-market enterprise.You cannot limit one market to allow another.But the whole idea is stupid anyway! Everyone who wants a Big-Mac will just drive down the street to get it! If my KFC is replaced by SALAD-WORLD, I'll find my KFC somewhere else!I don't want a salad!!This guys a real bozo!And P.S. ,my parents wouldn't let me eat fast food, make it THEIR responsibility,not societys!!!
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6-27-2006 @8:10AM Richard said... Clearly thinking like a Democrat.
America needs less government, less taxes, less whining.
At least this one is offering a solution.
America just doesn't need the government forcing us to eat differently. If the government feels the need to mandate good health, they can start legislation to ban tobacco products, the largest burden on America's health costs.
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6-27-2006 @8:12AM Heather said... Even people well armed with information often make poor decisions, but that is not the fault of the business owner. Nutrition is kind of a hobby of mine and there are still times I am lured in by the call of an icy Dr. Pepper or the thought of a Nachos Bell Grande. Do I curse the name of Taco Bell for my own weakness? No.
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6-27-2006 @8:32AM sEAN said... Oh,Gee,Thanks,Heather.Now,instead of having a half-slice of wheat toast slathered with Benecol for breakfast, I'm headed towards Taco-Bell! Seriously,it's an uphill battle telling people what they can or cannot eat. They'll die first.
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6-27-2006 @8:42AM B. Hannah said... This is America people. We have a right to eat what we want, where we want. I think Mr. Rivera should put his efforts into real problems in NY City like why in this day and age do we have so many homeless people in NYC? Why are there so many people without health care? Why do greedy landlords get away with not providing proper heat for their tenants in the winter. Give it up Mr Rivera, there are much more important things you should be dealing with. not telling people where and what they should be eating.
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6-27-2006 @8:54AM Sandra Mort said... Drive to the nearest KFC? CLEARLY not a New Yorker! LOL!!!
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6-27-2006 @9:08AM PEPPA said... I VERY SELDOM EAT FAST FOOD, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S LOADED WITH SALT >> AND THE QUALITY IS VERY SUSPECT IMO.
...HOWEVER, I DO FEEL THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN DIET HABITS, AND THERE SHOULD NOT BE A RESTRICTION ON THESE PLACES.
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6-27-2006 @9:13AM Marcia said... Grocery stores need to lower the prices for organic and natural foods and make it available for people in the neighborhoods. I have gone to lower income neighborhoods and either seen rotten fruits and vegetables or not seen them at all, but the have seen about 100 different kind of chips for 25 cents.
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6-27-2006 @9:23AM Sandy said... I can understand why you would want to do this, however, I think it will backfire. I lived in a neighborhood that had loads of fast food restaruants and I barely ate there. I now live in the woods and I go to the old place to get fast. What is interesting is that I go 3 times more times now than I did then. I beleive when people are restricted you tend to want it more. We always want what we can't have.
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6-27-2006 @9:44AM Jeff said... I echo the statements about this being a ridiculous idea. There is no "obesity epidemic." People are fat for two main reasons: 1.) They eat what they want and 2.) They choose not to exercise.
It is what America is all about. CHOICE. Your right to choose what you want to eat, how much you want to eat and when you want to eat it. No one is making you "Biggie" size your drink or fries. You choose to do that....it is the American Way.
How about another restriction: Since dieticians say that eating later in the evening is also bad for you, let's require all restaurants to close at 7:30 p.m. and all fancy campaign fundraising dinners to be over by 7:30 p.m.. If we are going to regulate where you can eat, lets regulate when you can eat too. (oh no, that would hurt campaign contributions....bad idea.)
C'mon lets worry about more serious problems with our country like unemployment and less about what people are eating!
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6-27-2006 @9:56AM Robert said... I do not support the idea of government regulating what one chooses to eat; however, many communities within this nation have already opted to squeeze out fast food restaurants. In places such as Bainbridge Island, Washington zoning ordinances have been enacted to restrict formula businesses from operating within the commuinty. This effectively eliminates multiple location businesses that share common architectural features, menus, uniforms, etc. Obviously, many fast food restaurants such as Mcdonald's, Burger King, and KFC feature the before mentioned characteristics and are eliminated by a formula business ban. As a consequence, I would not be surprised if such zoning laws were enacted in New York City. If politicians are truly concerned about obesity within this nation I have a solution: Offer free or even reduced health care costs to individuals who have a normal body mass indexes. That would certainly provide enough incentive to motivate many individuals into eating healthier and excercising.
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6-27-2006 @9:57AM Randall said... Food for Thought! This is a big smoke screen! The government could care less about Your, My, There eating habits. Theirs too much business to lose If everyone gets Lean and Healthy... First being single parent families, and doing every thing, when is there time to have that home cooked meal? "We" the working class eat on the run! especially now that gas is sky high and some dip mega-income CEO feels it should be a buck higher to punish the consumer for having only one choice of transportation type available... the gasoline engine car... we are paying the cost anyway.
My point.... The only thing the government dose not tax is "food" YET! and this is the crack in the wall. first government control.... then it never stops, until it’s either in the form of a fine or a special privilege tax. They ( internal revenue service ) have a big void in there tax income and unprocessed food is in the crosshairs of the IRS... and what the government gets it never gives back!..... The only fair tax? is the same tax for every one (ie.) .08% per dollar spent. income tax is a crime. They could make a big difference if the 9/10th cent was dropped from the gas price. We’re fleeced for that……
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