Should local governments limit fast-food restaurants?

I'm guessing that most of the people working those restaurants are some of the poor people that live in that area that would then be unemployed when the restaurants close making them even poorer.

I smoke too much to worry about my cholesterol. I think the wingnuts out on the Left Coast (the land of the fruits and nuts) are delving way too much into the lives of citizens. The powers that be, out there should focus on efforts that will improve air quality, transportation, security/public safety, etc. However, Port Jefferson, NY is right. Their effort seems to be more of a zoning issue to keep these businesses away from their waterfront. With fast-food chains come car dealers, strip malls, etc. that will commercialize pristine and expensive waterfront property.
Boston, MA (Go Sox)

What an insult to the people of Los Angeles! The people that propose this Fascist action are blinded to a glaring fact. They truly believe that the people who live in this economically poor area are so stupid and ignorant that they are incapable of making their own decisions and have decided to take control of the decision making process for them. They are saying that Blacks and Hispanics are to "intellectually challenged" (lol) to think for themselves. This is racism in the most absolute sense. I am disgusted by the condescending control freaks!

This is just what we need.. "Govt stepping in once again to take care of the poor folk. " ( tongue in cheek) Let them eat cake, people.. The world is not going to come to a crashing halt because some commie fed neophyte council is trying to control everything it can, as it can not control the violence, crime, and overall environment of these sections of LA. More issues of a gross over bearing government entity, attempting to show that it is at least doing something, even though it's actions step upon most of the Constitution and it's amendments.

It is all coming to a close, people. Unless we unite as a people and tell the government to just stay the heck out of our lives, it is all coming to a close.. .

The government should stop trying to "take care of us". What ever happened to personal responsibility? There should not be decisions made for us about EVERYTHING in our lives. Choice is a basic right!
This welfare-driven society is getting out of control itself. It's high time for the people to take back control of the government. Make your opinion count at the voting booth! Get rid of these so-called representatives and elect someone with common sense and a basic knowledge of what this country is supposed to stand for!

I work retail and if they can ban or otherwise control what businesses do in low income areas why cant they control what is done with foodstamps that are meant to help low income people. on the first of the month most of what is bought is high sugar ,high fat,low nutritional value junk food.and most of the people are overweight

People are being kept uneducated and ignorant deliberately by the government. How much easier it is to control a herd of cattle than a group of critical thinking beings. This is such an obvious ploy-the government is going to test us to see how far we can be pushed before we rebel: no smoking, no eating of certain foods, no education, no American jobs, no media that isn't controlled. We're pretty complacent, I haven't heard a complaint yet, orders are followed without question. Who really believes the government is concerned about your welfare?

If the government bans fast food restaurants in poor neighborhoods, where will the people who live in these neighborhoods work? Fast food restaurants are large employers. You kick them out and the neighborhood suddenly gets even poorer. Let's not cut off our nose to spite our face.

I thought that we lived in a free, democratic society. As a person who used to be obese, I can appreciate the importance of healthy living and eating. HOWEVER, do we really need a government to tell us what we can and cannot eat? This is another example of the government overstepping its bounds.

Furthermore, it seems to me that this another form of racism dressed up in "concern". If I were living in L.A., I would vote these people out ASAP. There are certainly much more important problems that they could be addressing.

WOW! I'm stunned..... How can they think that they have the authority to say who can eat what and when depending on someones weight. How arrogant!!!
I'm agree with what the other posters have said. When will the government stay out of our business....
Let's take care of the real issues! Oh yeah, how many of the government officials involved in this ridiculous idea eats at fast food restaurant's and how much do they weigh? Maybe they should have their weight monitored daily and depending on the results be told what and where they can eat.....Just a thought!

For gosh sakes, it's not like someone strong armed somebody, marched them to McDonald's and tied them to the booth while they shoved a Quarter-Pounder down their gullet. What's needed is more public information on billboards, more emphasis in the schools, and yes, more PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. It's a proved fact that ignorance is the enemy---and the problem of obesity cuts across all races. I know, observing people in the rural part of the country where I reside. Almost half the population waddles their way through the mall, ---their kids, too! But for the love of pete, do we need the food police?! This proposal is not only big brother-ish, it smacks of racism.

At what point are we all going to stand up and tell the government F**K OFF!! I'm only one person so i'm not going to be heard so how about everyone grow a pair and yell with me. This complaining on the internet isn't going to get anyone's attention and they are going to run our lives like the Demolition Man movie.

We are only "free" to do what the government says is ok. True freedom is the right to do whatever you want as long as it dosen't impose on your neighbors freedom. SIMPLE!!

The Government shouldn't be blamed for choices we make. Poor area residents should but don't ban together to prevent the oversaturation of fast food restaurants. But everyone should have access to quality grocery stores and maybe that is where the Government should step in and offer incentives to companies.

Leave it to California!! What a bunch of BS! This kind os s'it really pisses me off! Keep the f'n goverment out of my business! The government has NO RIGHT to tell the public what we can and can not do. What ever happened to America the Free?

You have GOT to be kidding me!! Are you telling me that the representatives in LA don't have anything more important to concentrate on than this???

I understand healthier eating would lead to less medical problems, less of a drain on Medicaid - got it. But education would be the answer here - educate on healthy eating & importance of exercise. The gov't CANNOT start telling people what they can and cannot eat for godsakes! They can, however, limit how much gov't assistance they receive they choose not to live a healthier life style. I live on the east coast & my spouse's insurance rewards you for healthy living & losing weight - and will raise your rates if you gain weight to an unhealthy level. It's a good incentive to stay healthy!

Thank you dear god, for I was wrong. I feared that we, the American people, would allow the government to protect us. What a socialist devil's work that would be. But you, in your great wisdom, have created a law which such a beautiful escape: freedom of choice. Let's give everybody the choice to eat what they want. It will hurt only the dumb poor!

if thay are so concerned then why is it you can buy all the junk food you want at the grocery store with food stamps but cant buy it from macdonalds I work retail and on the first that is mostly what is bought with foodstamps and the majority are obese

"The powers that be, out there should focus on efforts that will improve air quality, transportation, security/public safety, etc."

Hey, Peter? Why do that? Why focus on air quality and transportation exhaust pollution when they can spend more money just focusing on eliminating your personal option to smoke? (sarcasm)

How about instead of banning fast food, they promote Physical Education and Sports in the public schools. Let's be more proactive instead of reactive. The government shouldn't be telling people to "eat their vegetables" like it's our mother, or maybe a better term would be our "Big Brother".

I think the government is trying to step forward and do something about the obesity epidemic that is rampant in poorer communities. I think it is a good idea for them to do something about the quality of food that is being served to everyone, not just poorer communities, however, they must keep in mind that the reason so many eat this food is because they don't have the money, time, or the resources to get fresh food and prepare it themselves. With the rising food costs more and more people might find themselves eating fast food more frequently just because of the cheaper costs. The government on the other hand is trying to do something about health, not prices. It is not just because people are eating too much of it and getting fat, but it is that obesity leads to health problems in the future, which leads to higher medical bills, and with the health care industry and insurance being what they are in this country many poor people cannot afford to get care for minor problems that arise from being overweight, and then their conditions escalate until it becomes a major problem and they have no choice but to get treatments that are way more expensive than otherwise would have been had they been able to get care in the first place. So this boils down to the problem of the quality of fast food, which really should be regulated, the price of food in general, and the poor health care system in this country. I think the government really does need to step in here because without them none of this will change with each industry being so powerful and stubborn on their own.

I smell an ACLU lawsuit in the works regarding the targeting of ONLY the low-income people in the South LA area AND obese residents in particular. This idea of the city will not work.

What did everyone expect? You've all been MIND CONTOLLED. This is only the beginning - you should have seen this coming. You let the health freaks and goverment force us all to quit smoking (a legal pleasure) "for the good of all". Now they have to go after someone else, and that's going to be people that are overweight "health ins rates will drop". Nest it will be diabetics, etc. BIG BROTHER conned you into their ideas once again (remember them telling us we were TRAITORS if we didnt agree with the war in Iraq)!

I believe the government needs to mind it's own business. Who will be able to affor these restaurants? Sometimes all you can afford is the fast food chains...been there...done that. How many millions did we spend on this poll?

Why not ban cars and buses. Perhaps if those overweight folks walked or rode bikes to their favorite fast food restaurant they'd get healthier. Hint: get some exercise, work off those pounds.

Poor people shouldn't be wasting their hard earned money (or welfare checks) in restaurants. As Dave Ramsey says, "Rice & Beans, Beans & Rice". An extremely affordable and healthy way to adjust a lifestyle.