In the face of alarming obesity rates among many of its low-income residents, LA's City Council has voted to approve a moratorium on the construction of new fast-food restaurants in South LA.
[From the Globe and Mail]:
"[LA's] City Council was poised to vote Tuesday on a moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in a swath of the city where a proliferation of such eateries goes hand-in-hand with obesity. The aim of the yearlong moratorium, which was approved last week in committee, is to give the city time to try to attract restaurants that serve healthier food.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 30 per cent of adults in South Los Angeles area are obese, compared to 19.1 per cent for the metropolitan area and 14.1 per cent for the affluent west side.
South LA residents lack healthy food options, including grocery stores, fresh produce markets - and full-service restaurants with wait staff and food prepared to order. A report by the Community Health Councils found 73 per cent of South L.A. restaurants were fast food, compared to 42 per cent in West Los Angeles."
[From Canada.com]:
"The moratorium covers the 500,000 people living in the 32-square mile area of South Los Angeles, which is predominantly Hispanic and African-American."
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