NYC councilman proposes limiting fast food

[Dan4510]

We are now offically going down the tubes faster than ever.

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NYC councilman proposes limiting fast food

Wed Jun 21, 7:24 PM ET

In a town where you can get a slice of pizza or a hot dog on nearly every block, one city councilman wants to limit the number of fast food restaurants as a way to fight obesity.

Councilman Joel Rivera, health committee chairman, said at a hearing Wednesday he was exploring the idea of using zoning laws to prevent fast food joints from taking over city streets. More than half of adult New Yorkers are overweight or obese.

"You're not going to totally eliminate fast food restaurants, but you could limit the amount," Rivera said after the hearing.

He said there is a high concentration of fast food eateries in low-income communities, and suggested that might to contribute to obesity rates, which also tend to be greater in those areas.

Rivera said he plans to hold hearings on the matter — particularly to explore whether New York City zoning laws could be tweaked so specifically.

Mitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at New York University, said it's unlikely any zoning resolution could dictate that level of detail. The zoning code for eating and drinking establishments does not distinguish types of food.

"And in a city like New York, where everybody is on the run, it's very hard to single out what is and isn't fast food," Moss added.

 

[AcuraTech]

Not trying to get political, but I think it is ridiculous when governments try to set up "nanny states". I dont need the govt policing my eating, drinking, and smoking habits. If people didnt eat so much garbage in general, there wouldnt be fast food joints on every corner. As long as the demand for junk food is high, fast food restaurants will continue to prosper.

 

[JHZR2]

While I think that Buster's nutrition info on menu ideas is smart, but this is just way too much.

If people are so rushed and in need of fast food... the fact that they are rushed will not change, so their need for fast (and thus usually unhealthy) food will remain no matter what.

JMH

 

[TheTanSedan]

The only thing we need to do with fast food is to eliminate the drive thru (and all other drive thru's as well).

 

[Dan4510]

quote:

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Originally posted by TheTanSedan:
The only thing we need to do with fast food is to eliminate the drive thru (and all other drive thru's as well).

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We cant do away with the beer drive thru.

 

[TheTanSedan]

And maybe not the marriage chapel drive-thru afterwards, eh?

 

[Shannow]

Nope, that's just wrong.

If we had only a McDonalds in this town instead of McDonalds, YuckyDuck, Red Rooster, Pizza Hut, Go Pizza etc, the family that we know who "can't afford to cook proper meals" would lack their balanced diet.

I agree with telling them what they are shoving in their cake hole (or at least making it available), but not stopping the outlets themselves.

 

[Gary Allan]

NYC councilman proposes limiting fast food


I wish when they run out of destructive things to do they could at least be distracting in less senseless methods.

What do they do, pull this stuff out of a hat of "senseless silly ideas that will never work but will cost a bunch of money and time in commitees, hearings,, debates, studies, protests, and counter lobbying techniques" ideas??

 

[Cutehumor]

how about proposing they close early? I went to mcdonalds yesterday to get a diet dr pepper only and I saw on the sign "drive through open 24 hours a day" need a big mac at 2am?? no problem! people must be going to these places late at night too if they can afford to pay people to work that late. Taco bell is advertising eating "four meals a day" on the radio

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

All you need to know about the NYC city council is this.

The voters have determined that 2 terms is the limit for the mayor and the city council. In two referendums the voters have overwhelmingly said this.

The city council is trying to change the city charter to annul these voter preferences.

The people who serve on the city council are pompous morons. I wish I were able to cite an exception.

 

[jsharp]

I'm going to make a proposal that we limit the number of whiny busybody do gooder politicians to 6 countrywide. We're going to keep them around to remind us why we don't need any more than that.

 

[Pablo]

Keep them all in NY. But too late...they are all in Seattle!!!

Buster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[OriginHacker21]

lol, I think there is a difference between wanting information about food to be more readily available and regulating what people eat. This councilman is crazy... So, great, now the government is going to regulate what I eat! What is going on?!

 

[Dan4510]

quote:

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Originally posted by OriginHacker21:
lol, I think there is a difference between wanting information about food to be more readily available and regulating what people eat. This councilman is crazy... So, great, now the government is going to regulate what I eat! What is going on?!

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The government knows what is good for you better than you do. So just bend over and take it, they know better than any lowly serf, uh, citizen.

 

[milwaukee]

I propose limiting NYC councilmen.

 

[Vilan]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cutehumor:
how about proposing they close early? I went to mcdonalds yesterday to get a diet dr pepper only and I saw on the sign "drive through open 24 hours a day" need a big mac at 2am?? no problem! people must be going to these places late at night too if they can afford to pay people to work that late. Taco bell is advertising eating "four meals a day" on the radio

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People working graveyard shift gotta eat too.

I wish McD's offered Dr Pepper here, diet or otherwise. Or any chain, for that matter.

 

[Bret Chase]

my local taco bell/KFC has Dr. Pepper.

 

[grm386wa]

Just goes to show ya how out of touch some politicians are. Out of all the replies, noone has jumped on board with this councilman.

 

[rpn453]

quote:

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Originally posted by grm386wa:
Just goes to show ya how out of touch some politicians are.

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Definitely.

Plus, you can eat reasonably healthy by frequenting fast food restaurants if you pick the right things and supplement them with a healthy at-home diet. Non-fast-food restaurants can be just as unhealthy, depending on what you decide to eat.

 

[Al]

quote:

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Originally posted by grm386wa:
Just goes to show ya how out of touch some politicians are.

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Ain't that the truth. Its like politicians were bornon another planet and just move to earth their first day on the job.