One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
South L.A. Still Being Protected Against Fast Food
It'll be harder to find "n"uggets in South LA (Photo by Lucyrk in LA via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
It'll be harder to find "n"uggets in South LA (Photo by Lucyrk in LA via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
A Los Angeles City Council committee voted to approve a new ban yesterday on "stand-alone" fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles, according to the Daily Breeze. Under this new ban, which can be viewed as an extension of the previously instituted moratorium on new fast food establishments, fast food restaurants cannot open "within a half-mile of existing establishments."Citing ongoing concerns about the health of area residents, including obesity and diabetes, local Councilman Bernard Parks endorses the ban, saying "these restrictions are fair, common-sense way of providing South L.A. residents additional food choices that exist in West L.A. and other parts of the city."
Councilwoman Jan Perry agrees, and points to nearby communities like Westwood, Venice, and West Los Angeles, where residents have more access to grocery stores so they can prepare their own meals, and where there are far fewer fast food restaurants for dining options. Two years ago, Perry spearheaded the now-expired two-year moratorium on new fast food restaurants in the area.
The proposed ban stipulates that "new stand-alone fast food establishments would no longer be able to obtain permits and other approvals by right, but must obtain approval by meeting several criteria," including being situated further than a half-mile from current fast-food restaurants.
Further, the proposal includes requirements for the new businesses to "comply with aesthetic requirements on landscaping, provide rear parking, and other requirements aimed at ensuring the compatibility of the project with the surrounding community." Mixed-use developments are exempt from the ban.
The proposal goes before the full council tomorrow.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
