| Written by Sentinel News Service, on 08-19-2010 08:43 |
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Councilmember Parks answers a question from the audience at Thursday's meeting.
Councilmember Parks Addresses Lack of Dining Options in South LA, As Ban on New Fast Food Restaurants Set to Expire
Councilmember Bernard C. Parks - Eighth District, participated in a town hall meeting on Thursday to discuss the lack of healthy alternatives to fast food in South Los Angeles. The event, sponsored by Community Health Councils, was held at Second AME Church and was attended by community activists and officials from the city planning department and county health department.
Parks discussed the high prevalence of obesity and diabetes in his South LA district, both of which are caused by poor diet.
"If you don't give people the option of healthy alternatives," Parks said, "they will continue eating the only options that are available."
According to Community Health Councils, more than 70 percent of the restaurants in South Los Angeles are fast food outlets.
Parks, along with Council President Pro Tem Jan Perry, who represents the neighboring Ninth District, was co-author of a 2007 motion that created an Interim Control Ordinance, banning the establishment of all new fast food outlets in the West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert Community Plan Area and portions of the South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles Community Plan Area. The ban is set to expire September 14, but City officials in the Planning Department are working on new, permanent guidelines to regulate fast food outlets.
Last update: 08-19-2010 08:43
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