A city council member in Los Angeles is pushing legislation that would stop any new fast food restaurants from opening within a large chunk of the city. According to this Wall Street Journal Article Jan Perry, the council member, is pushing this idea for a 32-square-mile part of town that already has 400 fast food restaurants. Perry says she is proposing this to help make people in the area healthier.

The article states that most of the options in this area are already fast food options and that most people will choose to go there because it is fast and convenient. Perry wants to stop any more of these restaurants from opening to try to give her constituents more options. According to the article the city has received many calls from other towns requesting copies of the proposal to consider for their own towns.

While the Los Angeles City Council has not yet voted on this issue, many in the restaurant industry are already taking action. Many members of the restaurant scene in the area have already worked with the council to add exceptions for restaurants who meet certain criteria (like not having a drive-thru). Many restaurants are also taking acts like these as inspiration and motivation to make their menus healthier and more diverse. As more and more communities start to look at the restaurant industry as a player in the obesity problem in this country (whether that is true or not) restaurant owners have realized that they need to start taking action and making plans now, so that they are ready for whatever may happen.

If this plan came to your area, what would you do? Would you fight the proposal or try to work with it? Would anyone see reason to go after your business, or have they already? Any tips for those who are already facing this situation? Post below to offer your advice to other restaurant owners.