It happened in Los Angeles and London England, now New York City Councilman Eric Gioia is jumping on the ineffectual bandwagon by proposing legislation to ban fast food restaurants from operating within one block of schools in NYC.

Supporters of moves like this point to studies showing childhood obesity rates are clearly higher for kids who’s schools are within 0.1 miles of a fast food joint. However, there still remains no proof that banning them from that proximity will reduce those obesity rates. The core reason kids are getting fat is because of poor dietary choices, many times inherited from what they observe mommy and daddy eating. Move McDonalds farther away and you still have the kid with nutritional ignorance. If they want a cheeseburger, they’re going to get it. There’s not even anything wrong with having some fast food once and awhile. Sorry Morgan Spurlock, nobody eats that stuff every day, and if they do, you can’t legislate against stupidity. Are they going to go into each individual store near schools and ban candy bars, cupcakes and chips? By passing legislation that may or may not be effective, an illusion is created that something has been done, then heat is taken off the core issue (nutritional ignorance) therefore stuff like this may even worsen the problem, or at best not do anything. Where the heck are kids supposed to meet after school on half-days?

A politician and a do-gooder act they they're going to reduce child obesity (photo from The Epoch Times)

Gioia seems like a smart guy and should be commended for pushing for an investigation on Rudy Guliani’s role in the failure of FDNY radio equipment on 9/11, and I see what MeMe Roth is trying to do with NAAO, but they’re way off the mark with the banning tactic. I understand it is a great publicity opportunity for them both (that’s a fly purple coat girl). It’s also entirely possible they’re locked into an over-polite facade which bans them from proclaiming the following:

“Hey fool! Stop eating so much crappy food and become active!”

You could call it the “Tough Love” tactic. It’s that simple. Burn more calories than you take in. You can eat way healthier for cheap with smart choices at the grocery store. It is unfair to punish those who enjoy eating fast food occasionally in attempt to help those who don’t. On a side note, McDonalds Newman’s Own coffee ain’t bad. Ban that busters!