CHICAGO Less than half of South Los Angeles residents were aware of the yearlong moratorium on fast-food development that went into effect Aug. 11 within the restaurant-rich area, according to research released Monday by Technomic Inc.
The survey indicated that 56 percent of the 500,000 people who live in the 32-square-mile area were not aware the ban on additional freestanding quick-service restaurants was in effect. “It does not appear that the Los Angeles City Council has done an effective job in communicating the existence of and rational behind this piece of legislation,” Bob Goldin, Technomic’s executive vice president, said in a statement.
Of the 44 percent of respondents who were aware of the moratorium, 67 percent supported it, said Technomic. The study was based on a survey of 300 people, according to the research and consulting concern.
In addition, Technomic found that only 41 percent of respondents believed that such a ban would lower obesity rates, which have been pegged by other studies as being higher than the state norm. Twenty-eight percent said the moratorium would not have an effect on obesity, and 31 percent reported they had no opinion.
Approved unanimously by the Los Angeles City Council earlier this year, the moratorium was designed to stem growing obesity rates in certain neighborhoods, as well as to encourage growth of full-service restaurants and grocery stores offering more healthful dining options.