Like many towns in America, Baldwin Park has a weight problem. But this southern California city — the reputed birthplace of drive-thru fast food joints — is taking an unusual step to help its citizens stay lean: A nine-month ban on the construction of new drive-thrus.
The Christian Science Monitor reports:
Local officials say they wanted to tackle not just the traffic snarls inherent in an “‘in-car” dining culture, but be part of the national campaign to stem obesity – a cause championed by First Lady Michelle Obama.
“We see ourselves at the forefront of the fight on obesity,” says Marc Castagnola, Baldwin Park community development manager.
According to the CSM, the In-N-Out Burger chain that’s been credited with starting the drive-thru boom first opened in Baldwin Park in 1948. The city now has some 83,000 residents and 17 drive-in restaurants, the newspaper reports.