Loma Linda's McDonald's Fight Goes National

The story of Loma Linda's fight to keep its brand has gone national.

The New York Times published a story Sunday discussing the City Council's recent decision to approve a shopping center that may include the city's first McDonald's restaurant.

It was something that City Council detractors predicted would happen during last Tuesday's meeting. And it has become a hot topic for people on both sides of the issue. Mayor Rhodes Rigsby even mentioned the article during Monday's State of the Community address.

The online version of the story has been peppered with comments from readers from around the country, some for and some against the restaurant.

A person identifying themselves as "K" from Brooklyn, said:

Why does McDonalds so aggressively try to integrate into communities that don't want it? (This is a rhetorical question, I know it's all about grubbing every dollar they can).

I'm glad my hometown of Orleans, MA managed to keep them out. The 'choice' of eating there or not withstanding--after all, people will eat there if it exists; and like other chain restaurants, it creates a sad, culturally homogeneous blot to the landscape.

Meanwhile, a former non-Adventist resident now living in Denver, who signed in under the name "IHeartMeNotThem" said:

People shouldn't fret about this, because there is a Costco that sells Chicken Bake with Pork and there is also a Taco Bell at the edge of the city. Its not a huge change, and I still think the Loma Linda University Hospital serves great gluten free and vegan meals. I lived there for a while and I'm not SDA, and I like McDonalds. The alternative can embrace the culture, and vice versa. Its not like there is a marijuana dispensary there...I'll ban them from Loma Linda.

The article quotes Loma Linda University professor Wayne Dysinger, who worries about how hard it might be to keep children, including his own, from wanting to stop at a McDonald's. A few of the responders weighed in on his comments with some of their own.

A person signed in as "Rafe" from San Antonio said:

Well, Prof. Dysinger, when your kids say "Oh Daddy, can we stop there," how 'bout you just say "No?" Or would you prefer government to step in and remove all temptation?

A commenter from Chicago, who goes by the name "Ras," weighed in by reminding folks that there are bigger problems out there:

If opening a McDonald's is the worst thing that happens in this community, I want to move there!

And others used the country's current health care debate as a basis for their comment. "JWM" from Dallas wrote:

It's still a free country but the cost of med care is unbelivable. Having spent some time in hospital waiting rooms (wife contracted MRSA during surgery), the numbers of obese and unhealthy looking people is very apparent. These folks are at a much higher rate filling up the hospitals and waiting rooms at doc offices. The numbers of admissions, the much higher risk of surgery and other complications not to mention the rising level of diabetes not only costs the patient but all of us. I wish there were some way for those of us who are irresponsible-- not wearing seatbelts, not wearing helmets on motorcycles, becoming morbidly obese, smoking, drinking to excess, using drugs, etc. could pay the frieght for their behavior instead of it being passed on to the rest of us. When I think of the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on law and esp. drug enforcement, and avoidable medical problems, it is just incredible what it costs this country and the rest of us. End of rant.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the spectrum, "Ron" from New York, said it's not all just fast food restaurant's fault:

Oh, please. People are not dying from eating a Quarter Pounder, a small fries and a diet coke. It's when they get home, plop themselves on the couch, and eat a bag of carb-laden potato chips or a box of cookies with hundreds of grams of sugar, is when they do themselves in.

A former Loma Linda Academy student who signed on as "Paul" from Santa Monica, even weighed in, letting people know that there are still plenty of options in the city:

As a teenager in the '90s I attended Loma Linda Academy, where we were allowed to go off-campus for lunch. Until we had cars, the majority of us walked the half block where there was a KFC, Del Taco and a Baker's (burger chain, and home of the "Loma Linda Menu" mentioned in the story). Once we could drive, the In 'n Out and Burger King a couple blocks away became fair game. Not to mention all the family-owned Mexican fast food joints.

The idea that a McDonalds will change the healthy habits of the majority of residents seems a bit misguided when every option but already exists.

"AJ" of New York also wonders how much money might play into the issue:

To those in Loma Linda that can afford the 99 cents/lb for bananas, I imagine setting foot in a McDonald's won't even be an issue. For the rest of us, we need healthier choices. It's time for people to stop having the McDonald's argument (we all know it's not good for us), and instead complain to our governments that organic food choices are cost prohibitive for the average working-class American. I can't afford to spend 3x as much on my grocery bill each week to ensure that my food is pesticide/hormone/antibiotic free. The government should be stepping in and regulating food production. Healthy milk, eggs, and meat should be for everyone, not just the rich.