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We Deserve A Break Today

We Deserve A Break Today image
Parent Issue
Day
25
Month
January
Year
1974
OCR Text

We Deserve a Break Today

Stop the Poisonburger Invasion

"It's the Taj Mahal of McDonald's restaurants," said local attorney Donald Koster, "and I can think of a place over on Stadium where they can put that beautiful building to replace those golden arches."

Council Chambers were packed for the public hearing on the proposed McDonald's to be located on Maynard St. next to the Nickels Arcade. And despite McDonald's $50 rnillion a year advertising campaign to convince us that it's an "all American" place, the U.S.'s number one food chain did not have a single supporter.

If the gigantic fast-food chain has its way, the charming Nickels house on Maynard will be torn down to make way for a two-story brick structure with seating for 250. The proposed structure, designed by local architects after initial opposition to golden arches in the neighborhood, has been praised by the planning commission for saving trees on the site. The next hurdle is approval by City Council, and then off to money-making wonderland.

The hearing got off to an entertaining start when architects Bill Hobbs and Dick Black showed slides of the proposed building, mumbling something about not being able to vouch for the hamburgers.

But the hamburgers are not the only problems posed by another McDonald's. Besides furthering traffic problems in the area, endangering pedestrians, and increasing litter from McDonald's paper/plastic disposable eating utensils, the proposed eyesore allows the tentacles of the giant conglomerate to further reach in and exploit our community.

McDonald's primary interest is profits. The corporation is growing at the rate of one new franchise opening each day with over 2,500 already operating in the U.S. (and more spreading throughout the world). Over 8 billion hamburgers have already been sold, with an average annual profit of 15% for each franchise.

Money is made by paying workers low wages and serving cheap food. According to nutritionist Jean Mayer, "McDonald's food is high in cholesterol, low in vitamins, and a steady diet at McDonald's would give one scurvy."

Board chairman and chief executive officer Ray Kroc has made a fortune from the fast-food chains, and gave $250,000 of his profits to the Nixon campaign. In exchange. Nixon amended the minimum wage bill to exclude part -time students from its provisions (commonly referred to as the McDonald's amendment). Most of McDonald's employees are young people, and the low pay and grueling working conditions cause close to a 100% turnover every few months.

"Who will receive the primary benefits?" asked Elizabeth Taylor, Democratic county commissioner. "Maybe a few exploited workers will earn a little money, but it won't benefit those who live in the neighborhood. It will just increase the cash flow out of our city and county."

The owner of the Betsy Ross Shop Restaurant in the Arcade accused the city of trying to drive local restaurants out of business. He pointed out that there are already 16 restaurants in the neighborhood, and that three have closed in the past month. "Why not just make every business around there have a restaurant? You could let the travel agency sell hot dogs on the side."

He said that fast food restaurants are eroding the neighborhood, with Gino's already located at State and Wash., "making it into another Washtenaw Ave." He brought up the petition drive attempts to stop a Burger King at Maynard and liberty. "They don't want a Burger King, so why are you considering a McDonald's?" he asked Council. "They don't want this type of restaurant there!"

In a few weeks the issue will be presented to Council for approval, and the fate of the plastic-fantastic home of the bland-o-poisonburger will be decided.

The plan can still be defeated by a majority vote of Council, and that means the Republicans must be convinced that the majority of people oppose the hamburger octopus. Voice your opinion by writing Mayor Stephenson or calling his office at City Hall (761 - 2400).

--Ellen Hoffman