Legislation and Government

 

The United States government realized that food deserts were a growing problem some time ago, and has since tried to implement strategies and policy to help rectify the growing problem affecting numerous communities of color. The USDA has done studies to locate where food deserts are prominent in the U.S. They use a tool called the Food Access Research Atlas, located on their website. This tool helps the general public to locate their community, and locate whether or not they have access to healthy supermarkets, and how close. I wanted to examine Atlanta, specifically the West End being that this community has a high demographic of African Americans in this small community directly outside downtown Atlanta. Using the USDA's Food Access Research Atlas, I was able to view the map of the West End and a small portion of a neighboring community called Vine City.  

 

The green on this map represents the "Low-Income census tracks where a significant number or share of residents is more than 1 mile or 10 miles from the nearest supermarket." (USDA, 2015). Looking at this, one can rightfully presume that with all of the green, a large portion if not the majority of citizens in this community suffer from lack of healthy food and are between 1-10 miles from the nearest supermarket, where healthy food options are usually sold. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                      Figure 8 Food Desert Locations: West End Community of Atlanta, GA. (USDA, 2015).

 

Government Solutions

 

In 2010, the Obama Administration recognized this problem, and announced the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which was created to bring grocery stores and healthy food options to low income, urban and rural communities. This initiative was set to utilize approximately $400 million in efforts with the USDA, and the Treasury Health and Human Services (Office of Community Services, n.d.). While I believe this initiative is a great start to addressing the problem, I believe more needs to be done. Other efforts, such as the Food Desert Oasis Act of 2009, have been attempts to deal with food deserts in these communities, but often times, such legislation never comes to a vote and consequently, does not become a law, leaving the issue of food deserts prevalent and ongoing.

 

In addition to the lack of healthy options in these communities, communities have to worry about the toxic waste disposal that studies have shown 3/4th's of toxic waste disposal sites that have not passed EPA regulations were located in communities of color ( Ashford, Caldart, 2008). Needless to say, new legislation needs to be drafted to protect these communities and provide a healthier way of living. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                        Figure 9 Popeye's