Watsonville spends hours debating third McDonalds proposal

Fighting obesity by trying to keep fast-food joints out of their city. Some Watsonville teens are urged city leaders to stop a proposal for a third McDonald’s.

However, on Tuesday night city leaders approved changes to two land-use ordinances, paving the way for a 24-hour drive-thru McDonald’s near downtown.

“We already have an extreme high rate of obesity and we don’t think it’s healthy for students, that will probably be tempted to make more unhealthy decision,” said Watsonville High School junior Maria Yerena.

Yerena said she and 24 other community studies students want their voices heard by city leaders. With signs and speeches, they’re demanding more healthy options and less grease. The group said it recently surveyed fellow students, finding 109 opposed McDonald’s, while 17 approved.

Those representing McDonald’s said a new restaurant could make huge improvements to a currently blighted building.

“The proposed development replaces in short a place that people absolutely don’t want to be with a place that people will feel safe,” said a McDonald’s representative.

McDonald’s said it has the potential to increase property tax by $500,000, $1.2 million in sales tax and nearly 80 new jobs. Those against more fast-food said they also want to see an economic boost but not at the cost of the community’s health.

“So this really is an opportunity for all of us to look at who we are as a community, what we want our community to become,” said Kymberly Lacrosse with United Way of Santa Cruz County.

Lacrosse said Watsonville’s current childhood obesity rate is 49.3 percent, compared to 33 percent in the county. McDonald’s representatives said they also want what’s best for the community, citing a growing list of healthy options on the menu.

“This is not a fast-food issue, it’s a foo issue. Ultimately it is not where you eat, it is what you eat when you get when you get there,” said a McDonald’s dietician.

Many people who spoke in support of the McDonald’s said the new restaurant could open doors for local kids looking for a job. The city previously considered a Walgreens at this same location, but that project fell through last year.