In a commendable step away from increased government intervention, the New York City Health Department has found a non-regulatory way to initiate change.

As smoking bans and increased liquor regulation take effect in DeKalb, New York City is attempting to address the problem of excessive trans-fat production by urging restaurants to stop using trans-fats in their products, instead of implementing increased regulation. This is much better than creating a law and trying to accelerate action outside the purview of the government.

It is recognized that creating a law may be a more effective means of pushing change, but voluntary cooperation is the best way to give people a means to avoid treacherous actions.

We hope, in future moves toward changing dangerous behavior, the DeKalb city government appreciates that they can alter behavior without creating a law.

Chicago and New York have recently proposed trans-fat bans although neither has been passed into law.

DeKalb is not interested in a trans-fat ban but can benefit from using the techniques of other officials in other cities.

Concerned about overregulation, 7th Ward Alderman James Barr spoke out before the smoking ban and the minimum liquor price hike was passed.

Barr asked where the line would be drawn with regulation and jokingly suggested the council might favor a trans-fat ban.

Even as he was voting in favor of the regulation, 3rd Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan cautioned the governing body about going too far with these laws of restriction.

Hopefully we can avoid constraining citizen choices with well-meaning, if overreaching laws.