The Battle Continues: Mobile Food Trucks VS. Local Eateries

Photo by Ricardo Diaz via the LAist Featured Photos pool

SoCal mobile food trucks are once again under attack. Restaurant owners voice understandable concern regarding the impact of mobile eateries near their establishments, and food trucks continue to defend their livelihoods. The battle seems never-ending, and additional discriminative measures are being taken to limit the presence of L.A.'s beloved treat trucks.

Councilman Bill Rosendahl introduced motion 11-1157 on July 1, 2011, advocating a height and length restriction of vehicles on Olympic and Sawtelle Boulevards. Introduced under the guise of public safety, the motion does not mention mobile food trucks.

The SoCal Mobile Food Vendors' Association (SCMFVA) claims that "this is clearly an anti-competitive measure to limit the public's access to their favorite food trucks for the benefit of the Lemon Moon restaurant owners who feel they should have a geographic monopoly over the Olympic and Bundy area."

Prior motions restricting food trucks were submitted in June 2010 by Councilmember Tom LaBonge.

Food truck owners have laced up their punching gloves and entered the ring. Temaki Truck, sushi on wheels, tweeted this afternoon: "LA trying to prohibit food trucks in Westside locations: Please call 213-473-7011 and say: Leave My Lunch Alone!"

Urging fans of consumer choice to voice their opinions, SCMFVA asks citizens to email Rosendahl’s office or call 310-575-8461 to complain.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@laist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Lauren Lloyd in News on July 13, 2011 2:20 PM

Comments [rss]

Pauline Adamek

I thought the whole point of food trucks was to bring decent food to areas where there are few existing restos. So it's not entirely fair for trucks to impinge upon the turf of restos by seducing their potential clientele.

Blaine Elliott

Really? By your logic, the city should ban restaurants that deliver food.

Javier

We are living in a free market. Where only the strong survive. If Lemon Moon wanted to keep the attention of patrons seduced by the trucks, they could easily change up their menu or offer better food/service.

There's no such thing as a business owning turf. The free market will decide what survives and what doesn't.

Militant Angeleno

Is there really a "battle?" There's a time and place for each of them. Both are important players in the local food scene. One can do things the other can't. Support your food trucks AND your local restaurants!

jdd6y

There is a battle here because the owners of Lemon Moon have a poor business concept that can only succeed if all competition is eliminated. The trucks are there because the other businesses want them to be -- Hulu in particular. Lemon Moon essentially is a food truck in terms of its menu but it has the huge advantage of seating and a staff. With similar prices, it needs protection? Apparently, Lemon Moon's owners, the guys from JiRaffe, I believe, have been drilling Rosendahl's office with faxes everyday and his staff caved. The battle is between the consumers, who want choice and competition, and Lemon Moon, who wants no choice, no competition, oh, and btw, to inconvenience every surrounding business because food trucks cannot simply be banned under state law. That Rosendahl has even countenanced such a ridiculous idea (what if someone opened a restaurant next door to Lemon Moon, should that be banned?) goes to show his absolute naivete about economics and the law of unintended consequences.

khagler

I generally agree, but I think you're being too nice to Rosendahl. This sort of thing (and it happens to push-cart food vendors too) is more a matter of blatant corruption than naivete.