For five days out of the week, the folks of Tacos 5 y 10 get to work at the edge of Mid City. They sell Mexican food from Guerrero, Oaxaca and Tijuana. Their hustle begins at 6 a.m. in the morning.
Why it matters: Daniel Martinez’s microbusiness is part of an ecosystem that fuels this city. A 2015 report notes that street vending is a $504 million industry in L.A. — that number is probably more robust now almost a decade later and with inflation.
Vendors have been working on the streets of L.A. for decades, but a lot of it was in the shadows — and carried with it the risks of fines, or worse.
Why now: Earlier this year, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance that eliminates many “no-vending” zones. The Hollywood Walk of Fame, for example, is a famous — and lucrative — spot where street vendors were prohibited, and this vote was a win for them.
Still, vendors and the city have some differences to work out. There’s a May 16 deadline for the two sides to either settle or go to court.
For five days out of the week, the folks of Tacos 5 y 10 get to work at the edge of Mid City.
By midafternoon, the corner of Hauser Boulevard and Apple Street is already bustling with street vendors — someone is selling Pokémon toys at one spot, another table is set up with secondhand goods and, a few feet away, a team of two is pushing elotes. Drivers cruise by at a glacial pace, stuck in traffic looking hungry, or stressed.
The taco team starts to set up at 3:30 p.m., unloading tents, a grill, their hot and cold food sections and a couple of tables and chairs for seating. They move pretty quickly; within 30 minutes they turned a bare street corner into an al fresco taco booth.
Daniel Martinez starts setting up the food stand that he and his family helped build, offering Oaxacan and Tijuananese cuisine in the West Adams community of Los Angeles.
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Daniel Martinez, the co-owner behind Tacos 5 y 10, forgot water gallons, so he jumps in his pickup truck and heads back home, just a few streets north.
It’s not yet 5 p.m. (their starting time for selling), but the flames are firing up on the grill and out comes el trompo de al pastor with chunks of pineapple. It’s a sight to see, but really the attractions here are the handmade tortillas as their bellies bubble up on the grill. The scent of warm corn and grilled meat waft by, battling the 10 Freeway overpass’ junky air.
Daniel Martinez and Marlo Ortiz prepare the el pastor meat before the open for business.
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By this time, the other street vendors are wrapping up. It’s spring, so the sun is still out, but the traffic is diluting.
A curious person gets out of her car and checks out the menu. After mulling it over a few minutes, she orders the first meal they sold that day.
Her dollars went to support a street vending business, one of about 50,000 in the Los Angeles area.
She probably didn’t know that Martinez’s hustle began at 6 a.m. that day.
#274: L.A. is often called the street vending capital of the country, and for good reason. Our street food has so much diversity, whether it's served out of a truck or a puesto. And it's not just food — people sell sunglasses, clothes, groceries... It can a great hustle for people who want to be their own boss,
#274: L.A. is often called the street vending capital of the country, and for good reason. Our street food has so much diversity, whether it's served out of a truck or a puesto. And it's not just food — people sell sunglasses, clothes, groceries... It can a great hustle for people who want to be their own boss,
Martinez’s microbusiness is part of an ecosystem that fuels this city. A 2015 report notes that street vending is a $504 million industry in L.A. — that number is probably more robust now almost a decade later and with inflation.
Vendors have been working on the streets of L.A. for decades, but a lot of it was in the shadows — and carried with it the risks of fines, or worse.
It was just a few years ago, in 2018, that the state decriminalized street vending. After that, each county or city had to apply its own health codes and permit rules.
We’re talking about working class communities that make less than $20,000 a year that you’re expecting them to [push] through this blueprint cart approval process to sell hot dogs on the street.
— Juan Espinoza (in previous chat)
He was a lawyer who represented street vendors in 2022 to pass the updated legislation.
A Tacos 5 y 10 worker sets up the dining area for the food stand that's on Hauser Boulevard, north of Adams Boulevard.
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Zaydee Sanchez
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LAist
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And earlier this year, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance that eliminates many “no-vending” zones. The Hollywood Walk of Fame, for example, is a famous — and lucrative — spot where street vendors were prohibited, and this vote was a win for them.
Still, vendors and the city have some differences to work out. There’s a May 16 deadline for the two sides to either settle or go to court.
'A legit way'
Back at Tacos 5 y 10, Martinez knows about the local requirements and permits to sell food. He admits he is working on them to formalize everything to run a smooth operation, but “the process is exhausting” and time consuming.
For him, the process to become permitted is worth it as an entrepreneur — he says he thinks about payroll, working with vendors and filing his taxes.
Marlo Ortiz begins heating up the stoves before service begins at 5 p.m.
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“At the end of the day, you have the liberty of selling and making your own money and doing it in a legit way for you to prove that you [are] actually doing something to society,” he says.
It’s not always easy. Martinez says he didn’t pay himself a salary last year because he needed to raise wages for his three workers and pay the increase in produce prices as inflation has gone up.
Bringing his culture to L.A.
Martinez, 30, is an Angeleno by the way of Tijuana. He grew up there before he came to the United States 15 years ago with his family.
Like many others, the pandemic thrust him into changing course and beginning a small business. Martinez has a business management degree from Cal State Northridge and wanted to apply it in real life. He and his mom, who is a co-owner of Tacos 5 y 10, chose to create a fusion of Mexican traditions from Tijuana, Oaxaca and Guerrero — the latter two states are where his parents were raised.
He and his mother start prepping at 11 a.m., dicing, slicing and marinating the goods. Together they make enough to sell 140 orders on busy days.
A Tacos 5 y 10 worker serves a tluyuda.
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The name Tacos 5 y 10 comes from an open air swap meet that sets up on the sidewalk in Tijuana, Martinez explains, describing his childhood with fond memories. It was a place to gather, be happy, eat and enjoy.
“For me there's no way to go back home,” he says. Cooking this food at the stand most nights, “is what reminds me of home.”
Their menu has a little bit of everything Mexican — tlayudas, platos de carne, spicy salsas, a mean guacamole, horchata and, of course, tacos. Martinez also tries to bring a vibe: sometimes having a speaker with music and setting up string lights to illuminate their food stand in the quiet neighborhood.
At 5 p.m. sharp hungry customers line up at the Tacos 5 y 10 food stand in the neighborhood of West Adams.
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The concept behind Tacos 5 y 10, Martinez says, is to create a meeting place for folks to have a good time. Yes, the food is important, but the service and atmosphere is what sets businesses apart.
“You can go to La Chancla, El Gato Market or even to La Placita Olvera, and it's all about family and spending time with others, like having a good time,” he says.
And I think that's the motivation I have to keep hustling and to keep pushing this.
— Daniel Martinez, co-owner of Tacos 5 y 10
He has plans to use the taco stand as a catapult to create more business and opportunities. He wants to introduce people to the things he loves and knows — he’s already doing it with his family’s food, and he’s also thinking about music and comedy (one of his other passions).
The end of the team’s shift winds down at 10 p.m. The same time the nearby eateries, like Alta and Vicky’s All Day, on Adams Boulevard close.
The difference with Tacos 5 y 10 is that they leave the corner with no trace they were there. But Martinez and his team will be back at 3:30 p.m. to set up the next day, and probably the day after.
Sometimes we see a pop-up on the street we are like 'Argh, another pop-up,' but you don't take into account the hours, the hard work, the fear of being on the street... We take street food for granted.
— Daniel Martinez, co-owner of Tacos 5 y 10
After today, I know we have to respect this hustle.
California gubernatorial candidates during a debate hosted by CBS Bay Area and the San Francisco Examiner in San Francisco on May 14, 2026.
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Godofredo A. Vásquez
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AP Photo/Pool
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Topline:
Seven California gubernatorial candidates faced off Thursday night in the final debate before California's primary. Republicans begged a liberal state to vote differently, Matt Mahan sought to place himself in the middle and everyone came for Xavier Becerra.
Becerra was the one to beat: Opponents piled on with anything that might stick, from his acceptance of a campaign contribution from Chevron to his failure to answer questions at a housing forum last week to fraud in the hospice system while Becerra was secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration. But the Becerra weakness du jour was the guilty plea earlier Thursday of his former political strategist Dana Williamson, who admitted to conspiring with Becerra’s former longtime chief of staff to steal money from his campaign account.
Republicans stuck together: Even before the moderators asked the candidates who else they would support if they didn’t make it onto the November ballot, the two Republicans were already practically high-fiving. In previous debates, interviews and TV ads the two have attacked each other, but by Thursday they were often referencing each other’s points. “Only two of us actually represent real change,” Hilton said of himself and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Read on... for more takeaways from Thursday's final gubernatorial debate.
When you're leading the polls, everyone takes their shots. Xavier Becerra found that out Thursday night as six gubernatorial rivals ganged up on him in the final debate before California's primary — attacking everything from his ethics to his ideas to his choice of political consultants.
It was their last chance to make a personal appeal to California voters ahead of the June 2 election to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.
While the San Francisco debate was calmer than the brawls in the last few meet-ups, everyone’s target was the Democratic frontrunner Becerra.
These are five takeaways:
Becerra was the one to beat:
Opponents piled on with anything that might stick, from his acceptance of a campaign contribution from Chevron to his failure to answer questions at a housing forum last week to fraud in the hospice system while Becerra was secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration.
But the Becerra weakness du jour was the guilty plea earlier Thursday of his former political strategist Dana Williamson, who admitted to conspiring with Becerra’s former longtime chief of staff to steal money from his campaign account.
Opponents were unified in their skepticism about Becerra’s repeated claims that he wasn’t involved. Despite the plea deal that did not accuse him, Democratic rival Katie Porter went so far as to say he could still be implicated in the case.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a moderate backed by tech leaders, went out of his way to call Becerra the “embodiment of the status quo” in Sacramento.
Once lagging in polls and fundraising, Becerra has surged since ex-Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out in early April over sexual assault allegations, offering Democratic voters a familiar face who’s held public office for decades and who frequently talks about fighting with Trump.
And he made the most of it:
Becerra appeared pleased with the attention.
“This is what happens when you take the lead in the polls,” he said. “They all come at you.”
Republican frontrunner Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, quickly jumped in to correct him: Hilton is leading, per some polls. (Accounting for margins of error, both candidates are essentially tied.)
But Becerra used the moment to try to shut the door on the Williamson scandal, touting a statement from the prosecutor’s office Thursday saying that “no candidate running for governor has been implicated” in the case.
Former Becerra political strategist Dana Williamson arrives for a hearing in Sacramento on May 14, 2026.
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Earlier in the week, he refused to answer when a reporter asked if he was sure Williamson couldn’t connect him to the case. Asked Thursday if he could guarantee the case wouldn’t be a “distraction” if he advances to November, he responded, “I can.”
Mahan looks to separate from Republicans:
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has made a name for himself as a moderate Democrat willing to take on his own party. That has included his early support for Prop. 36, the tough-on-crime ballot measure that Newsom and the party opposed in 2024 but which voters passed overwhelmingly, and his campaign proposals to tie pay to performance in the public sector that rankle organized labor.
But on TV in a state where Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans and Trump is anathema, he sought to clarify that he’s not a Republican.
“I’m going to offer something different,” he said. “Not MAGA and not more of the same.”
Mahan appeared to relish his spats with Hilton, taking care to point out Hilton’s association with Trump and his former employer, Fox News. Mahan criticized the Republican’s plan to expand California suburbs by building on undeveloped land as likely to drive up carbon emissions, and attacked him over rumors he was pushed out of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s government.
“I attacked the extremes on both sides,” Mahan said after the debate.
Mahan was the only Democrat not to say on stage that he would support any of the other Democrats if they advanced to November and he didn’t, instead naming fellow moderate former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, because “mayors get things done.”
Later, he wavered, first saying “it depends” when asked if he would support another Democrat, clarifying, “I would vote for a fellow Democrat against a Republican.”
Everyone but Hilton would restrict chatbots:
When moderators asked a lightning-round “yes or no” question on whether the state should more strictly regulate artificial intelligence chatbots that interact with children, the candidates appeared united across party lines.
Democrats in the state Capitol this year are already pursuing stricter chatbot regulations after advocates decried a law Newsom signed last year as too weak. Steyer promoted his brother’s influential work on the topic.
In contrast, Hilton hesitated, then refused to answer yes or no, saying “it’s not as simple as that” and expressing a desire not to over-regulate the industry.
“It’s not the right way to discuss a very important and serious issue,” he said as opponents and moderators tried to pin him down. “It causes problems that are unintended.”
Hilton moved to California from the United Kingdom to Silicon Valley in 2012 to join his wife Rachel Whetstone, a prominent tech executive.
Republicans boost each other:
Even before the moderators asked the candidates who else they would support if they didn’t make it onto the November ballot, the two Republicans were already practically high-fiving.
In previous debates, interviews and TV ads the two have attacked each other, but by Thursday they were often referencing each other’s points.
With numerous Democrats competing for liberal support, Hilton has consistently led in the polls. While he and Bianco have previously declined to specifically endorse the other, the only realistic way for a Republican to win in blue California is for both Republicans to come in Nos. 1 and 2 and shut Democrats out of the general election.
A person riding an e-bike on Ocean Blvd. in Downtown Long Beach on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
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Thomas R. Cordova
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Long Beach Post
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Topline:
The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday agreed to draft a law banning higher-powered electric bikes from all city sidewalks, saying they pose a threat to pedestrians and should be used elsewhere.
Why it matters: The ban, proposed by Councilmember Daryl Supernaw, would still allow slower e-bikes that max out at 20 mph on residential sidewalks, but Class 3 e-bikes, which are capable of speeds up to 28 mph, wouldn’t be allowed on any sidewalks.
Why now: The ordinance follows the growing prevalence of electronic bikes and motorcycles, and complaints about their use on sidewalks and footpaths, where an increasing number of pedestrians worry about being struck.
Read on... for more on the ordinance.
The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday agreed to draft a law banning higher-powered electric bikes from all city sidewalks, saying they pose a threat to pedestrians and should be used elsewhere.
The ban, proposed by Councilmember Daryl Supernaw, would still allow slower e-bikes that max out at 20 mph on residential sidewalks, but Class 3 e-bikes, which are capable of speeds up to 28 mph, wouldn’t be allowed on any sidewalks.
The originally proposed ban would have also extended to the city’s multi-use pathways, such as the shoreline path and those along the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers, as well as those that cut through El Dorado and Heartwell Parks, but the council agreed to scale back that proposal for now and reconsider in six months.
Councilmember Megan Kerr said a blanket ban would unfairly penalize those who ride the higher-powered Class 3 e-bikes on paths to ferry children and their belongings to work or home. She urged the body to pause adoption until a later date, to allow the city to gather data and recommend which paths should be exempt.
“I hesitate to go to the most restrictive in this moment when we can step up to more restrictive as we get additional information,” Kerr said. “I would hate to limit a safe form of travel for folks with a blanket that we’re not so sure about.”
The ordinance follows the growing prevalence of electronic bikes and motorcycles, and complaints about their use on sidewalks and footpaths, where an increasing number of pedestrians worry about being struck.
Supernaw brought the item forward in October, after being inundated with complaints about dangerous riding along the San Gabriel River pathway.
“I didn’t realize it could devolve to where it is now,” he said. “It certainly didn’t get better on its own.”
Electric bikes, motorcycles and dirt bikes have surged in popularity in recent years, especially among teenagers who see them as a new means of freedom and adrenaline.
But the vehicles’ high speeds come with real dangers. From 2023 to 2025, Long Beach Memorial Hospital’s trauma department alone has seen 168 e-bike-related injuries.
Edna Transon, a nurse and program manager at MemorialCare, said their trauma bay has seen a spike in serious injuries — skull fractures, brain damage, broken ribs and lacerations — that require multiple surgeries and longer recovery times.
“They’re not scrapes, they’re not bumps, they’re not bruises, they’re not even a regular fracture, they’re way more serious,” Transon said. “You’ve seen loss of legs, loss of life.”
City and hospital data show that a large number of riders are teens, especially those aged 10 to 17, though those coming into trauma bays — riders and pedestrians alike — are as young as 5 and old as 92.
Most of the effort to regulate e-bikes has been fought at the state level and in schools. Under California law, e-bikes and e-motorcycles are separately classified by motor power, top speed and whether the bike has working pedals. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, which go up to 20 mph, don’t require licenses or insurance, while Class 3 riders need to be at least 16.
Last month, State Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert to retailers, parents and manufacturers that warned of the current laws and pending legislation around the devices. At his prodding, Amazon last week also announced it would stop selling higher-powered e-bikes in California.
But the danger around the bikes has prompted nearby cities, counties and school districts to take strong stances against their usage, especially around Class 3 e-bikes.
A bicyclist rides along the Los Angeles River out of Downtown Long Beach Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
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Brandon Richardson
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Long Beach Post
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San Diego bans all e-bikes on sidewalks and near businesses, and requires riders to be at least 13. Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach prohibit Class 3 e-bikes on their beach bike paths and often require riders to power down the motor or walk their bikes in high-traffic areas near the piers.
Starting next year, elementary and middle school students at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District are banned from commuting on e-bikes, following a school board vote last month. School districts in Palos Verdes and Redondo Beach require safety courses for students.
And Huntington Beach, which bans e-bikes on sidewalks and requires riders to dismount in some areas downtown, has used child endangerment statutes to go after the parents of minors who injure or kill someone with e-motos or overpowered e-bikes.
Long Beach police say they have limited enforcement options for law-flouting cyclists and won’t pursue riders for a simple traffic violation, saying a serious crime needs to have been committed.
LBPD Commander Shaleana Benson said the department is capable of using a drone to follow cyclists until officers can either divert them from a high-traffic area or issue them citations and potentially impound the bike if it can go over 20 mph.
But police say they would rather help start a diversion program, citing data that a large swathe of problematic riders are teenagers at local schools. But they said that would require new funding and additional staffing. City officials also warn they can only control where these bikes are used, and cannot outright ban their sale, classification and power limits.
“A lot of things are being tested out right now,” said Paul Van Dyk, a city traffic engineer with Long Beach Public Works.
You can find Long Beach’s current bike, e-scooter and pedestrian laws here.
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Traffic moves along the terminal loop at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles.
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Jae C. Hong
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AP Photo
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Topline:
If you live in Inglewood or the surrounding communities, it takes just a few minutes to sign up for email alerts from the city of Inglewood ahead of potential traffic-inducing events.
Why it matters: Eight FIFA World Cup games will come to Inglewood this summer, each with tens of thousands of fans and, presumably, a flood of traffic.
What if I don't want to drive? If you want to know when to avoid driving but don’t want to sign up for alerts, there are the dates and kick-off times for the eight matches to watch.
Read on... for what to know about potential World Cup traffic in Inglewood.
Eight FIFA World Cup games will come to Inglewood this summer, each with tens of thousands of fans and, presumably, a flood of traffic.
If you live in Inglewood or the surrounding communities, it takes just a few minutes to sign up for email alerts from the city of Inglewood ahead of potential traffic-inducing events.
Here’s how it’s done, step-by-step.
Start here at the city of Inglewood’s online Alert Center.
Select “Notify Me”
Click “Notify Me Sign In”
Create an account, if you don’t have one, or sign in.
Return to the “Notify Me” page and scroll to the “Alert Center” section
Select the mail icon to receive alerts by email. Confirm your email.
Select the phone icon to receive alerts by text. Confirm your phone number.
Enjoy being in the know.
If you want to know when to avoid driving but don’t want to sign up for alerts, here are the dates and kick-off times for the eight matches.
Group Stage:
Friday, June 12, at 6 p.m.: USA v. Paraguay
Monday, June 15, at 6 p.m.: Iran vs. New Zealand
Thursday, June 18, at 12 p.m.: Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sunday, June 2,1 at 12 p.m.: Belgium vs. Iran
Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. Türkiye vs. USA
Round of 32:
Sunday, June 28, at 12 p.m.: Group A runners-up vs. Group B runners-up
Thursday, July 2, at 12 p.m.: Group H winners vs. Group J runners-up
Quarterfinal:
Friday, July 10, at 12 p.m.: Winner match 93 vs. Winner match 94
What to expect: Morning clouds even patchy fogs for some areas followed by a mostly sunny afternoon. Temperatures are going to rise up a bit with highs in the 70s and 80s today.
Read on ... to learn about warnings for beach goers this weekend.
QUICK FACTS
Today’s weather: Cloudy morning then mostly sunny
Beaches: 65 to 71 degrees
Mountains: low 70s to 80s
Inland: 76 to 83 degrees
Warnings and advisories: None
May gray skies will continue to keep the mornings on the cooler side, but come later this afternoon we'll see some sunshine and slightly warmer temps.
High temperatures along the beaches will stay in the mid 60s to around 70 degrees, and reach the lower 70s for the inland coast.
For the valleys, temperatures will reach the upper 70s. Meanwhile the Inland Empire will see highs up to 83 degrees.
Coachella Valley will see highs from 95 to 100 degrees.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the National Weather Service is forecasting high surf and dangerous rip currents for nearby beaches.
Come Saturday afternoon around 3:00, Ventura County will be under a high surf advisory. That will last until 9 a.m. Monday. Waves could be five to eight feet tall.
Meanwhile, the Malibu coast and L.A. County beaches will see dangerous rip currents and breaking waves starting Saturday evening through Monday morning. Swimmers, surfers and beach goers should be careful.
