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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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.
Mariana Dale
reports on the financial challenges facing educators — and public school districts. She covered the 2023 LAUSD strike.
Published March 18, 2026 6:14 PM
LAUSD's largest labor unions say they and the district are far apart on new contracts.
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Topline:
The unions representing Los Angeles Unified teachers and support staff have given the district until April 14 to reach a deal amid stalled contract negotiations over pay and benefits. A strike could still be averted if the unions reach a deal with the district.
Why now: A possible open-ended strike was announced at a rally Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles. Earlier this year, members of United Teachers Los Angeles and SEIU Local 99 voted overwhelmingly to give their leaders the power to call a strike. Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, which represents principals, is also negotiating with the district.
Why it matters: A strike would almost certainly shutter schools for about 400,000 students, as was the case during a three-day work stoppage in 2023. The unions are seeking increases in pay for their members. The district has said it cannot afford what the unions have proposed.
What's next: The unions are still working their way through the bargaining process, but have said the district's offers do not meet their demands. UTLA appealed to LAUSD’s board ahead of a committee meeting Tuesday. “We can settle this contract before we have to go on strike if you all are active in that process,” Julie Van Winkle, UTLA's vice president, said. “But if that doesn’t happen then we’re still ready to go because we need to be able to afford to live in our cities and we need our schools to have basic resources.”
The unions representing Los Angeles Unified teachers and support staff have given the district a "red line" of April 14 to reach a deal for new contracts, or else face an open-ended strike.
The walkout was announced at a rally Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles.
Earlier this year, members of United Teachers Los Angeles and SEIU Local 99 voted overwhelmingly to give their leaders the power to call a strike as negotiations over pay and benefits stalled.
Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, which represents principals, is also negotiating with the district.
What happens now?
A strike would almost certainly shutter schools for about 400,000 students, as was the case during a three-day work stoppage in 2023. The unions are seeking increases in pay for their members. The district has said it cannot afford what the unions have proposed.
The unions are still working their way through the bargaining process, but have said the district's offers do not meet their demands. UTLA appealed to LAUSD’s board ahead of a committee meeting Tuesday.
“We can settle this contract before we have to go on strike if you all are active in that process,” Julie Van Winkle, UTLA's vice president said. “But if that doesn’t happen then we’re still ready to go because we need to be able to afford to live in our cities and we need our schools to have basic resources.”
Los Angeles Unified has maintained that it values employees, but needs to make tough financial decisions to reduce an ongoing budget deficit. This month, layoff notices were sent to more than 650 LAUSD employees, including hundreds of support staff.
Rose Duran, skates inside of The Garage Board Shop in East LA on Thursday, March 12. The mural behind her was painted by the Skate 4 Education after-school program students.
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Laura Anaya-Morga
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Topline:
For 15 years, The Garage Board Shop in East L.A. has been a safe, welcoming place for students to go to do their homework, get tutoring, hang out with their friends and learn how to skate through its Skate 4 Education after-school program.
Program on pause: The program was put on pause Saturday after mounting issues, including a lapse from the initiative that has provided paid mentors and dwindling sales at the shop caused by immigration raids. Skate 4 Education founder Maria Patricia Ramblaz said she’s now looking for new funding sources to bring the after-school program back, but its future remains in limbo.
Why it matters: The abrupt closure of the program has left parents saddened and worried their children’s grades and personal development will also be affected. Ramblaz, known by students as Ms. Patty, told Boyle Heights Beat that when she announced the news last week, the kids sprang into action to brainstorm ways to save the program.
Read on... for more about what the pause means for students.
For 15 years, The Garage Board Shop in East L.A. has been a safe, welcoming place for students to go to do their homework, get tutoring, hang out with their friends and learn how to skate through its Skate 4 Education after-school program.
But the program was put on pause Saturday after mounting issues, including a lapse from the initiative that has provided paid mentors and dwindling sales at the shop caused by immigration raids. Skate 4 Education founder Maria Patricia Ramblaz said she’s now looking for new funding sources to bring the after-school program back, but its future remains in limbo.
“Our best option to ensure the program continues for future generations is a momentary pause to not only find funding but also regroup as a team to see how we will work moving forward,” wrote Ramblaz, who runs The Garage Board Shop as well as The Urban Warehouse nonprofit organization, in a letter sent to partners, sponsors and community members Friday.
The abrupt closure of the program has left parents saddened and worried their children’s grades and personal development will also be affected.
Ramblaz, known by students as Ms. Patty, told Boyle Heights Beat that when she announced the news last week, the kids sprang into action to brainstorm ways to save the program.
They planned to spread the word about the program by making TikTok videos and handing out flyers to their friends and teachers at school. One girl handed Ramblaz two folded dollar bills she had in her pocket that day, a gesture that Ramblaz said filled her heart with joy and sadness.
“These kids should be the next governor, the next mayor, but because we’re cutting the education, I don’t think it’s gonna give us a chance to open more bridges for the kids,” Ramblaz said.
A place for students to thrive
When Rose Duran, 10, went home after learning the program would shut down, she surprised her parents with her idea to bring it back.
“I don’t want a quinceañera anymore,” she told her mother, Itzel Tlapalco, asking to donate the money that her family has been saving for her huge, coming-of-age celebration for years. “I want to help Miss Patty.”
Rose has been attending the Skate 4 Education after-school program since she was 7 years old, following in the footsteps of her older brother, who got involved after walking into the store to buy a skateboard with his parents over three years ago, Tlapalco said.
Maria Patricia Ramblaz talks to Itzel Tlapalco and Guillermo Duran about the Skate 4 Education program being put on pause inside The Garage Board Shop on Thursday, March 12.
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Tlapalco and Guillermo Duran said their son was struggling in math at the time, and soon after starting, they saw significant improvement in his grades thanks to the tutoring and attentiveness of the mentors at the program.
“It helped him a lot; he developed significantly at school, and he came here to learn even more,” Duran said in Spanish. They saw the same improvement when their daughter began participating, too.
Tlapalco said she has tried to understand her daughter’s homework, but she can’t help as well as the mentors at The Garage Board Shop do. She’s now worried her grades will take a hit.
Bernardo Lopez has been bringing his two daughters, Eliana and Emily, to the after-school program for over a year and said the girls offered to donate their birthday money to save it. They have also been spreading the word to their friends at school, Lopez said.
The program has been a great way for his daughters to socialize with other children and stay off of their phones and tablets, he added. “That’s really important because they don’t have that anymore,” he said. ”I feel like kids don’t have that anymore.”
A plan to keep it going
The program began 15 years ago, when Ramblaz set out to create the type of education program that she needed when she was a young student growing up in Boyle Heights.
Maria Patricia Ramblaz stands in the classroom located at the back of The Garage Skate Shop on Thursday, March 12.
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Over the years, with the help of grants from the county and organizations including L.A. Care, LA2050, Nike and Southern California Edison, Ramblaz was able to create a multifaceted program with paid mentors via America’s Job Center of California, offering students homework help and working with them on projects and activities. Through getting good grades and completing their assignments, students were rewarded with skate supplies at the shop, giving them a place where they could not only stay on track in school, but also spend time with friends and lean into their skating hobby.
Ramblaz said that this school year, AJCC was only able to provide paid mentors through December, with a new cohort set to start in July. Normally, she’d cover the gap out-of-pocket, but over the last year, her business has faced rising costs and the lasting effects of immigration raids.
Last June, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids hit her business hard. She went from making $400 a day on average to suddenly only making one or two sales per day in the weeks following the raids. Now, sales have steadily gone up, but it’s still not like before. Ramblaz said she’s had to take money out of her retirement fund to cover rent and bills at the shop.
The raids also caused some families to stop bringing their kids to the after-school program out of fear. Attendance went from 12 to 15 students a day to 3 to 5. Parents pay a $50 donation per month to keep their children enrolled, so the drop in attendance has also caused the program to take a financial hit.
Her only option, she said, is to put the program on pause to continue seeking out other avenues for funding.
Ramblaz said she needs about $50,000 to guarantee that the program survives for the rest of the year. That money would cover mentors’ salaries and pay for school supplies, projects, activities and snacks for the students.
Ramblaz said she has submitted over 30 grant applications in the past few months. Some remain under review, and others have been denied.
“It’s really depressing,” Ramblaz said. “This is my dream. This is my mission.”
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Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta speaks at an event in 2024.
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Topline:
Labor rights icon César Chávez is accused of sexually assaulting fellow farmworker leader Dolores Huerta in the 1960s, according to a New York Times investigation released Wednesday. Chávez is also accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls in the 1970s, the report said.
Dolores Huerta's statement: Huerta, 95, said she was reluctant to share her story because of Chávez’s status and kept the secret because she "believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for,” she said in a statement issued Wednesday.
Labor rights icon César Chávez is accused of sexually assaulting fellow farmworker leader Dolores Huerta in the 1960s, according to a New York Times investigation released Wednesday. Chávez is also accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls in the 1970s, the report said.
Huerta, 95, said she was reluctant to share her story because of Chávez’s status and “for the last 60 years have kept a secret because I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for,” she said in a statement issued Wednesday.
Just one day prior, the United Farm Workers union says it would not participate in any César Chávez Day activities March 31 after it learned of “troubling” allegations against Chávez, who co-founded the labor organization in 1962.
Huerta helped organize a labor strike in 1965 with organizers, including Chávez. She told the New York Times that Chávez raped her in 1966.
On Wednesday, she confirmed the reporting and reflected on her years of silence in a detailed statement.
Crisis intervention, counseling, prevention education, 24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline, and support services for survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
Sexual Assault Survivors: (909) 626-4357 (HELP)
Child Abuse Hotline: (626) 966-4155
Read the full statement in her own words:
“I am nearly 96 years old and for the last 60 years have kept a secret because I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for.
“I have encouraged people to always use their voice. Following the New York Times’ multi-year investigation into sexual misconduct by César Chávez, I can no longer stay silent and must share my own experiences.
“As a young mother in the 1960s, I experienced two separate sexual encounters with César. The first time, I was manipulated and pressured into having sex with him, and I didn’t feel I could say no because he was someone that I admired, my boss and the leader of the movement I had already devoted years of my life to. The second time, I was forced, against my will, and in an environment where I felt trapped.
“I had experienced abuse and sexual violence before, and I convinced myself these were incidents that I had to endure alone and in secret. Both sexual encounters with César led to pregnancies. I chose to keep my pregnancies secret, and after the children were born, I arranged for them to be raised by other families that could give them stable lives.
“Over the years, I have been fortunate to develop a deep relationship with these children, who are now close to my other children, their siblings. But even then, no one knew the full truth about how they were conceived until just a few weeks ago.
“I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life’s work. The formation of a union was the only vehicle to accomplish and secure those rights, and I wasn’t going to let César or anyone else get in the way. I channeled everything I had into advocating on behalf of millions of farmworkers and others who were suffering and deserved equal rights.
“I have never identified myself as a victim, but I now understand that I am a survivor — of violence, of sexual abuse, of domineering men who saw me, and other women, as property or things to control.
“I am telling my story because the New York Times has indicated that I was not the only one — there were others. Women are coming forward, sharing that they were sexually abused and assaulted by César when they were girls and teenagers.
“The knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me. My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years. There are no words strong enough to condemn those deplorable actions that he did. César’s actions do not reflect the values of our community and our movement.
“The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual. César's actions do not diminish the permanent improvements achieved for farmworkers with the help of thousands of people. We must continue to engage and support our community, which needs advocacy and activism now more than ever.
“I will continue my commitments to workers, as well as my commitment to women’s rights, to make sure we have a voice and that our communities are treated with dignity and given the equity that they have so long been denied.
“I have kept this secret long enough. My silence ends here.”
Cato Hernández
covers important issues that affect the everyday lives of Southern Californians.
Published March 18, 2026 2:32 PM
A statue of labor leader and civil rights activist César Chávez is displayed at the César E. Chávez Memorial Park in San Fernando.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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Topline:
A new investigation from the New York Times has made public sexual assault allegations against labor icon César Chávez, with accusations that he abused young women and minors for years. Chávez’s legacy began in Los Angeles, so we’re looking at how he influenced the city and what we may have to reckon with.
Start of his career: Chávez began with political organizing here with the Community Service Organization, where he helped get low-income Latinos out to vote. He rose up the ranks and became its national director before leaving for the Central Valley.
Mark on L.A.: His professional and personal life was here for a time. Chávez lived in Boyle Heights and later had a home near Koreatown where he’d stay while in town. One expert shared how his civil rights advocacy was a catalyst for the Chicano movement in L.A.
Separating the man from L.A.: Chávez left such a mark on L.A. that there are multiple places where his name is plastered, like schools and parks. Now that the allegations are out, local leaders are figuring out what should go and how it should be replaced.
Read on … to see what community members think needs to happen next.
While César Chávez became a labor icon because of his work to elevate farmworkers and improve labor conditions in California, he had a complicated legacy that included infidelity and backlash over his views on undocumented immigrants.
But now, that’s gotten worse.
A new investigation out Wednesday from the New York Times, with more than 60 interviews, has brought to light multiple allegations that Chávez used his powerful role to sexually abuse young women, including the co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, Dolores Huerta, and underage girls for years.
Before this bombshell dropped, many still regarded him as a hero who played a pivotal role in building Latino political power. In Los Angeles, we have streets named after him. Schools. Even a public holiday at the end of this month.
The revelation will have wide ramifications nationally, but in Southern California, his local legacy will need to be reckoned with over the coming weeks and months.
LA’s outsized role
Fernando Guerra, professor of Chicana/Chicano studies at Loyola Marymount University, said the news came as a gut punch.
“It feels personal because of how much you incorporated what he stood for,” he told LAist. “ It speaks to the frailty of humans that even when they present themselves publicly in one way, how different they are privately.”
Chávez’s journey began with L.A. and political organizing at the Community Service Organization, or CSO. His job was to get low-income Latinos out to vote, which led to a national director role based in L.A. During this time, Chávez lived in Boyle Heights with his wife and kids.
He was also one of the catalysts for the Chicano movement in L.A., such as the East L.A. Walkouts and the Chicano moratorium marches.
“ It truly helped create a moment in Los Angeles where Latinos, Chicanos specifically and Mexican Americans, began to recognize that they could seek and mobilize for their rights.” Guerra said.
And when he left to organize farmworkers in the Central Valley, that led to the creation of the United Farm Workers union, which he co-founded with Huerta. The organization eventually bought him a house south of Koreatown to serve as a homebase for him to stay at and organize while in town.
His footprint here was undeniable, and many wanted this towering figure to be celebrated. So, we put his name on a lot of things, such as libraries, schools, university departments, parks and streets across L.A. County and beyond. And his likeness can be found here too — in murals, exhibits and statues.
Cesar Chavez Campesino Park in Santa Ana, CA.
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A mural inside the Cesar Chavez building at Santa Ana College.
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That will probably change soon, as local leaders already are calling for renaming. Some ideas being floated are to change the public holiday to Farmworker Day and the street to Dolores Huerta Avenue. Guerra said that’s the right move.
“ While César Chávez’s name and his legacy will be tainted forever, it does not negate the farmworker movement,” he said. “It does not negate the blood, sweat and tears of thousands of people … and the impact that it had on California.”
Crisis intervention, counseling, prevention education, 24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline, and support services for survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
Sexual Assault Survivors: (909) 626-4357 (HELP)
Child Abuse Hotline: (626) 966-4155
The community and family react
During AirTalk on LAist 89.3, listeners called and wrote in to share their perspective on the allegations, echoing what Guerra said.
Jorge in Long Beach said that while the news is unfortunate, it’s an opportunity to honor the farmworker labor movement itself and to uplift other labor leaders, including the legacies of Dolores Huerta and Larry Itliong.
“I do not think the Filipino community receives enough credit for being at the forefront of the farmworker labor movement,” he wrote. “Chávez, or anyone else, must never, ever again be considered bigger than the movement or overshadow others who served.”
Monica in Hawthorne said she’s a Mexican American who spent a lot of time learning about Chávez’s role in her community when she was in grade school. She was in tears hearing Huerta’s statement, which covered how Chávez raped her.
“I did projects on him every chance I could,” she wrote. “This is heartbreaking. My heart goes out to her, her family and all survivors.”
LAist reached out to the Chávez family for comment on the allegations. In a statement, they shared how they’re devastated and that the news is deeply painful for the family.
“We wish peace and healing to the survivors and commend their courage to come forward. As a family steeped in the values of equity and justice, we honor the voices of those who feel unheard and who report sexual abuse,” the statement read. “We carry our own memories of the person we knew. Someone whose life included work and contributions that matter deeply to many people.”
The family said it remains committed to farmworkers and the causes Chávez championed. They’re asking for understanding and privacy as they process this “difficult” information.
