Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Food Fight: City Councilmember Wants to Look into Limiting Food Truck Parking
A food truck serves customers while parked on Wilshire Boulevard | Photo by polaroid-girl via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
()
A food truck serves customers while parked on Wilshire Boulevard | Photo by polaroid-girl via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
Complaints about food trucks over the past year have gotten to Councilmember Tom LaBonge, who represents a portion of Wilshire Boulevard where it has become a ground zero of sorts between brick and mortar businesses and the mobile eateries. "I appreciate the the value they can add to our culinary landscape," he said earlier this week during a public meeting, but he explained that something had to be done. On Friday he took the first step by submitting two food truck motions for the Los Angeles City Council to consider.
"These trucks park for multiple hours at parking meters in commercially zones areas, contrary to the intent of those parking meter spaces," he wrote in a motion. "Parking meters were designed to encourage turnover of vehicles in high-demand areas. Parking meters also fight traffic congestion and pollution when their rates match parking demand. These businesses sometimes operate without city permits and absorb parking ticket fines as cost of doing business."
The motion asks for city staff to study and make recommendations on restricting trucks from parking in meters within commercially zoned areas, examining what other cities, like Portland, have done to address the issue, enforcing repeat parking violators and working with the food truck industry on the issue.
Support for LAist comes from
Another motion asks for "the creation of specially designated parking zones for catering trucks."
But this might not bode well for LaBonge or the city council, which faces an industry with growing political power and case law in their favor. "This regulation is short sighted," said Matt Geller of the SoCal Mobile Vendors Association (SCMVA).
Geller says the California Vehicle code does not allow cities to limit vending from vehicles for just any reason. The code says local agencies may only "adopt additional requirements for the public safety regulating the type of vending and the time, place, and manner of vending from vehicles upon any street."
"I think they're going to be hard prssed to get over that," said Geller.
Although there's an estimated 4,000 taco trucks operating within Los Angeles County, there are about 100 of the newer brand of food trucks that have gained popularity over the last year. And under the umbrella of the SCMVA, they've been using the power of Twitter to activate customers into political agents. On the June 8th primary, a candidate they rallied around won the Democratic nomination.
Geller says, however, he does look forward to working LaBonge and the City Council in coming weeks. He's confident something can be worked out, especially considering that Los Angeles lost a court case last year dealing with food trucks. Citing the vehicle code, a judge asked the city how banning catering trucks from streets enhanced or furthered public safety. If anything, many believe, street food has created a positive culture of community on the streets.
Added: Councilmember Paul Koretz, who has been the focus of food truck issues before, seconded both of LaBonge's motions.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts. -
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
-
Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.
-
The budget gap has led to a tuition hike, along with spending cuts and fewer course offerings. At the same time, generative AI already has transformed higher ed — including post-grad job prospects.
-
The construction work is part of a $143.7 million plan to rehabilitate pavement between Van Nuys and Westwood along the Sepulveda Pass.
Best of LAist