With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
This Food Cart Designed By A Former Street Vendor Meets LA County's Strict Rules For Legal Vending
(
Courtesy of Richard Gomez
/
LAist
)
While California legalized street vending a few years ago, it's difficult for food vendors to comply with the L.A. County Department of Health's strict rules has been very high.
One major difficulty has been cart design. The county requires street vendors to use a cart that has four sinks and refrigeration. That's too expensive and clunky for most vendors.
Without a cart that meets requirements, vendors can't get permits from the health department so many of them operate without a permit and live in fear of being caught up in a city or county enforcement sweep.
Listen
• 24:06
Listen: What’s Next For Street Food Vendors?
Support for LAist comes from
Richard Gomez wants to change that. The former street vendor and food truck engineer has designed a tamal cart that meets the county's health requirements and the cost starts at around $7,500.
Gomez's design is the first to get official approval. It gives vendors hope that the county will allow other carts that work for them. Our friends at L.A. Taco and Capital and Main co-published a great story about the process.
A detail shows some of the feature's of the cart.
(
Courtesy Richard Gomez
)
Lyric Kelkar of the advocacy group Inclusive Action wants the county to rethink other health rules like requiring fruit vendors to cut their food at a central kitchen.
"Those types of systems — we need to be rethinking them to ensure that vendors are truly included in this economy," Kelkar says.
Kelkar points to outdoor dining as an example of how local governments can support restaurants, especially during the pandemic, and he want officials to extend the same kind of support to street vendors.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist