Uh-Oh: L.A. Food Trucks Are Going To Get Some Etiquette Rules From The Pencil Pushers
Food trucks used to be the domain of Mexican mom-and-pop operations that sold palm-sized tacos and candy colored sodas. Now they're reality TV fodder, mobile paeans to the urban hipster and .. the focus of intense regulatory scrutiny.
In other words bureaucrats have discovered them and want to throw rules around them them like a cowboy ropes a calf. Case in point: The county of Los Angeles is creating food truck task force. And nothing says your-once-fancy-free-business-is-over like "task force" (look at raves).
Turns out those less-than-mobile eateries called restaurants aren't so happy about gourmet food trucks rolling up to nearby parking spots and offering eats at half the price. (See LAist's coverage of the battle over food trucks along Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile).
The task force is tasked with coming up with a report in 90 days on how mobile restaurants and brick-and-mortar eateries can just get along, according to county Supervisor Don Knabe.
"In this economy, we need to promote a business environment where both restaurant owners and mobile food vendors can work together to serve the public safely and conveniently, and thrive," Knabe states. "Bringing the parties together in a constructive atmosphere is a means to see what can be done to make the situation better for all concerned."
With reps from roach coaches and restaurants, it won't be a one-sided task force, Knabe promises.
The county is also considering giving food trucks letter grades, just like restaurants. Just remember, a "C" just means those tacos come with a special crunch.
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