Los Angeles city officials have announced a $2.8 million initiative to distribute around 300 food carts for free. However, a notable chef from Southern California argues that this move further illustrates the city’s struggle to support traditional restaurants.
Andrew Gruel, a restaurateur, expressed his concerns, highlighting a discrepancy in regulations. “If I, running a brick-and-mortar establishment, deviated from rules like city planning or health standards, I’d face significant penalties,” he remarked.
Gruel, who previously criticized Governor Gavin Newsom for his controversial dinner during the pandemic, mentioned that he understands street vendors’ challenges. He grew his restaurant, Slapfish, into a global brand from humble beginnings with just one food truck in Los Angeles.
Yet, Gruel believes Los Angeles County and California’s policies haven’t eased the burdens on traditional establishments. He pointed out that by prioritizing food carts, the city inadvertently undermines brick-and-mortar locations, particularly those struggling to comply with regulations.
This new scheme aims to supply at least 281 carts compliant with health codes to sidewalk vendors. Officials suggest it’s part of a larger effort to integrate many street vendors into the legal economy. These carts would help vendors meet new permitting and health standards that many small businesses find challenging.
The initiative plans to allocate 180 carts to businesses in unincorporated county regions and 101 in the city. Applicants must live in Los Angeles County, be 18 or older, and earn less than $75,000 from vending annually. Once they secure the necessary permits, the carts, built to meet California’s standards, will be provided at no cost.
Supervisor Hilda Solis expressed support for the program, emphasizing its potential impact on small business growth and economic stability.
However, vendors might face delays, with the process to obtain carts taking about three months. This raises concerns, especially considering a similar initiative in Long Beach recently failed to reach its goal of distributing 40 carts.
Many applicants reportedly didn’t fulfill the complicated permitting requirements. In contrast, Los Angeles’ program waives the $604 registration fee for the first two years and offers further financial assistance for medical permits and startup costs.
Gruel argues these subsidies create an uneven playing field for restaurants, which are subject to stricter regulations. He noted, “Some food vendors don’t pay sales tax or cover on-site costs, which gives them an edge.” He decided to move his business away from Los Angeles as regulations tightened on food trucks.
Still, he isn’t advocating for a crackdown on street vendors; rather, he seeks fair treatment across the board. “If the city is willing to allocate $3 million to food vendors, they should consider doing the same for traditional restaurants affected by these policies.”
