Save Our Taco Trucks!
Ξ April 14th, 2008 | → | ∇ 90041, 90042, 90065, Food, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Press |
It appears our County Supervisor, Gloria Molina is out to (this time metaphorically) whitewash our neighborhoods. Today the Times reported that she is pushing for increased regulation of our venerable neighborhood taco trucks, which would marginalize them and ultimately eliminate them from the cityscape. The article’s focus is mostly on East LA, but presumably, the proposal would affect taco trucks throughout the county. Remember, this is the same Gloria Molina who took offense at some graffiti art murals in the Arroyo Seco a few months ago, which were subsequently painted over. No one ever took responsibility for the murals’ removal, probably because a sizable group of residents were upset that the works had been removed despite prior authorization by the county.
So, Supervisor Molina doesn’t like seeing graffiti art from her Mt. Washington home and she apparently doesn’t like eating at taco trucks either. Currently, the trucks are supposed to move every 30 minutes or face a $60 fine. As we all know, this rule is scarcely followed as the same trucks are in the same location every night. (How can you find Mariscos Estilo D.F. or Takitaco if it’s in a different location every half hour?) Molina aims to make staying in the same location for an hour a misdemeanor punishable by $1,000 and/or 6 months in jail. You read right: Jail. I’m not sure what part of District 1 Molina is working for, but I sure as hell want to move there as the top legislative priority seems to be driving out of business and imprisoning carne asada “dealers”. (Mt. Washington perhaps?) Her defense largely seems to be based around helping local brick and mortar restaurants succeed but I really fail to see the parallel. Eagle Rock seems to be doing just fine despite the presence of several trucks, some of which have been there for decades. Supervisor Molina’s actions would serve to eliminate a fundamental part of Angeleno culture to what benefit? Those who eat at taco trucks because of their affordability will simply eat out less often, and those who like the quality will not suddenly embrace Taco Bell. But why stop there Supervisor? You could round up the mariachis in Boyle Heights who make it hard for “brick and mortar” mariachis to compete. Maybe the Sherriff’s Department can be used to break up church car washes that undercut local businessmen. You know, the ice cream man doesn’t have as much overhead as Coldstone. Can’t we put him in lockup? With frivolous proposals like this being debated in our local government, is it any wonder nothing of substance gets solved? If you feel like we do, that Supervisor Molina should focus more on issues like crime, transportation, and pollution, please send her an email at molina@bos.lacounty.gov
Feel free to cut and paste the following letter, and add any additional thoughts you may have:
Dear Supervisor Molina,
I am writing to express serious concern regarding the actions you have taken against the taco trucks in our neighborhoods. As a member of the Eastside community, I greatly value our local street vendors–for their food, service, and especially culture.
Taco trucks fill many voids left by traditional restaurants, whether it is more authentic, better food, better hours, or cheaper prices. Furthermore, taco trucks create a sense of community on the streets that enclosed, “brick-and-mortar” stores cannot.
Taco trucks are a special and unique facet of East Los Angeles, and something that I cherish about my neighborhood.I urge you to withdraw your proposal, and instead focus on the more pressing and detrimental issues that are facing our community.
We’d love to hear what responses you get (if any).
23 Responses to ' Save Our Taco Trucks! '
on April 15th, 2008 at 6:21 am
f the taco trucks, they take up to many parking spaces.
on April 15th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Taco trucks take up parking spaces? Thats news to me….the ones here in Highland Park don’t seem to be causing any parking problems. The ones in front of Sycamore Park, the ones on Fig and 51, nor the ones on Eagle Blvd cause any parking problems.
on April 15th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Here’s my own letter I just wrote to Molina:
I’m a Highland Park resident, and am writing regarding the actions you have taken against the taco trucks in my and others’ neighborhoods. I believe these trucks fill a valuable niche in the community–in addition to their often-excellent and value-priced food, the various food trucks provide many more eyes on the streets that would otherwise be present–I feel this is especially important in the Highland Park neighborhood given the area’s continued gang activity.
I also find the complaints of “normal” restaurant owners absurd. Indoor restaurants have many of their own (potential) advantages when compared to trucks–shelter from the weather, larger menus, the existence of chairs and tables, superior service, alcohol service, music, ability to make reservations, bathrooms, air conditioning, heating, cleanliness, etc. Given the long history of taco trucks in the neighborhood, the continued success of many quality neighborhood indoor restaurants, and the many advantages of indoor restaurants in general, I am guessing that the complaining restaurants lack of success has less to do with $1 tacos and more to do with their inability to provide an experience that people are actually interested in buying. Maybe their food is not so great, maybe tastes have changed, or maybe they just aren’t very good at running a business, but in an area where many other indoor restaurants (and taco trucks) have succeeded, they have not. Reducing the food choices available (and with it the neighborhood’s welfare) will not solve their problems.
on April 15th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
The native american community has a term for people like Gloria Molina. Anyone who, despite her race and heritage, actively works against her own people and often for business and “white-culture.” The term is “Apple,” to denote being red on the outside, but white inside.
I think this applies to Gloria, but it needs a slight tweak. I would suggest “Ding-Dong,” as in the Hostess snack that is brown outside, but white inside.
Gloria Molina is a Ding Dong.
on April 18th, 2008 at 6:58 am
I’m from the 90042, and personally find the taco trucks unhygenic, tacky, and not held to the same level of regulation as restaurants. There is a place in society for mobile food, but the current situation is a bit too lawless. I’m optimistic about the new law - let’s keep an open mind here.
on April 18th, 2008 at 9:55 am
They don’t have a “grade” sign on them, like restaurants and are they even subject to health dept. inspection? How is their food made? In someone’s garage? Where is the enforcement for health codes on their food being sold? They are a blight on the community and their time has come to an end. Who knows what kind of crap they are putting into their foods. YUCK…….get rid of them all!!!
on April 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am
In earlier articles we linked to a short film made by some Occidental College students a few years back on Leo’s Taco Truck.
http://departments.oxy.edu/film/leos.html
It might answer some questions you have about how they are regulated. Food quality is always a concern.
P.S. I love the Odyssey reference.
on April 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
How appropriate that the brown fascists have turned on one of their own. And for what? For asking that standards in the community be upheld. I think it speaks more about the brown fascists, than Gloria Molina.
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I think its a real shame that they are trying to outlaw the trucks. They are vibrant part of neighborhood culture and offer significant advantages over traditional restaurants. The only justifications being offered for this foolhardy rule are that it would be aesthetically pleasing (replete with sinister undertones of ethnic cleansing), and that it hurts local brick and mortar businesses. I think that the later is a fundamentally flawed argument and simply amounts to protectionism. Particularly in Highland Park/Eagle there is still a thriving restaurant scene and I fail to see how shutting down the trucks will provide a boon to local small businesses as their potential customer demographic is fairly different. People going to a taco truck are not likely to accept a sit down meal at 3 to 4 times the price as a substitute. Similarly, it is hardly the taco trucks fault that the restaurant is not open at 2am when I decide I feel like a late night snack. The only thing this kind of increased regulation will do is send business to the wonderful people at McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC, food much more insidious and artery clogging than the humble taco.
I don’t see how eviscerating a beloved neighborhood institution is going to benefit anyone - people on this board who seem disgusted by taco trucks will continue not going, local restaurant owners will not see any significant upswing in business, and the consumers will bear the costs and the resultant lack of choice. The restaurant industry is naturally competitive and it is difficult to succeed, but that doesn’t mean their owners should be protected from ordinary competition at the expense of the taco truck loving public.
on April 19th, 2008 at 9:57 am
If quality food from the trucks is a concern, don’t eat from them. But others love the food, the prices, and the culture that migrates to these places. But to complain about taking up too many parking spaces, boo freaking hoo. You people are just way too uptight. Relax and have a taco.
on April 20th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Taco trucks should at least have to have letters like other restaurants,specifying cleanliness. Also
they seem to have no imagination, they sell the same stuff..try selling yakisoba..etc diversify and join the rest of LA. There’s lots of interesting foods from Mexico also, they all do the same thing..make a clause in the bill, so the more creative trucks can stay and the stinky sloppy ones go..a compromise!
on April 21st, 2008 at 11:35 am
If any of you understood what it really takes to have a taco truck . You wouldnt say much. For one taco trucks pay city taxes, sales taxes, and pass yearly health inspections, and the people that make the food have to pass yearly health and food exams. They pay parking for the place in which they are located in and pay service to be cleaned every night or day, depending on the time of day they are set up at. My family runs a taco truck, we have been in business for over 20 years, we follow all the laws and to be honest Molina, “an advocate for the hispanic community” as she so likes to pimp herself out as, does not understand what she is doing to so many families.
on April 23rd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
These taco trucks, mostly run by illegal aliens are a take money away from tax paying business owners. People get hepatitis from these trucks and are not only an eye sore but also a dangerer to the legal citizens of Los Angeles.
on May 1st, 2008 at 12:39 am
I can’t wait for dinner tonight.
Let’s keep these trucks on the street but get them to go green!
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/food_coach&id=5996608
on May 4th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
http://picasaweb.google.com/FirstTVABH/EastLATacos5308943PM?authkey=Wbflyxg1N2s
As long as Taco Trucks are licensed, must pass inspection, pay taxes, and are regulated, they should be allowed to park in certain areas. But they must not contribute to litter, noise or parking problems.
Making them move around all day, to satisfy some law, is merely a way to put them out of business when these trucks have to start using more gasoline, just to keep moving.
on May 7th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
#5 must be a transplant… This is Highland Park! If you don’t want to see a taco truck on your street, move to the Palisades…
on May 7th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
i agree taco trucks should be able to sell as they please but come on when you have 10 trucks within 5 blocks. I love eating at avenue 54 tacos but it becomes a total eye sore when you have them at every corner, and its not even trucks you have these portable carts along with the trucks. im mexican and i have to say, highland park looks more and more like T.J. even though you have the new trendy bars i support L.A. City on this one. oh and is the money being made for the save our taco truck shirts (carne asada is not a crime) being used to support the trucks or are the sellers making money off of the hispanics like everyone else does?
thanks, and keep on eating at the trucks cus i will
on May 15th, 2008 at 8:02 am
freaking heyy i love those tacos and the people save the taco trucks man…mmmm tacos.
on May 15th, 2008 at 8:03 am
well i agree tacos a are good and totaly.
on May 15th, 2008 at 8:06 am
If any of you understood what it really takes to have a taco truck . You wouldnt say much. For one taco trucks pay city taxes, sales taxes, and pass yearly health inspections, and the people that make the food have to pass yearly health and food exams. They pay parking for the place in which they are located in and pay service to be cleaned every night or day, depending on the time of day they are set up at. My family runs a taco truck, we have been in business for over 20 years, we follow all the laws and to be honest Molina, “an advocate for the hispanic community” as she so likes to pimp herself out as, does not understand what she is doing to so many families.
on May 15th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I DONT KNOW WHAT THE BIG DEAL IS THESE PEOPLE PAY TAXIS AND THEY WORK HARD SO IT IS NOT HURTING ANYONE SO PEOPLE SHOULD JUST FUCK OFF AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE BIGGER PROBLEMS LIKE HOMELESSNESS.
on May 31st, 2008 at 12:51 am
had many meals at a taco truck….save them for sure.
on September 13th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
This lady wich claims to be a latina who made it from poverty is now trying to shut down lunch trucks. Who owns the mayority of lunch trucks? Well, of course our latino people. They why are you trying to put us out of business Gloria? I am a student at Cerritos College planning to transfer to Uc Irvine and acquire my B.A in Biology. My father and I own a Mariscos Truck, wich supports my entire family and of course my education. It is absurd what this woman is trying to do. She should consider other communitie problmes such as violence, homeless people, jobs and education. Istead of wasting her time trying to shut down our peoples business for personal interest.