Food Fight: Can't We All Get Along?

Los Angeles County to help mobile food vendors and restaurant owners get along

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe appeared to think Tuesday vendors of mobile food trucks and brick and mortar restaurant owners need a referee.

In a prepared statement e-mailed to NBCLA the supervisor announced, "Los Angeles County will convene a taskforce to report back in 90 days with recommendations of how to facilitate the co-existence of both mobile food vendors and restaurant owners."

Restaurants have raised concerns that mobile food trucks and food cart vendors are unfairly competing with them. Some vendors park in front of restaurants and draw customers away from them. Mobile food operators often do not pay for parking, rental space, property tax, and hire fewer employees. With lower overhead costs, they are able to offer cheaper prices as well, the news e-mail noted.
 
“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,” said Supervisor Knabe. “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,” Knabe said.

The taskforce will include representation from the Southern California Mobile Food Vending Truck Association, the Restaurant Association, the Department of Public Health, the Small Business Commission and other interested parties, the e-mail stated.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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