In an effort to control growing crowds and increase safety during the popular Art Walk, which takes place in Downtown Los Angeles, city officials are restricting permits for food trucks, musical acts, and other vendors.
Downtown LA Art Walk: Schedule, Information
"No food trucks, vendors, no popup art galleries—anything that requires a permit" will be allowed inside a four-block area between Spring and Main, and 3rd and 7th streets, said Eva Kandarpa Behrend, an aide to Councilwoman Jan Perry.
On the second Thursday of the month, dozens of food trucks and craft vendors typically set up in the four bock area, drawing large crowds.
Safety concerns came to a head July 14 when a 2-month-old baby was killed. A driver trying to park near Spring and Fourth streets jumped a curb and struck pedestrians on the sidewalk, including the baby which was in a stroller.
In response, a task force of public safety, transportation and public works officials was convened by City Council members Jan Perry and Jose Huizar. It decided city would no longer issue permits for the area.
"We're hopeful that the safety changes we're implementing for tomorrow's art walk will allow us to reduce large crowds drawn to non-art related activities,'' Councilman Jose Huizar said in a statement released with Councilwoman Jan Perry.
Food truck vendors expressed anger over the decision. They say the city should have been more proactive before the tragic accident to prevent problems and now they're paying the price.
"I don't think the city really assessed the dangers last summer until it was too late," said Matt Geller, CEO, of the Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association. "We're being blamed for something that's not our fault."
Geller said that, with only two days' notice, vendors are scrambling to find new locations.
The task force said departments will try to speed up permitting for spaces around the art walk area to try and help.
The Downtown Art Walk has grown from an open house for a few art galleries in 2004 into an event that draws an estimated 30,000 people to the old bank district.
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