Should L.A. ban food trucks from parking on city streets? Tell us what you think.

A Los Angeles City councilman intensified debate in the city over food trucks last Friday by introducing two motions that could lead to the trucks being banned on city streets.

One proposal from Councilman Tom LaBonge asks city staff to study what other cities have done and to look into prohibiting trucks from parking at metered spaces in commercially zoned areas. The other calls for a report on the creation of specially designated catering-truck parking zones.

Food truck owners and patrons -- famous for their fervor and their mastery of social media sites such as Twitter -- have mounted a campaign against the proposals and the councilman himself.

Someone has set up a Facebook page called "Los Angelinos Against Labonge." An online petition "against any city bill that would limit access to the food trucks" had racked up 2,000 digital signatures in just three days. Food truck supporters accosted LaBonge during his community bicycle ride Wednesday evening to complain about his proposals. On Twitter, where the controversy became a major local topic Wednesday, one post urged food truck supporters to attend the ride to tell LaBonge "you don't approve of his hatred of food trucks!"

The Times' Kate Linthicum reports on the growing food truck fight. What do you think? Share your opinions below.

Photo: Councilman Tom LaBonge, right, speaks with Dan Nathan about LaBonge's proposal to limit food trucks on Wilshire Boulevard. "Everybody in the building loves having the food trucks," said Nathan, who works nearby. Credit: John W. Adkisson / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[charles]

Food trucks service my business, I have agreed to let the truck people use my restrooms. I'm here to tell you they NEVER wash their hands. How do I know? The deep sink is outside of the restrooms. A couple of years ago an employee had his stomach pumped, he had worms, like 5 pounds of them.
They don't have the same standards or desire maintain their trucks as a restaurant might as their clients are transient. My people now only purchase sealed, packaged, name brand, made in America products. Personally, I think eating off a food truck is at best a roll of the dice. They need to be strictly monitored and regulated. They block the alley, deliveries are put on hold, UPS has to park and carry packages a few doors to make a delivery.

[Jennifer]

I love the food trucks. Especially those on Wilshire in the Miracle Mile area. The are a delight to visit after going to the museum or the tar pits.
They are not all junk food!

[kuruc]

charge them a yearly license fee to operate and another one to park. $ 25 a day for parking is not unreasonable. a food license fee of $ 5000 a year would do. no license, tow and inpound.

[Alejandro]

Food trucks are a wonderful cultural phenomenon in Los Angeles and should be kept around. Traffic is always a concern, but I say create more bike lanes and have more people ride around. People who are against food trucks have obviously never had the Kogi truck or any other amazing Boyle Heights taco truck.

Los Angeles has mastered zoning, so why not allocate some space for an industry that's obviously vibrant and booming. If Los Angeles can withstand the proliferation of a disgusting yogurt vendor (Pinkberry), then why not get behind an industry that provides delicious edibles, and also a unique eating experience?

[Richard Long]

...just don't arrest the lady selling corn on a stick from a stolen shopping cart!!

[Martini]

I appreciate Mr. LaBonge intentions but he got it wrong this time around.
I agree there should be a better control on who gets permits for this trucks and what they should do with the garbage they produce but to ban them altogether it's not the best solution.
I've been here in LA for 20 years in all those years I've see hundreds if not thousands of those trucks all over the city that has catered cheap food might not be the best but cheap nonetheless to poor neighborhoods, parks, construction sites. They area fixture in L.A plus these people are not bothering anyone but some rich sucker that can't stand other people make a decent honest living. I bet all the yapper complaining about the trucks taking parking spots have never make use of those parking spots on the first place.

This is my 3 rules solution:
Less permits (There are certain groups that takes advantage and work the system get the permits to monopolize service on certain areas and resell this permits to the needy guy that wont meet the city requirements. I've seen it happen with the fresh fruit cart vendors)

Pay for parking spots like any other car parked on any L.A. street.
Usually a truck would stay put for couple of hours max. Isn't that the time allowed for any car to park on any street in L.A.

Strict control about the waste that the trucks produce. (If you own a truck you're responsible for the garbage your patrons produce, clean it up or you'll be fined)

What else. Mr. LaBonge get back in your Crown Victoria and leave the truckers alone go bother someone else... unless you are going to provide them with jobs!.

[CHARLES P. RODMAN]

IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!! THEY ARE NOT ONLY UNSIGHTLY, THEY PARK IN RED ZONES OFTEN! THEY KNOW THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO BE THERE FOR 15 MIN SO THEY DISREGARD THE NO PARKING LAWS. THOSE THAT PARK PERMANENTLY OUTSIDE OF OR CLOSE TO CAFE`S AND OTHER RESTAURANTS ARE AN EXTREME EYE SORE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY HEALTH OFFICIAL INSPECT ANY OF THESE ROACH WAGONS ON THE ROAD! WHY NOT? THEY ARE A HAVEN FOR MOST CRAWLING INFESTATION!
BUZZ

[Chanel Gold]

LaBonge's website boasts Council District Four's "diverse and vibrant community," but a great contributor to its diversity is the abundance of food options available at affordable prices and in many convenient locations thanks to the wide-selection of food trucks. The wait is quick, the price is cheap, and the food is amazing-- better than what you'll pay 3 to 4 times more for in an (often) overrated trendy sit-down spots. The meter parking makes the trucks more desirable as it adds to the urgency of jumping in line before the truck takes off (and they do!) Concerning the proposal for designated food truck zones-- who is going to pay for this? If LeBonge wins this fight a lot of street food aficionados and drunk club/concert kids are going to be really pissed off when cut off of their main food supply.

[Down2000]

How about banning the Produce Trucks? They come by a late hours blaring their horns. They are more of a nuisance than food trucks!

[Absolutely Vic]

Food trucks are part of what makes Los Angeles great-- diversity of food, culture and experience.The food truck resurgence has helped put LA cuisine back on the map. And the food that I've tried has been solid across the board-- and largely healthy (okay, Frysmith and the Philly Cheese Truck not so much, but they're tasty). Doesn't Tom LaBonge have better things to do with his time, like rubber-stamp giant sprawl development? Apparently not. What a waste of time and energy. Another reason why the LA City Council is such a joke.

[od]

i do not think people should ban this trucks as long as they dont create traffic or bother the pedestrians...

[LABornandRaised]

These food trucks are a blight on the community and they take away much needed customers from cafes and restaurants that have to pay high overhead to be in that area.

[John Fasoldt]

NO!

[cap piller]

how about banning these tacos stands thats on nearly every street & corner, some of these creeps even block the sidewalk, and the city is not enforcing this hazard. which i dont wantto hearthe poor mexican just trying to support there family.

[Chambers Stevens]

I love the food trucks.
I just posted on my facebook that Tom should lay off the foodtrucks.
And so far over 100 people have emailed him!

[Steve Meister]

No surprise that restauranteurs masquerading as consumers will write in support of LaBonge's proposal. Stick to tours of LA and promoting Griffith Park, Tom. Let innovative and exciting commerce happen. I challenge anyone to find any restaurant in LA with food half as good as the masterpieces I can purchase from a gourmet truck.

[CHA CHA]

As long as they have permits, keep the area in which they are parked clean and pay the meter if applicable, then by all means go ahead. But, there are some areas like Downtown LA, garment district that definitely need some stiffer guidelines. I have seen them with a couple of tickets and taking up a lot of parking spaces.

[JayE]

Get rid of the roach coaches. They steal business from local restaurants, are a traffic hazzard and leave behind a pile of trash when they leave. Good riddance!!

[kev]

Lets just take away everything that doesn't fit in with this city's whitebread status quo. Once we ban and outlaw everything because SOME people don't like it what will there be left?

Freedom doesn't exist. America is a joke.

[Hanna]

What about all the food vendors around Echo Park Lake and Sunset Blvd and Echo Park. Is unhealthy, dirty, etc.....
Please do something, at least the truck vendor pay taxes and complied with the health department.

[J]

I'm with LaBonge, if you want to eat, go to a restaurant! These things are en eyesore, take up too much space, create havoc wherever they go, use precious parking, and frankly the whole thing has gotten like all LA trendy nonsense... irritating!

[David]

Nope!

[mikeopinion]

we should ban the city council members for ruining our city .these people we elected are completely out of touch with L.A needs all they think about is their own political ladder to rise into a more powerful position to screw us even more.don't you see these people hate the citizens.

[George]

"LaBonge is on the wrong side of this one. So long as the trucks have their permits and pay the meters, they should be allowed to park on metered streets just like any other vehicle."--Posted by: Geox | June 17, 2010 at 09:30 AM

Agreed, IF the truckers agree to remove any trash that results from their operations

[Man]

Well, I get to see how the foods are prepared from time to time, and I would never eat from one, take that for what its worth.