Taco Trucks Restricted in East Los?!

As we previously have reported, local governments across the country have begun to regulate taco trucks.  Now Los Angeles County — the Latino Metropolis — has entered the taco fray.  Taco truck owners have vowed to ignore a law passed earlier this month by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors making it a misdemeanor crime — punishable by fines and jail — to stay parked in one place for more than an hour. “They can try to move us, but we’re not going to go,” said Aleida De La Cruz, whose taco truck has been a family business for 20 years. “What are they going to do, take us all to jail?”  Supervisors unanimously agreed to pass the law after business owners, particularly in East Los Angeles, complained that taco trucks were keeping brick-and-mortar restaurants from flourishing by drawing away customers. Read the L.A. Times story on the taco controversy here.

UPDATE:  The L.A. Times has reported that the new L.A. County taco truck ordinace has provoked controvery — perhaps it could be called a taco revolt!  “Carne Asada Is Not a Crime,” proclaims a website that has suddenly caught fire to rally taco lovers across Los Angeles. Some residents have launched an Internet fight against the new law curbing how long the vehicles can remain parked as they sell their wares. A pair of former Occidental College roommates took it upon themselves to ignite a protest. Aaron Sonderleiter and Chris Rutherford have sent Supervisor Gloria Molina more than 2,200 signatures on a petition to overturn the law. Their website has also declared a recent evening to be Taco Truck Night, calling on residents to turn out to “support your local hard-working taco vendor.”

KJ