As many of you know, the DC government has proposed new regulations for food trucks. Public comment time is open until Feb 18, so the DC Food Truck Association released a press release/toolkit to help fans show their support. I’m just going to copy & paste the press release (minus the header & footer info) so that you have all of the information:
WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington, DC Food Trucks Association (DCFTA) today released an online toolkit for supporters of Mayor Vincent Gray’s proposed new vending regulations. The toolkit can be downloaded at www.dcfoodtrucks.org.
“The time to talk with your friends, family and co-workers about the threats facing food trucks is now,” said Che Ruddell-Tabisola, Executive Director of the Washington, DC Food Trucks Association (DCFTA). “The deadline to submit comments about Mayor Gray’s proposed new rules – Feb. 18 – is fast approaching.”
The toolkit includes background information, a poster, handouts and suggested steps food truck supporters can take, such as:
- Voicing their support at www.PassNewRegs.org.
- Sending a personal letter about why they support the proposed new regulations to DCVendingRegs@dc.gov.
- Printing and displaying the “Pass New Regs” poster at school and/or work.
- Printing and distributing the “Pass New Regs” handouts to friends and co-workers.
- Letting everyone know over Twitter and Facebook why they support the proposed new regulations and how others can support them too.
On January 20, 2012, Washington, DC Mayor Vincent Gray proposed new rules to update the 30-year-old regulations governing food trucks.
Overall, the proposed rules issued by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs are a significant improvement over the current regulations, which state that food trucks must close and leave if no one is waiting in line. The proposed regulations would allow food trucks to remain open without being hailed and without a line. However, the proposed regulations also have rules that threaten these new and innovative small businesses:
- Limiting Sweets Trucks to 10 Minutes: The proposed regulations allow dessert trucks to be open for only 10 minutes if there are no waiting customers. Sweets food trucks should be allowed to be open as long as savory food trucks.
- Zoning of Food Trucks: The new regulations propose to create Vending Development Zones. The goals of these zones are worthy. However, Vending Development Zones must not be manipulated by special interest to create “Food Truck-Free Zones” that eliminate consumer choice or fair competition.
- Shorter Hours for Food Trucks Than for Restaurants: The proposed regulations require food trucks to close at 10 pm on weekdays and 1 am on weekends. Food trucks should be allowed to be open the same hours as restaurants.
The Washington, DC Food Trucks Association supports passage of Mayor Gray’s proposed new regulations with these issues addressed.
This is foolish. The “problems” you think you can get the city to change are the only reason new regulations have been proposed.
The “waiting customer” requirement for dessert trucks, if kept in the regulations, is easily bypassed. Plant one of the many homeless sitting around in front of your window to act as a stand in, much like the unions are doing now at construction site protests. The going rate for these guys is probably $10/hr or so. You might also offer food in return, but they usually prefer cash.