I was walking over to Farragut Square today and happened to notice a lot of random SUVs driving around with those short stubby antennas on top. You know, maybe something was going on in the area, but not super unusual. Flash forward about 30 minutes and I’m hearing reports that Federal Police have shut down all of the DC food trucks that were parked around Farragut Square! DC food trucks have served at Farragut Square ever since DC Slices opened up (i.e. years).
DCRA is investigating, DC food truck fans are irate and DC food trucks are trying to make sense of it all.. More info to come as I receive it!
UPDATE: DCRA informed me that Officer Steinbeck from MPD has spoken with the Feds and that DC food trucks ARE allowed to park next to Farragut Square Park. The nicest part about this story is that Officer Steinbeck is not even on duty today. Thanks MPD!
Just point us in the right direction if any action is needed! Thank you all for being on top of all food truck-related news!
What have we become, China?
Some more info: evidently MPD called the Park Service and told them that food trucks were operating illegally on federal property. While the streets belong to DDOT, those specific sidewalks belong to the Feds and because the actual exchange of money takes place on the sidewalk, it’s under federal jurisdiction. Now, my question is why MPD would place that call in the first place. Is the Gray administration in the pocket of the restaurant association also?
That makes no sense….why would MPD “call in” something? They would just deal with it. I don’t believe that one at all.
I was told by someone who was very irate (presumably a foodtruck owner) that it was a certain bakery/cafe on the west side of the park who had called in to complain… they didn’t like the competition for the lunch crowd… Anyone know if there has been an ongoing issue with this?
A Hungry Citizen: Not really sure who’s telling 100% of the truth, but as we stand now, DC food trucks are allowed to continue to park next to Farragut Sq. Also, Gray has come out in support of food trucks in the past and during his campaign, so I don’t think anything evil is going on.
I was second in line at the Sweetbites truck when the National Park Police came over and told them they had to close down – they said they were being kind in not issuing citations up to that point, but they were getting pissed that Sweetbites hadn’t stopped selling. One of the ladies in the truck said she thought it was ok for her to keep selling until the line was gone, and the officer said that the line had only gotten bigger since he’d came around the first time. The lady asked him to cap the line to which he replied sure, I’ll cap the line right here – and put his arm in front of the woman who was AT the window. What a jerk…