Comments on: When Taco Trucks Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Tacos

By: floyd

floyd — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:05:29 +0000

Most tacos are in the hands of outlaws already!
[criminal trespassers]

By: Uncle J

Uncle J — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:42:49 +0000

Land of the free, truly!

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 05 May 2008 03:27:48 +0000

Why would they want to fuel the already seedy underground black-market mobile taco racket?! It's just crazy!

By: Matt Moore

Matt Moore — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:23:55 +0000

I don't understand how you figure that the taco trucks are getting "preferential treatment" by the government. It's hard to imagine how not making them pay property taxes is unfair, seeing as how they don't own any actual property.

By: V

Sun, 04 May 2008 22:05:09 +0000

This is a stupid interference in the free market. If someone chooses a mobile taco place over your brick and mortar restaurant, maybe your restaurant sucks. Maybe they should start to legislate against gas stations that sell warm food.

By: AndyGusto

AndyGusto — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:29:58 +0000

I was out just last night, and all the brick and mortar joints that were still open had closed their kitchens for the night. It's 1 in the morning, and I'm hungry, and too drunk to drive. Capitalism and hotdog carts to the rescue.
Yes, carts have lower overhead and are cheaper to run, but I don't want to wait 30 minutes for you to bring me a menu, drinks, and finally a plate of chicken tenders when I'm just trying to get a bite to eat while stumbling home.

By: Enlightenment

Enlightenment — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:22:51 +0000

I don't have a problem with them being in industrial areas, far away from restaurants, since they are benefiting those areas; but I can see brick-and-mortar restaurants point because they have to pay taxes and rent and following the RULES.

Hey Los Angeles isn't Mexico, nor do we want it to be, so follow the rules.

By: Philo

Philo — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:01:11 +0000

"Truck stands funnel money to organised crime" - so tackle the organised crime. I loathe this cowardly "attack the legitimate businesses by accusing them of causing crime" approach. If truck stands are unhygenic, set up hygiene standards. Do remember that the human animal was designed to take a lot more than we're throwing at it now. I also think most customers (especially the night club "would've gone to a posh restaurant if not for the truck" crowd) are discriminating enough to make this a non-issue. I'd also like to see the statistics on food poisoning from taco trucks. New York has vendors and nice restaurants that seem to coexist okay. I suspect about 90% of this is "we don't like the looks of taco trucks and would like them to go away." Next up - people who don't dress well.

By: andymurd

andymurd — Sun, 04 May 2008 20:07:14 +0000

In British cities we have hotdog trucks outside nightclubs and they do cause problems - low hygiene standards, poor rubbish disposal etc.

All too often these trucks are paying rent to organised criminals, since they make a lot of money with little investment the bad guys want a piece of it.

However, there are laws against organised crime, minimum standards for hygiene et al. I say the local politicians should be forcing the police & judiciary to enforce the laws, not making up new ones to solve problems that are already legislated for.

By: CO-ED Magazine » How Not To Catch a Foul Ball

CO-ED Magazine » How Not To Catch a Foul Ball — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:05:25 +0000

[...] When Trucks Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Tacos [...]

By: M Jones

M Jones — Sun, 04 May 2008 15:11:12 +0000

Taco trucks are an eyesore and a health hazard... Growing up in Los Angeles I do not recall the hundreds of ROACH Coaches I see today... The neighborhoods are heading in the wrong direction. Instead of fighting for taco trucks... better grocery stores or REAL full-service restaurants would be nice. Lets look into the taxes the truck owners claim to pay... lets look into the noise and late night crowds they attract... I can go on and on.. DOWN WITH TACO TRUCKS!!

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:59:04 +0000

Sure. But rent seeking is part of government, particularly at the local level. And it's not unreasonable for restaurant owners to seek relief from competition who are getting more favorable treatment from the government.

By: Randy H.

Randy H. — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:39:56 +0000

Here's another idea- have the LA gestapo stay the hell out of it. Up with taco trucks, down with oppressive government.