DC Food Trucks Fight to Feed, USA Counterparts support

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The Maryland Food Truck Association, today, joined food trucks across the United States to speak out against proposed regulations in the District of Columbia that limit choice and competition, force closed food trucks and lead to food truck employees losing their jobs.   The Food Truck Association of Metropolitan Washington is a group of more than 60 local food truck owner-operators. Find more info @Chowagons www.twitter.com/Chowagons

 

“Maryland Food Trucks stand with DC Food Trucks and believe in the freedom of all hard-working chefs and entrepreneurs who established such a reputed and inspirational food truck scene,” said Willy Dely, President of the Maryland Food Truck Association. “There is no place for gambling in small business ownership and we hope that the District will find a proper way to regulate DC Food Trucks.”

 

 

If DC Mayor Vincent Gray’s proposed regulations are adopted, they would force food trucks into a limited number of lottery-assigned spaces in the most popular areas, ban food trucks from operating within 500 feet of those spaces and prohibit downtown vending where there is less than 10 feet of unobstructed sidewalk.

 

Eight food truck associations signed a letter opposing the proposed regulations:

•       Central Ohio Food Truck Association
•       Illinois Food Truck Association
•       Maryland Food Truck Association
•       Minnesota Food Truck Association
•       New Orleans Food Truck Coalition
•       New York City Food Truck Association
•       Philadelphia Mobile Food Association
•       Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association

 

“We’re grateful to our fellow food trucks who have joined the fight to Save DC Food Trucks,” said Doug Povich, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Food Truck Association and Co-owner of Red Hook Lobster Pound-DC. “The proposed parking restrictions have little to do with protecting public health and safety, and everything to do with restricting competition and consumer choice.”

Statements from food truck associations and full text of the letter follow are below:

 
Central Ohio Food Truck Association
@cbusfoodtrucks

"One of the best things about business is competition.  If you are good, the customer will eventually find you.  Whether you are a food truck, a restaurant, a grocery store, a food cart, a caterer, the NASA food service program or the person flipping an awesome burger at your local tavern - If you can bring it, you have a good chance to survive.
“Should the government be in the business of limiting the consumer's exposure or availability to a good product?  Probably not.  They have proven they are willing to protect businesses that are too big to fail, but are they willing to stay out of the way of businesses that are small enough to need a chance?"
Brian Reed
President of the Central Ohio Food Truck Association and Owner of the Mojo Tago food   truck
@mojotago
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Illinois Food Truck Association
@ILFTAssn

"Food truck owners are not looking for zero regulations. When it comes to protecting the health and safety of our patrons, we are 100 percent on board; but using government power to protect the interests of one business over another is a different matter.
"Customers are not the property of anyone one business, they cannot be stolen – but they can be WON. It is the responsibility of all business owners to win the loyalty and patronage of their customers. It is the responsibility of our government to enact rules and regulations that protect the health and safety of those patrons and encourage the growth of its business community – both small and large.”  
Amy Le
Co-Founder of the Illinois Food Truck Association and co-owner of the DucknRoll food truck
@ducknrolltruck
--------------------

Maryland Food Truck Association
@MDfoodtrucks

“Maryland Food Trucks stand with DC Food Trucks and believe in the freedom of all hard-working chefs and entrepreneurs who established such a reputed and inspirational food truck scene. There is no place for gambling in small business ownership and we hope that the District will find a proper way to regulate DC Food Trucks.”                     
Willy Dely, President of the Maryland Food Truck Association

 

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