Downtown Food Carts Banished as of Jan. 1
The City Council voted Monday to ban curbside food vendors from the downtown and civic center districts because of health risks from poor food storage and litter.
The board of the Downtown Santa Ana Business Assn., which represents about 500 businesses, voted 13 to 2 this year to push for the removal of the pushcarts from the downtown area.
Theresa Saldivar, president of the association and owner of a jewelry store on 4th Street, said she has received many complaints over the years from customers about litter and sticky sidewalks.
But Marguerita Amaro, who works at the Family Bargain Center, said she has never heard any complaints. Neither has Police Officer Ray Perez, who has patrolled Santa Ana for about seven years.
“They’ve got six months,” Perez said. “Maybe [City Council members] will change their minds.”
Saldivar said the removal of pushcarts is part of a larger effort to clean up the downtown area.
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