Find a Place for Street Vendors

Illegal food stands in Boyle Heights have cooked up a controversy between residents who savor tacos and other Latino favorites prepared by sidewalk chefs and opponents who worry that preparing food in the open presents a public health hazard.

In the middle stands Nick Pacheco, the city councilman for the East Side’s 14th District. The vendors have created a lively street life that he would like to encourage, but many Boyle Heights restaurateurs complain that the sidewalk operations are not only unsanitary but that they compete unfairly with food businesses that pay for city licenses and comply with health regulations. The illegal operations clearly are short of compliance with both the city’s Building and Safety regulations and the county’s health code.

Pacheco and the vendors should work together for a negotiated solution that avoids a draconian crackdown by the city.

There is a local precedent. In 1995, there was a similar situation in the MacArthur Park area. In that case, the city agreed to create a zone where street vendors could gather to legally sell their merchandise. That deal is far from perfect, and some vendors continue to venture outside the prescribed zone, but it does present a model that Pacheco and vendors could pursue in Boyle Heights.

Developing a designated, properly regulated outdoor food service area could remove the vendors from the sidewalks so that they don’t block established businesses. Parking lots or parks would be suitable. That is just one option that should be considered in devising a fair deal for restaurant owners, vendors, customers and the city.