Food Truck Ordinance Clears First Hurdle
By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jul 20, 2012 2:00PM
Mayor Emanuel’s proposed food truck ordinance took one more step to becoming law Thursday after it was approved by the City Council License and Consumer Protection Committee in a voice vote. But there’s still a lot of work to be done as food truck owners and brick-and-mortar continue to have fundamental disagreements over where food trucks can operate.
The Sun-Times has a nice account of the debate from the committee meeting and food truck vendors are chafing at the restrictions in the ordinance, particularly the requirements that food trucks operate in designated areas, stay at least 200 feet from restaurants and be required to equip their trucks with GPS devices.
Duck ‘N Roll owner Amy Le, who has emerged as one of the leaders of the local food truck scene, said that she didn’t quit her job and start a food truck only to be “defeated by divisive legislation.” Keefer’s Restaurant owner Glenn Keefer, one of the more vocal opponents of food trucks, continued to voice his concerns that a food truck selling tamales made to order would somehow take away from his steakhouse business.
Licensing and Consumer Protection committee chair Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) admitted that the ordinance isn’t perfect but expressed optimism that the arguing could lead the sides to reach a common ground.