Food Trucks in CBD Tomorrow, More on Head's Revisions

Food Trucks will gather in the CBD tomorrow, March 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 800 Common Street, reports M.D. Dupuy of NOLA Defender, to "test drive the new regulations... in a place they were once forbidden." Brigade Coffee, NOLA Girl Food, Empanada Intifada, Rue Chow, and Frencheeze will all be slinging their goods.

After receiving criticism from the LRA and some CBD businesses, basically saying Food Trucks are roving health hazards with unfair business/tax advantages, Head has revised a few key elements of her proposed food truck law:

Originally, Head's office proposed that food trucks would have to set up at least 50 feet away from nearby restaurants. After groups such as the Louisiana Restaurant Association complained that mobile fare would impact brick and mortar businesses, Head modified the distance to 100 ft.

The revised laws, which City Council could vote on in the coming weeks, will also "keep the areas between Poydras Street and Howard Avenue closed off to food trucks, and all vendors will have to pay an initial fee of $805.25 and an annual $755.25 to operate." Other than that, the food trucks will be allowed to operate for 4 hours in one spot, as opposed to 45 minutes. And the cap for permits will be expanded to 200/year? which along with The Institute for Justice calls unconstitutional. Though it's a step in teh right direction from a legislation that hasn't changed since 1956.

· Food Truck Round Up [NOLADefender]
· All Food Trucks [-ENOLA-]
[Photo: My House/Facebook]