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Street vendors have existed in Los Angeles since California became a state. They have mostly been poorer Latin American and Chinese immigrants.
| | This article needs additional citations for verification .(September 2020) |
Street vendors have existed in Los Angeles since California became a state. They have mostly been poorer Latin American and Chinese immigrants.
Street vending became prominent in the latter half of the 19th century, after California became a state in 1850. [1] Mexican and Chinese immigrants were some of the first street vendors in 1870. By 1890, the city tried to restrict their movement, but the food proved to be too popular. [1]
They continued to try to outlaw tamale carts into the next century. [ citation needed ]
Most street vendors at the time stayed in downtown LA, but with the rise of the automobile they were able to spread out more. Tacos from street carts became big in the 1930s. [1]
Chinese immigrants had a harder time because they were trapped in ghettos and attacks kept their population to just a few hundred. [1] They were forced to migrate around the city and go up to people's doors. Public health officials told people that their food was unsanitary and to not eat it. In the 1920s, Olvera Street was revitalized and Chinese street vending disappeared, along with Chinatown being moved farther away.
By the time of the Olympics in 1932 most of the street vendors had been run off. [ citation needed ]
In 1994, councilman Mike Hernandez took over an initiative to allow street vending in MacArthur Park, Westlake, and Pico Union. [2] Other council members worried that it would scare away brick and mortar businesses. To help assuage those fears they said that since more people would be on the street they would be able to tell police about crimes. [2]
In 1999, the Institute For Urban Research and Development was asked to manage the vending district in MacArthur Park. Right away there were several problems. Vendors were limited in where they could sell, meaning that they couldn't follow crowds. They were also limited in what they could sell, meaning people didn't want to participate in the program. [2]
The current movement to legalize street vending has been heavily influenced by actual street vendors.
Four groups came together to fight for street vending to be legalized and created the Legalize Street Vending Campaign. Each group was able to contribute something different. The East LA Community Corporation helps to develop communities. The Los Angeles Food Policy Council looked at how legalizing street vending could help people gain access to healthy food. Public Council is a public interest law firm and is non-profit. The Leadership for Urban Renewal Network (LURN), now known as Inclusive Action for the City (IAC), advocates for low-income communities and their economic development. Street vendors were quickly brought in to lead and advocate for street vending to be legalized. [ citation needed ]
In 2012, they went to council members to find allies and help draft a policy proposal. The report was not considered a priority until the 2016 election.
When President Trump announced a deportation priority for anyone who's committed a crime it was enough pressure for the council to vote in February 2017 to decriminalize it.
The city pushed back against full legalization. They implemented two-vendor per block caps and allowed store owners to keep people from selling in front of their store. Certain sections of the city were also restricted. No one could sell on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, meaning people lost a huge source of income.
After it became legalized they were still restricted from selling in Hollywood, but Legalize Street Vending Campaign continues to fight for venders to be able to sell with unique rules instead of being completely banned.
For decades, street vending has been prominent throughout the history of Los Angeles and has played a significant role in the culture and economic growth of Los Angeles. Considering LA has a large Hispanic population, a large portion of street vendors today and in the past are, or were, of Mexican descent. Today there are over 50,000 different kinds of street vendors in LA; 10,000 of them selling food. [3] It is often the first profession of immigrants in the city.
The street vending micro-enterprises make up a $504 million industry. [4] It has been estimated that over 5,000 jobs have been created by these street vendors and those they deal with. [5]
In 2016, the city of Los Angeles decriminalized street vending.
In November 2018, the city voted unanimously to legalize it. [6]
In September 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, or SB 946, which decriminalized street vending in throughout the state. SB 946 limits violations and fines imposed on said vendors. [7]
Under these new laws, vendors will be required to have business licenses and health food permits. According to the rules, this is to keep merchants from "impeding with the flow of pedestrian activity" and require them to maintain "a clean area around their carts" according to Councilman Curran Price.
Street vendors are prohibited from vending in specific areas such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Universal Studios, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, the Hollywood Bowl, the Coliseum, and Banc of California Stadium on event days.
A taco is a traditional Mexican dish consisting of a small hand-sized corn- or wheat-based tortilla topped with a filling. The tortilla is then folded around the filling and eaten by hand. A taco can be made with a variety of fillings, including beef, pork, chicken, seafood, beans, vegetables, and cheese, and garnished with various condiments, such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream, and vegetables, such as lettuce, onion, tomatoes, and chiles. Tacos are a common form of antojitos, or Mexican street food, which have spread around the world.
A food truck is a large motorized vehicle or trailer equipped to store, transport, cook, prepare, serve, and/or sell food.
A hawker is a vendor of merchandise that can be easily transported; the term is roughly synonymous with costermonger or peddler. In most places where the term is used, a hawker sells inexpensive goods, handicrafts, or food items. Whether stationary or mobile, hawkers often advertise by loud street cries or chants, and conduct banter with customers, to attract attention and enhance sales.
A danger dog is a hot dog that has been wrapped in bacon and deep-fried. It is served on a hot dog bun with various toppings. Also known as a bacon-wrapped hot dog, it was first sold by street vendors in Mexico. Its origin has been placed in either Tijuana or Hermosillo, where it was originally served in a bolillo instead of a hot dog bun. These dogs are sold from carts that are ubiquitous along Avenida Revolución and the area surrounding the border in Tijuana, as well as the bar district in Ensenada.
Street food is food sold by a hawker or vendor on a street or at another public place, such as a market, fair, or park. It is often sold from a portable food booth, food cart, or food truck and is meant for immediate consumption. Some street foods are regional, but many have spread beyond their regions of origin. Most street foods are classified as both finger food and fast food and are typically cheaper than restaurant meals. The types of street food vary between regions and cultures in different countries around the world. According to a 2007 study from the Food and Agriculture Organization, 2.5 billion people eat street food every day. While some cultures consider it to be rude to walk on the street while eating, a majority of middle- to high-income consumers rely on the quick access and cheap service of street food for daily nutrition and job opportunities, especially in developing countries.
A taquito, taco dorado, rolled taco, or flauta is a Mexican dish that typically consists of a small rolled-up tortilla that contains filling, including beef, cheese or chicken. The filled tortilla is then shallow-fried or deep-fried. The dish is often topped with condiments such as sour cream and guacamole. Corn tortillas are generally used to make taquitos. The dish is more commonly known as flautas when they are larger than their taquito counterparts, and can be made with either flour or corn tortillas.
Mobile catering is the business of selling prepared food from some sort of vehicle. It is a feature of urban culture in many countries. Mobile catering can be performed using food trucks, trailers, carts and food stands with many types of foods that can be prepared. Mobile catering is also used to provide food to people during times of emergency.
Mexican street food, called antojitos, is prepared by street vendors and at small traditional markets in Mexico. Street foods include tacos, tamales, gorditas, quesadillas, empalmes, tostadas, chalupa, elote, tlayudas, cemita, pambazo, empanada, nachos, chilaquiles, fajitas, tortas, even hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as fresh fruits, vegetables, beverages and soups such as menudo, pozole and pancita. Most are available in the morning and the evening, as mid-afternoon is the time for the main formal meal of the day. Mexico has one of the most extensive street food cultures in Latin America, and Forbes named Mexico City as one of the foremost cities in the world in which to eat on the street.
Korean tacos are a Korean-Mexican fusion dish popular in a number of urban areas in the United States and Canada. Korean tacos originated in Los Angeles, often as street food, consisting of Korean-style fillings, such as bulgogi and kimchi, placed on top of small traditional Mexican corn tortillas. Korean burritos are a similarly themed dish, using larger flour tortillas as a wrap.
The presence of street vendors in Mexico City dates back to pre-Hispanic era and over the centuries the government has struggled to control it, with most recently a clearing of downtown streets of vendors in 2007, but despite this there is a persistent presence of many thousands illegally. Even after oscillating between the realms of legality and illegality, street vending in Mexico and even in other parts of the world, is not the exception but rather has been a norm when it comes to commercial activities. In 2003, it was estimated that there were 199,328 street vendors in Mexico City.
A taco stand or taquería is a food stall, food cart or restaurant that specializes in tacos and other Mexican dishes. The food is typically prepared quickly and tends to be inexpensive. Many various ingredients may be used, and various taco styles may be served. Taco stands are an integral part of Mexican street food. Tacos became a part of traditional Mexican cuisine in the early 20th century, beginning in Mexico City, as what had been a miner's snack began to be sold on street corners in the city. Shops selling tacos have since proliferated throughout Mexico and other areas with a heavy Mexican culinary and cultural influence, including much of the Western United States and most other larger American cities. More typical taquerías specialize in tacos, as expected, but in some localities it can be used to refer to restaurants specializing in burritos, where tacos themselves are less of a point of emphasis.
Langer's Deli, also known as Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant, is a kosher-style delicatessen located at 704 South Alvarado Street in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, opposite MacArthur Park.
The movement to decriminalize psilocybin in the United States began in 2019 with Denver, Colorado, becoming the first city to decriminalize psilocybin in May of that year. The cities of Oakland and Santa Cruz, California, decriminalized psilocybin in June 2019 and January 2020, respectively. Washington, D.C., followed soon in November 2020, as did Somerville, Massachusetts, in January 2021, and then the neighboring Cambridge and Northampton in February 2021 and March 2021, respectively. Seattle, Washington, became the largest U.S. city on the growing list in October 2021. Detroit, Michigan, followed in November 2021.
The Safe Sidewalk Vending Act is a 2018 California law decriminalizing street vending and legalizing street vending under certain conditions.
Mis Tacones is a Chicano and queer-owned vegan taquería in Portland, Oregon.
Eunisses Hernandez is an American activist and politician, currently serving as a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 1st district since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, Hernandez defeated incumbent councilmember Gil Cedillo during the primary in an upset in the 2022 election.
Hugo Soto-Martinez is an American labor organizer and politician, currently serving as a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 13th district since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, Soto-Martinez defeated incumbent Mitch O'Farrell in the 2022 general election.
Colloquially referred to as Loncheras, Taco trucks have become an iconic symbol of Mexican culture in the United States. Popularized in Los Angeles, Loncheras are often characterized by rough exteriors, bright colors, and bold murals. Operators have been able to build loyal clientele using familiar parking spots, social media, and after-dark hours. Though taco trucks are a staple food for Angelenos of every race, Loncheras in Los Angeles are chiefly owned and operated by Hispanic and Latino families in low to moderate-income areas. Since Raul Martinez's first mobile truck success, taco trucks have continued to serve as windows of opportunity for migrant families and prospective chefs to earn a living. Taco trucks, like all Mexican street food, have allowed Mexican Americans to stay connected to their heritage while adjusting to a new country, community, and way of life. Success among authentic Mexican taco trucks later inspired "fusion taco trucks". Roy Choi's Kogi BBQ food truck, a Korean-Mexican short rib taco truck, is considered to be the first "fusion" taco truck in Los Angeles. The opening of Choi's truck marked a gastronomic explosion on the Los Angeles taco truck horizon. Both regular and fusion taco trucks help meet the high demand for fast, affordable, and convenient street food in the Golden city.
Inclusive Action for the City (IAC) is a certified community development financial institution (CDFI) based in Los Angeles, California, that provides policy and legal advocacy, provides access to funds to underserved and underinvested communities, and incubates novel projects to create and foster pathways for community members.