Ban Mobile Food Wagons?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Citing health concerns, the city is considering a ban on taco trucks and other mobile food wagons that dot the busy streets in Nashville's immigrant neighborhoods.

But critics say the proposed ban has more to do with cultural differences than health.

"There's a resounding feeling that these actions are driven by racism," said Loui Olivas, a business professor at Arizona State University. Nashville is one of several cities with fast-growing Hispanic populations that have tried to restrict food trucks recently, he said.

"Folks weren't pointing fingers or speaking loudly with traditional hot dog vendors or bagel or ice cream vendors," Olivas said. "That's always been a part of growing up in America. Why the concern now?"

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IMMIGRANT_FOOD_VENDORS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

Looks pretty racist to me. But hey it is middle Tennessee, in eastern Tennessee they'd just shoot them.

Every city seems to go through this. It's the "nanny state" rearing its ugly head. I disagree with the above article, though. I really do think the concern, however wrong, is about health. I know in San Francisco when they have tried to eliminate the hanging of Peking ducks in store windows in Chinatown, they not only thought it was a health issue (the store owners pointed out they've been doing it as long as glass has existed and no one is known to have got sick), but they knew that in SF they were taking on extraordinarily powerful cultural forces.

Anyway, the good news is that, at least in the cities I'm familiar with, the "nannies" have consistently lost. Here in Tucson, the taco trucks roll and in SF the ducks remain.

In this part of Michigan, most cities don't enforce the health laws, the health laws are enforce by the County Health Departments and the Michigan State Health Department. Cities do make them have a vendor license, but this is just a way of keeping track of them and also a source of income for the cities.

quote:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Citing health concerns, the city is considering a ban on taco trucks and other mobile food wagons that dot the busy streets in Nashville's immigrant neighborhoods.

Nashville's immigrant neighborhoods???? how funny....... I think what the news story really meant was " Nashville's illegal alien neighborhoods"

Well, they don't call them "Roach Coaches" for nutten............... let the curse of Montezuma be your gift as you experience "REAL" Mexican street food.....

I've gotten sick at Mickie D's, Mama's ham house and any number of othe rplaces but two places have neever given me any trouble.

Mexican roach coaches or Japanese sushi bars...who knows...internal bugs or what.

Typical government. Trying to over-control and ban instead of using logic and enforcing regulations already on the books. I would think that Nasheville requires any mobile food service to be licensed by the Board of Heath, the same as a restaurant, and that they conduct inspections to ensure that health codes are being met.

Instead of just banning these trucks, make the operators follow the existing rules, or pass new regulations to include mobile food service instead of just banning it.

quote:

Originally posted by fpczyz

quote:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Citing health concerns, the city is considering a ban on taco trucks and other mobile food wagons that dot the busy streets in Nashville's immigrant neighborhoods.

Nashville's immigrant neighborhoods???? how funny....... I think what the news story really meant was " Nashville's illegal alien neighborhoods"

Well, they don't call them "Roach Coaches" for nutten............... let the curse of Montezuma be your gift as you experience "REAL" Mexican street food.....

Oh, Frank, for heaven's sake! First of all, I've mainly heard the term "roach coach" applied to those shiny chrome-plated vehicles that show up at construction sites purveying snack food and pre-packaged sandwiches (there's source of gastroenteritis if ever there was one). Second, America (maybe all but squeaky clean, new and shiny San Jose) has plenty of foreign-born folks who are either legal residents or citizens--whole neighborhoods full of them, in fact, where lots of street vendors operate. Finally, what do you see as the health difference between a taco truck run by a guy of Mexican origin and one of those hot dog carts with the all-American dogs sitting in warm water (like an incubator for bacteria)?

Somebody above had it right--reasonable health laws exist and are not incompatible with streetfood. Let's enforce the health laws rigorously--with licenses for street vendors if necessary--but lets also encourage the ones that can comply because, IMHO, they add positive diversity and some darned good food to our cities and towns.

It's based on ignorance, not racism. As is the case more often than not, you have some ignorant bureaucrat(s) who want to "save the people from themselves".

Some of the best tacos and tortas around Austin come from the truck vendors.

I agree with what berndog said.

Our (Nashville) council members have been dragged through the street vendors coals in the local media on this one, with comments like, "why don't we close all the day care centers because one some of them are dirty." The fact is, these vendors are supposed to get inspected by the health dept just like any other restaurant. I asked the health inspector about them when he was at my place, and he said they get calls all the time from concerned citizens, but there are specific rules to follow when cooking outside. Fortunately, the bill was either dropped or the vote was postponed Tuesday night because the council and the vendors were "close to a compromise." I think the compromise was probably that the council will let them continue their businesses so the local writers will quit calling them idiots.

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Originally posted by yeahyeah101

I think the compromise was probably that the council will let them continue their businesses so the local writers will quit calling them idiots.

That's pretty much the outcome everywhere this comes up. I wonder why you have to be so incapable of learning from other peoples' mistakes in order to run for a city council (that's another way of saying that they ARE idiots).

I say let them culinary artists in carts or wagons do their thing.. And let the health inspector do his job by inspecting. One bad apple shouldnt destroy the entire crop...

I have eaten at several of the taco wagons here in Nashville. Some good some bad. But when I walk up to them I check the health inspection certificate the same way I do with all restaurants and if it is not high enough I walk a way.

quote:

Originally posted by Farmallcub

I have eaten at several of the taco wagons here in Nashville. Some good some bad. But when I walk up to them I check the health inspection certificate the same way I do with all restaurants and if it is not high enough I walk a way.

Yes, You're right, it just like the old saying "let the buyer beware"

The day I saw an NYC hot dog vendor blowing his nose in the same towel he was using to hold the steamed buns as he made your hot dog was the last day I ate from a mobile food cart. I know it was not a typical incident, and how awful things can also happen in a regular eating establishment...but I just can't get past that image...

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Bad

The day I saw an NYC hot dog vendor blowing his nose in the same towel he was using to hold the steamed buns as he made your hot dog was the last day I ate from a mobile food cart. I know it was not a typical incident, and how awful things can also happen in a regular eating establishment...but I just can't get past that image...

You're right, I'll feel the same way. A few years ago I was telling this to a friend of my wife. This Lady has been in the Food Service Industry for many years, She said it is a good thing that all the people that feel like You, don't see the insides of a busy Fine Dining Establishment's Kitchen, all busy Fine Dining Establishments would go bankrupted if people quit going to them for reasons like yours.

I said owners/managers of good Fine Dining Establishment don't let these things happen. She said, you're out of your mind! When it is rush and the people are lined up out into the parking lot, You wouldn't beleive what's goes on in the kitchen!

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Bad

The day I saw an NYC hot dog vendor blowing his nose in the same towel he was using to hold the steamed buns as he made your hot dog was the last day I ate from a mobile food cart. I know it was not a typical incident, and how awful things can also happen in a regular eating establishment...but I just can't get past that image...

The worst you're likely to have got was a cold. Eat out much in "mom and pop" ethnic places and you're more likely to get hepatitis (it's endemic in the part of the world from which most of the kitchen staff probably came). But that knowledge doesn't stop ME.

quote:

Originally posted by BT

The worst you're likely to have got was a cold. Eat out much in "mom and pop" ethnic places and you're more likely to get hepatitis (it's endemic in the part of the world from which most of the kitchen staff probably came). But that knowledge doesn't stop ME.

I know what you say is 100% correct, but that image just plays like a movie in my head every time I think of grabbing a quick bite at a mobile cart. I have worked in many restaurants, so I know that they are no better...but I don't have any vivid images associated with that. As they say, ignorance is bliss...people also say I am quite a blissful person...wonder what they mean by that??

I've gotten sick from "mom and pop" type places before..but that doesn't mean I want a ban on them.. buyer beware eh? We call all mobile food trucks "roach coaches" no matter how clean.. they make a ton of money on the downtown government employee crowd, and I haven't heard of anyone getting dangerously ill from em.

When I started at pharmacy school (in downtown Baltimore) 4 years ago, we were told about a food cart across the street from the school. At first, I resisted, thinking it was probably horrible food. But it's not; in fact, the food is better--and probably fresher--than the premade crap served at the student union. The owners appear to run a very clean business, and the sandwiches are downright healthy (a specialty is boneless skinless chicken breast with a Greek cucumber sauce on it). And the prices are unbeatable! So, as others have said, it's buyer beware. I think you can tell a lot just by peeking in the inside of the truck. The aforementioned truck is spotless inside (much cleaner than my messy kitchen!) The clients are almost all health care professionals, and I doubt they'd keep coming if people were getting sick.

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

I've gotten sick from "mom and pop" type places before..but that doesn't mean I want a ban on them.. buyer beware eh? We call all mobile food trucks "roach coaches" no matter how clean.. they make a ton of money on the downtown government employee crowd, and I haven't heard of anyone getting dangerously ill from em.

I may said it wrong, yes, "buyer be ware" but I mean that about all eating establishments and as far as that goes anything that You buy, You should remember "buyer beware"

quote:

Originally posted by joanie41

When I started at pharmacy school (in downtown Baltimore) 4 years ago, we were told about a food cart across the street from the school. At first, I resisted, thinking it was probably horrible food. But it's not; in fact, the food is better--and probably fresher--than the premade crap served at the student union. The owners appear to run a very clean business, and the sandwiches are downright healthy (a specialty is boneless skinless chicken breast with a Greek cucumber sauce on it). And the prices are unbeatable! So, as others have said, it's buyer beware. I think you can tell a lot just by peeking in the inside of the truck. The aforementioned truck is spotless inside (much cleaner than my messy kitchen!) The clients are almost all health care professionals, and I doubt they'd keep coming if people were getting sick.

I am now sobbing uncontrollably. You are in "downtown Baltimore" and you are regularly eating off a truck! Oh, OK, it sounds like a pretty darned tasty truck, but I prefer to retain my memories of "downtown Baltimore" eating in the 1960s' (as an undergrad at JHU) at Lexington and North Ave. markets, Attman's deli, Harry Little's and B&M subs (hamburger subs at HL, ethereal roast beef subs at B&M), a little mom/pop Italian joint in a rowhouse near Hopkins Hospital whose name now escapes me, Hausner's killer sauerbraten and, of course, crabs/oyster/clams and other seafood all over town. Sniffle!

This reminds me of the story of Nathan's early beginnings.. and how the owners used to have their employees and friends dress up as doctors and nurses to show how clean and healthy their establishment was.

BT, I do occasionally eat at Lexington (it's very close to the pharmacy school) but I can't stand the way my clothes smell after I leave the place -- I stink like grease all day! That said, Faidley's crab cakes are the best I've ever had. The other places you mentioned are not convenient for a quick lunch, unfortunately. The truck lunch works well when you only have a half hour to pound down lunch. I've driven past Attman's a number of times, but haven't been in yet. There are so many wonderful eateries in B-more, but time and money has limited my ability to try them all.

Faidley's crab cakes ............. Yes indeed!! here is a pic of me with the owner / son in-law
of John W. Faidley .His wife and daughter of John W. still mixes the original crab cake recipe every day right there on sight.............. In the Lexington Market

quote:

Originally posted by V960

Looks pretty racist to me. But hey it is middle Tennessee, in eastern Tennessee they'd just shoot them.

I'm sick of people crying racism whenever they don't get their way.
If the city thinks it is a health hazard then all the mobile vendors should be banned. Just because taco trucks are allowed in Mexico doesn't make it right for Tennessee. Stop the whining.

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Originally posted by joanie41

I've driven past Attman's a number of times, but haven't been in yet.

OMG--I just checked to see if Attman's had a web page--they do, but the menu ( http://www.attmansdeli.com/carryout.php )shows the price of a corned beef sandwich at $5.69, extra lean at $6.89. When I used to go there, the regular sandwich was $0.25, extra lean was $0.45. Waaaaaaahhhhhh!