The new food truck ordinance is insanely stupid!

They can have my truck food when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.

How do we go about raising a ruckus to get these rules overturned? The old system sucked, but at least we could have street food events! What's the recourse? How do we save this scene, Footloose style? Do I need to put on my stonewashed jeans and start dancing... err, cooking in the street to protest?

I would highly recommend a group of the truck owners and operators form a group and come up with a sample of a more realistic ordinance for food trucks. After that they should approach the Health Department with the sample.

As a board, Louisville Originals found that the assistant Deputy Director Matt Rhodes was very helpful and willing to listen to our concerns when the new Health Code was established this past January. As a group, we met with him 3 times and explained our concerns. He asked for a sample of an alternate rating system, which we provided. In under 8 months, he had taken all of our concerns to the Board and the rating system was changed once again.

The Health Department isn't out to target anyone or run anyone out of business, but sometimes they really just don't grasp the logistics of things. We were very careful to explain we wanted to work with them to be safe, but that certain things with the ratings were negatively impacting our businesses. We were thrilled and surprised with how they actually listened to us and affected change.

I don't think the "other restaurants do not have to do this" argument is going to get you very far. Fischer's not concerned with doing what's fair. He's not interested in market equality. He's interested in looking out for himself. And, in the grand scheme of things, answering to food truck vendors doesn't really register on his agenda.

There's my cynical view of the day.

The Health Department isn't out to target anyone or run anyone out of business, but sometimes they really just don't grasp the logistics of things

...I think their is a tendency for people to assume that government entities (and politicians) are stupid and/or thick headed and that if only they were offered the opportunity to present their case that enlightenment would occur and the issue would be resolved (to their sole satisfaction). In reality what often occurs is that there are there are two sides to an issue and a resolution pleasing both sides is difficult to achieve...In the end the side packing the most clout usually wins out. While I have no evidence to present, I would not rule out the possibility that as hard as ya'll are pushing in one direction, there is another (perhaps larger) interest quietly pushing back in the other direction.

The Health Department isn't out to target anyone or run anyone out of business, but sometimes they really just don't grasp the logistics of things

...I think their is a tendency for people to assume that government entities (and politicians) are stupid and/or thick headed and that if only they were offered the opportunity to present their case that enlightenment would occur and the issue would be resolved (to their sole satisfaction). In reality what often occurs is that there are there are two sides to an issue and a resolution pleasing both sides is difficult to achieve...In the end the side packing the most clout usually wins out. While I have no evidence to present, I would not rule out the possibility that as hard as ya'll are pushing in one direction, there is another (perhaps larger) interest quietly pushing back in the other direction.

Brick-and-mortar restaurants.

I think all the food trucks should Occupy CIty Hall until it's resolved

I'm kind of in shock really... none of this was discussed at any of the meetings that food truckers were invited to. These went into effect 5 days ago. ...

I think this pretty much demonstrates how much metro government is really concerned about this topic!

As far as the criminal background check, is somebody really going to complain about that? I don't want John Wayne Gacy to be serving me food either .

Tim,

I find that statement very offensive and the comparison extremely rude to the Food Truck owners that post on this site. People have criminal records for reasons that have nothing to do with other people's safety. And whatever happened to serving your time and paying your debt to society? A criminal record is irrelevant to food service, and it's patentedly unfair to enforce this on Food Trucks if there is no such rule for brick & mortar or other food businesses.

Deb

If they had the same criminal restrictions in Brick and Mortar restaurants, half would close for lack of staff. I think background checks should be up to the business owner, not the government to enforce. Unless, it involves the elderly or children, like a daycare or nursing home. If I did a background check on every cook or sous chef I have ever hired, I would have hired maybe 2 people in 20 years. For a job field that pays around or a little better than minimum wage, you can't be that choosy. I do see alot more restaurants going that route, but they are always hiring and don't seem to be having much luck with that standar Plus a person who has done their time needs a job also, or else they are more likely to committ another crime if they aren't gainfully employed.

The criminals in the kitchens all over town are just that, in the kitchens, not driving food trucks all over town!. I don't mind the criminal check, what is the ordinance for vending near a school? hmmm

Just curious if Food Truck operators have to have a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) ? If that is the case then the way I'm reading the Federal DOT regs, they are subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulati ... esting.htm

You laugh...but I had 2 friends in MN,both of whom ran "one man show" businesses (one a stump removal business and the other a concrete contractor) and as business owners the feds made them set up UN-announced and/or random drug testing on themselves ...Not sure how the hell THAT was supposed to work

Just curious if Food Truck operators have to have a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) ? If that is the case then the way I'm reading the Federal DOT regs, they are subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulati ... esting.htm

You laugh...but I had 2 friends in MN,both of whom ran "one man show" businesses (one a stump removal business and the other a concrete contractor) and as business owners the feds made them set up UN-announced and/or random drug testing on themselves ...Not sure how the hell THAT was supposed to work

They had to use the drug testing "magic eight-ball." Whenever the eight-ball came up Yes, they had to test themselves.

I don't think the "other restaurants do not have to do this" argument is going to get you very far. Fischer's not concerned with doing what's fair. He's not interested in market equality. He's interested in looking out for himself. And, in the grand scheme of things, answering to food truck vendors doesn't really register on his agenda.

There's my cynical view of the day.

You are almost there. Just go ahead and take that last logical step.

I'm with Jessica, and no pun intended, "the squeakiest wheel gets the most oil".

I don't think the "other restaurants do not have to do this" argument is going to get you very far. Fischer's not concerned with doing what's fair. He's not interested in market equality. He's interested in looking out for himself. And, in the grand scheme of things, answering to food truck vendors doesn't really register on his agenda.

There's my cynical view of the day.

You are almost there. Just go ahead and take that last logical step.

There you go with your darn logic again, Steve!

As I typed that response, I knew it was only a matter of time before I heard from you.

I don't think the "other restaurants do not have to do this" argument is going to get you very far. Fischer's not concerned with doing what's fair. He's not interested in market equality. He's interested in looking out for himself. And, in the grand scheme of things, answering to food truck vendors doesn't really register on his agenda.

There's my cynical view of the day.

You are almost there. Just go ahead and take that last logical step.

There you go with your darn logic again, Steve!

As I typed that response, I knew it was only a matter of time before I heard from you.