A battle is brewing between restaurants and food trucks in Long Beach.
Restaurant owners say food trucks park outside their doors and steal business. On Tuesday night, the city council will consider how best to fix the situation.
At the meeting, council members will consider new regulations that would limit how many food trucks can operate in Long Beach and where they can park.
La Loteria is one of dozens of food trucks operating in Long Beach. Each day the owner parks here in front of Pike’s Outlets, a popular shopping and dining center off Shoreline Dr.
Nearby restaurant owners have complained that the food trucks are stealing their business, and the city wants the trucks to park farther away.
“The premise of a food truck is to provide food that is not available in restaurants or brick and mortar,” said Ciaran Gough. “But if you park outside a restaurant or on the corner, that’s really unfair.”
Gough is president of the Long Beach Restaurant Association and is among the restaurant owners who want the City Council to increase regulations on food trucks.
Some restaurant owners complain that food trucks block fire lanes, don’t pay parking meters and don’t follow requirements that they park 200 feet from public restrooms.
On Tuesday, the City Council will consider changes such as hiring a full-time food truck program coordinator, limiting where trucks can park and adding a city health permit over and above the LA County permit currently required.
Food truck owner Hugo Jimenez told NBC4 that another license would increase the cost, but he wants to stay where he is.
A sign posted on the truck asks for customer support.
An online petition to keep the trucks has more than 2,000 signatures.
“I think it’s unfair. I think they should stay,” said food truck customer Mark Bernardo.
Those working nearby say the food trucks create a fun atmosphere and provide a quick and affordable option on their lunch break.
“We don’t have time to go to a restaurant,” said Galley Gillen, a food truck customer. “Easy is easy to come by.”
Restaurant owners hope the City Council will pass tougher regulations to level the playing field for all food service providers in Long Beach.
“If restaurants are held to a certain standard, have certain building codes and restrooms, all these things come at extra cost, then why don’t food trucks have the same thing?” He said eagerly.
Although councilors will discuss the proposed changes, a vote is not expected until early next year.
