L.A. City Council Approves Ordinance Restricting Food Truck Parking Near LACMA

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The thousands of people working in the commercial high-rises along Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile district are going to have fewer lunch options now that the L.A. City Council approved a measure Wednesday that will restrict food truck parking, according to a news source.

Anyone who's driven down Wilshire Boulevard near LACMA has noticed that the south side of the street is filled with food trucks dishing out ethnic eats and American fare.

These food trucks have been a bane to restaurant owners in the area, who say it's unfair these mobile eateries are siphoning off business from "'brick and mortar' restaurants that are heavily taxed and regulated," the Park Labrea News and Beverly Press newspaper reported.

L.A. City Council members said they're concerned about safety. Councilman Tom LaBonge, who penned the ordinance, said it restricts parking for oversized trucks to increase visibility for drivers in the area.

Council members unanimously approved the measure Wednesday, which stated, "trucks that are larger than 22 feet long and seven feet high are prohibited from parking in spaces with oversized vehicle restrictions along Wilshire between Fairfax and La Brea avenues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m."

Oversized trucks will lose as many as 20 spots on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard, but will still have as many as 20 spots leftover, Park Labrea News reported. Oversized vehicles won't be able to park between Orange Grove Avenue and Ogden Drive, or between Curson and Masselin avenues.

"It  makes the street safer for everyone," LaBonge reportedly said during the meeting. "It's the safety that I'm concerned about, and I think it works it out."

Matt Geller, CEO of the Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association, told the newspaper officials have not clearly shown how the trucks block visibility or pose a safety risk. He said the city is following in the footsteps of Santa Monica, which has already created food truck restrictions.

"The real losers are all the consumers. This is just really short-sighted." Geller said.