At least seven food trucks in North Philadelphia, which have already seen a decrease in business due to a recent curfew, were towed on Thursday, leaving their owners scrambling to get their businesses back on the street.
Video shows an owner of one of the food trucks pleading with police not to remove her business.
Philadelphia police issued tickets for all seven trucks, saying five of them were creating hazardous conditions, one was blocking a sidewalk and another was unregistered.
Towed food trucks were taken to Philadelphia Parking Authority lots.
The Latino Food Truck Association Nonprofit denounced the food trucks being towed, saying, “We view these actions as a direct attack on food diversity, small businesses, and the Latino culture that greatly enriches the fabric of this city. It is unacceptable that hardworking vendors, who bring flavor, culture, and economic activity to our streets, are treated like criminals.”
NBC10’s Shaira Arias interviewed an owner of a food truck in North Philadelphia last month. At the time, food trucks in the neighborhood were promoting a petition urging the 7th District to eliminate its new 11 p.m. curfew for food trucks, which owners say has significantly hurt their businesses as 80% of customers come after midnight.
“All they are trying to do is sell food. And we need the city to help them instead of trying to shut them down,” said Frank Rosario, a member of the Latino Food Truck Association.
The district’s curfew also applies to smoke shops, corner stores, bodegas, and takeout restaurants. Only businesses with a liquor license or a 24/7 permit are allowed to stay open.
Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, who introduced the ordinance, said it is meant to increase quality of life and decrease crime in her district, which includes three of the five most violent areas in the city.
“When the bill fully went into effect, which was in October, we saw a drastic decrease in crime,” Lozada said.
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