The Unfair Advantages of Food Trucks?
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2011-04-13/unfair-advantages-food-trucks
Diners in the D.C. area can enjoy food trucks that serve everything from lobster rolls to Vietnamese sandwiches. But some traditional brick-and-mortar businesses say those trucks enjoy unfair advantages when it comes to sales taxes. We explore a legislative proposal to change how food trucks are taxed, and why mobile food vendors across the city are organizing to stop it.
Guests
Kristi Whitfield
Co-Owner, Curbside Cupcakes; Executive Director, D.C. Food Truck Association
Seth Shapiro
Co-Owner, Marvelous Market Capitol Hill
Related Links
The Washington Post's D.C. Food Trucks Twitter Aggregator
We have one to add to the Post's list - @MarvelousMkt
Comments
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As a Capitol Hill Resident, I just wanted to comment on how much Marvelous Market contributes to the neighborhood. They host free children's concerts every Friday, collect food for residents in need during the holidays, and the staff is incredibly kind to my (often messy) 9-month old son.
While I admire the many creative food trucks and all the great options they bring to DC dinners, I can totally understand how frustrating it must be to have a food truck parked outside your restaurant doing brisk business.
I love the integration of DC food trucks to the area because they provide cuisines that are not always easily accessible or available. Fortunately, we live in a country where competition makes businesses thrive to please customers and provide the best service; this creates win-win situations all around.
I never read or hear objections to brick&mortar businesses of the same kinds opening on the same block. Would we object to having CVS, Target & Walgreens all within a one block radius? If not, why would we object to a cupcake truck being parked outside a bakery for merely an hour?
Thanks for bringing this show out. It's great to have neighborhood issues aired for people to know that we are not all about politics.
As a business owner (brick and mortar) I would certainly become upset if my competitor parked her truck in front of the store. I also understand that the market dictates what will be sold and how much of it to supply. Can it really be true that there is a shortage of three dollar cupcakes and eighteen dollar sandwiches in the District.
Is it possible to have a mobile parking lot and just have a car carrier drive through the city?
Yes it's very true, the food truck enjoy unfair advantages. Low tax and it's mobility gives a good support to their business, thus the other stall and hotels suffer a lot.
Vanguard trucks