Tough decision

[Liminga]

I was at Home Depot today around 9:15 am and the hot dog guy was there well I like the hot dog guy and the hot dogs but it was 9:15 am. I had to remind myself that it was 9:15 am and that was kind of early for hot dogs. Leaving was tough because I had to drive right by him. But I did it and am proud of myself

9:15 is late enough!

When I lived in Nashville there was a dog guy downtown for many years. Did a good business, especially lunch for the offices. The couple restaurants nearby that got no business for lunch (because they sucked) succeeded in getting regulations enforced on him, where he was going to have to install some sort of permanent waste water hookup, no longer allowed to store his wash water in a tank to dump later. So after he got quotes for that, he just shut down. @#%$#@#

 

[james45]

I was at Home Depot today around 9:15 am and the hot dog guy was there well I like the hot dog guy and the hot dogs but it was 9:15 am. I had to remind myself that it was 9:15 am and that was kind of early for hot dogs. Leaving was tough because I had to drive right by him. But I did it and am proud of myself

OOORAH you did great Could not sleep my left shoulder hurting bad so up at 4 am and thanked the lord I was above grass and my name is not on the wall.

 

[james45]

I had an arrythmia a year ago and it put me in the hospital for five days so they could dial in the drug they wanted me on. But they put me through a battery of other tests a bit later, treadmill, calcium score, some other imaging. And gave my heart two thumbs up, said calcium score 0, and no sign of buildup or damage, a small miracle I can scarcely believe. Ate like crap, little exercise, and carried way too much weight for decade(s). My dad had arrythmia since age 52, mine showed up at 58. Dad lived to 92 and died of some type lymphoma last spring. But for years I smoked and drank, Dad never did and wasn't much overweight. At least I quit those two things about 15 years ago.

Getting back into metal detecting is my try at doing better on weight and health. Ate properly now for a few weeks. Hiked a little around the fields for last few days, 3 hours hiking last night with my patriot. I already feel great compared to just weeks ago.

Hang in there brother after 14 major surgeries and I am still kicking

 

[vmc1161]

9:15 is late enough!

When I lived in Nashville there was a dog guy downtown for many years. Did a good business, especially lunch for the offices. The couple restaurants nearby that got no business for lunch (because they sucked) succeeded in getting regulations enforced on him, where he was going to have to install some sort of permanent waste water hookup, no longer allowed to store his wash water in a tank to dump later. So after he got quotes for that, he just shut down. @#%$#@#

Funny, you should mention that. There was a guy used to have his hotdog cart set up next to a mobile gas station in a very fancy town. The people in the town hated the idea of a hotdog cart in the center of town. They got a regulation passed and forced the guy out. Funny, they look down their nose at everybody and couldn’t see the nice delicious hotdogs. I see the guy driving around with a trump flag to annoy the very same people. To funny.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

I was at Home Depot today around 9:15 am and the hot dog guy was there well I like the hot dog guy and the hot dogs but it was 9:15 am. I had to remind myself that it was 9:15 am and that was kind of early for hot dogs. Leaving was tough because I had to drive right by him. But I did it and am proud of myself

I totally understand your pain! Great win! ha ha

 

[Liminga]

Funny, you should mention that. There was a guy used to have his hotdog cart set up next to a mobile gas station in a very fancy town. The people in the town hated the idea of a hotdog cart in the center of town. They got a regulation passed and forced the guy out. Funny, they look down their nose at everybody and couldn’t see the nice delicious hotdogs. I see the guy driving around with a trump flag to annoy the very same people. To funny.

I could use one of those mobile gas stations. Come right to my place of work, top off the tank. Easy peazy. Like those windshield glass places always advertising.

Yeah, in Nashville the best tacos were the ones from the trailers around. Really, really good. I remember one particular guy who would brown up the ground beef (I think...mystery meat maybe) on a hot plate while you waited, in the parking lot of a hispanic grocery store. On a big round tortilla. Simple ingredients, but as good as I ever had. Ate several a week from him until after 5 or 6 weeks he disappeared. Local restaurants ran him off. I don't blame them so much for that one, people drinking at the nearby nightclubs would leave and walk down to his trailer to get food, then go back. Plus they paid taxes and followed lots of regs thrown up for them.

But running off the hotdog guy by passing new regs when he'd been there a decade...? Made me mad. Some reporter tracked down campaign donations and a couple local politicians who introduced the new bill to make mobile carts meet all the wastewater regs (permanent hookup, for a mobile cart...) had received a lot of cash from the local restaurant association. They've probably rewritten the regs many times by now, might allow carts, but this was 20 years ago when he was the only one I knew of downtown.

 

[BuckHill]

I had an arrythmia a year ago and it put me in the hospital for five days so they could dial in the drug they wanted me on. But they put me through a battery of other tests a bit later, treadmill, calcium score, some other imaging. And gave my heart two thumbs up, said calcium score 0, and no sign of buildup or damage, a small miracle I can scarcely believe. Ate like crap, little exercise, and carried way too much weight for decade(s). My dad had arrythmia since age 52, mine showed up at 58. Dad lived to 92 and died of some type lymphoma last spring. But for years I smoked and drank, Dad never did and wasn't much overweight. At least I quit those two things about 15 years ago.

Getting back into metal detecting is my try at doing better on weight and health. Ate properly now for a few weeks. Hiked a little around the fields for last few days, 3 hours hiking last night with my patriot. I already feel great compared to just weeks ago.

Keep moving

 

[TheFrood]

As much as I dislike a LOT of what goes on in California I was very happy when SB 946 passed which made outright criminalization of street vendors illegal.

There are certain outs relating to public safety, right of way, etc, but localities can't just say "No Vending" (as applies to both goods and food) anymore and have to provide a path to legality.

 

[KOB]

As much as I dislike a LOT of what goes on in California I was very happy when SB 946 passed which made outright criminalization of street vendors illegal.

There are certain outs relating to public safety, right of way, etc, but localities can't just say "No Vending" (as applies to both goods and food) anymore and have to provide a path to legality.

In the big Hispanic city of Santa Ana , there are food carts and trucks all over the place. Some were very good. Others were downright poisonous. And all were stealing business from local restaurants. I know they passed some laws requiring them to pay big fees for licensing and becoming legal. The news showed police confiscate many illegal food carts. All I know is there was no consistency in the quality and cleanliness of these guys selling food so I eventually stayed away.

 

[TheFrood]

In the big Hispanic city of Santa Ana , there are food carts and trucks all over the place. Some were very good. Others were downright poisonous. And all were stealing business from local restaurants. I know they passed some laws requiring them to pay big fees for licensing and becoming legal. The news showed police confiscate many illegal food carts. All I know is there was no consistency in the quality and cleanliness of these guys selling food so I eventually stayed away.

I'm a big fan of caveat emptor. I prefer variety and options to stability. Simplified pathways to legality can help address the food safety issues.

As for consistency and quality, street vendors, just like a restaurant, will be both good and bad. The restaurants must not have been very good if they were being out-competed by some guy in a push cart... That is if the people buying from the cart would have eaten at the restaurant to begin with.

As much as I like street food, if there is a bad smell, things are dirty, or food is obviously not being handled correctly then I'll go somewhere else. After seeing the street markets in Asia though, with the massive variety and diversity of offerings all I feel about the options in the USA is like we are missing out on a lot.

 

[KOB]

I'm a big fan of caveat emptor. I prefer variety and options to stability. Simplified pathways to legality can help address the food safety issues.

As for consistency and quality, street vendors, just like a restaurant, will be both good and bad. The restaurants must not have been very good if they were being out-competed by some guy in a push cart... That is if the people buying from the cart would have eaten at the restaurant to begin with.

As much as I like street food, if there is a bad smell, things are dirty, or food is obviously not being handled correctly then I'll go somewhere else. After seeing the street markets in Asia though, with the massive variety and diversity of offerings all I feel about the options in the USA is like we are missing out on a lot.

It doesn't have anything to do with the restaurants being good or not. It has everything to do with cost. When a cart has a $5 food item , low overhead and is unlicensed , THAT is the problem. Compared to a restaurant doing everything right and charging $15 or $20 for a food item.

 

[TheFrood]

It doesn't have anything to do with the restaurants being good or not. It has everything to do with cost. When a cart has a $5 food item , low overhead and is unlicensed , THAT is the problem. Compared to a restaurant doing everything right and charging $15 or $20 for a food item.

Most of the vendors I've bought from have pricing that is equivalent or higher than restaurants. To be fair though, the city I live in was crazy strict in how hard they came down on ANY kind of street vendors. They pretty much were nonexistent until SB 946. So local conditions definitely didn't mirror those in Santa Ana. The main difference here is that the vendors fill a niche if you want something that isn't fast-food or from a chain.

 

[KOB]

Most of the vendors I've bought from have pricing that is equivalent or higher than restaurants. To be fair though, the city I live in was crazy strict in how hard they came down on ANY kind of street vendors. They pretty much were nonexistent until SB 946. So local conditions definitely didn't mirror those in Santa Ana. The main difference here is that the vendors fill a niche if you want something that isn't fast-food or from a chain.

Sorry to hear that you been getting ripped off for so long.

 

[Liminga]

It doesn't have anything to do with the restaurants being good or not. It has everything to do with cost. When a cart has a $5 food item , low overhead and is unlicensed , THAT is the problem. Compared to a restaurant doing everything right and charging $15 or $20 for a food item.

If it's good food, and they have low overhead. They are doing everything right.

I fail to see how that's a problem.
.

 

[KOB]

If it's good food, and they have low overhead. They are doing everything right.

I fail to see how that's a problem.
.

Nothing. As long as they are legit. The majority are not. See it now ?

 

[Liminga]

Nothing. As long as they are legit. The majority are not. See it now ?

No, what do you mean? You earlier said "It doesn't have anything to do with the restaurants being good or not. It has everything to do with cost." Now you are saying something different about being legit? What makes them legit?

If a truck is illegal, they should get legal. The legal barriers probably can be and thus should be, very low. "Show us your SOP for how you will keep things clean and safe." -- "Here's our plan. It covers the points in your suggested procedures" -- "Ok, looks good, pay your $50 for this years registry." (And even if they haven't paid their $50 but have good food, which by definition means safe food. Not a big deal if they are safe. But they should still pay their tithe.)

A sit down or walk in brick restaurant will have higher costs. They are in a different business. Saying "make it more expensive for food trucks" doesn't add value.

 

[KOB]

No, what do you mean? You earlier said "It doesn't have anything to do with the restaurants being good or not. It has everything to do with cost." Now you are saying something different about being legit? What makes them legit?

If a truck is illegal, they should get legal. The legal barriers probably can be and thus should be, very low. "Show us your SOP for how you will keep things clean and safe." -- "Here's our plan. It covers the points in your suggested procedures" -- "Ok, looks good, pay your $50 for this years registry." (And even if they haven't paid their $50 but have good food, which by definition means safe food. Not a big deal if they are safe. But they should still pay their tithe.)

A sit down or walk in brick restaurant will have higher costs. They are in a different business. Saying "make it more expensive for food trucks" doesn't add value.

OMGosh. Ya got no clue. Do you think in Orange County , CALIFORNIA it is going to cost $50 or $100 to be properly licensed and set up for a food cart guy ? Not even remotely close. The carts they require are high dollar. Not a rolling cooler with a cutting board and hibachi grill.. Not to mention you better show that you are highly sanitary and safe. Permits , licenses , equipment , etc ain't cheap in Cali...Some of these guys are in $7k to get rolling.

 

[Liminga]

OMGosh. Ya got no clue. Do you think in Orange County , CALIFORNIA it is going to cost $50 or $100 to be properly licensed and set up for a food cart guy ? Not even remotely close. The carts they require are high dollar. Not a rolling cooler with a cutting board and hibachi grill.. Not to mention you better show that you are highly sanitary and safe. Permits , licenses , equipment , etc ain't cheap in Cali...Some of these guys are in $7k to get rolling.

I agree. I'm sure it's ridiculous. (Although if all-in is only $7k, that's not too bad.)

I said licensing shouldn't be expensive. The mindset by so many in this country that expense means it advances society via a legitimate purpose is usually much more wrong than right. 'Permit' should be cheap, if you otherwise cover everything with your SOP.

I thought I had been clear, but I guess I wasn't. Not sure where you got me saying something stupid about the cost of a clean cart. If someone can pull it off clean and safe cheap, for way less though, fine. They're not 'stealing' customers from anybody.

Earlier I mentioned barriers lobbied for by connected associations. If someone shows they are safe with a cutting board and hibachi... People getting the good, safe food don't mind. People making money in food in a different way mind. So they lobby.

If barriers in Cali say it costs $XX to be deemed 'legit', regardless of how well someone could do for less? Yeah, they'll need to pay it... If someone wants to play, they can only play in the existing playground, I'll agree with that much.

 

[KOB]

I agree. I'm sure it's ridiculous. (Although if all-in is only $7k, that's not too bad.)

I said licensing shouldn't be expensive. The mindset by so many in this country that expense means it advances society via a legitimate purpose is usually much more wrong than right. 'Permit' should be cheap, if you otherwise cover everything with your SOP.

I thought I had been clear, but I guess I wasn't. Not sure where you got me saying something stupid about the cost of a clean cart. If someone can pull it off clean and safe cheap, for way less though, fine. They're not 'stealing' customers from anybody.

Earlier I mentioned barriers lobbied for by connected associations. If someone shows they are safe with a cutting board and hibachi... People getting the good, safe food don't mind. People making money in food in a different way mind. So they lobby.

If barriers in Cali say it costs $XX to be deemed 'legit', regardless of how well someone could do for less? Yeah, they'll need to pay it... If someone wants to play, they can only play in the existing playground, I'll agree with that much.

Your last paragraph sums it up. The only thing here really stupid is the state of CA. That's why so many businesses and people have bailed out. Taxes , regulations , poor government policies and management. The list goes on. Biggest fiasco is the $20 hr minimum fast food wage. Total backfire.....mass layoffs , shorter work hours , increased consumer food costs. It's a scam.

 

[TheFrood]

Sorry to hear that you been getting ripped off for so long.

Actually its just that most of the food I get from a vendor is specialty type foods. I recently saw my first food vendor here selling normal junkfood (even that was not typical but almost zero customers going to that vendor) and was excessively underwhelmed. Maybe its a different food culture or something. If I had to guess, I think the vendors here are either just doing it as a hobby to share what they consider particularly good recipes or they are testing the market to see if their concept will draw business if they open a physical restaurant. I really hate boring food.... Yes, I realize I'm not exactly what would be considered normal in my food views.