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Pomona Adapts Urgency Ordinance Creating New Regulations for Street Vendors

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Photography courtesy of Julian Lucas ©2013

Pomona city council adopted a set of urgency ordinances on Oct. 21 that will create new regulations and restrictions for street vendors to follow in order to continue business within the streets of the city.

The urgency ordinance will create a regulatory mechanism for street vendors “to assure that safety hazards, such as inhibiting the ability of individuals with disabilities and other pedestrians to follow a safe path of travel; public exposure to fire hazards such as open outdoor flames; interference with the performance of police, firefighter, and emergency medical personnel services; and obstacles contributing to congestion for pedestrian, vehicle, and bicycle traffic are mitigated to ensure the public health, safety and welfare of the community.”

The ordinances will be affected immediately. During a 30-day grace period, the city will conduct an outreach program to inform the community about the new regulations. Soon after, a newly formed Division 4 will enforce the new obstruction laws, cite and confiscate the equipment from street vendors.

The new bylaws will also require every street vendor to apply and display a vendor’s permit. If the item for sale is food, they must also complete a food handler’s course through the LA County Department of Public Health and provide a copy of completion.

The Development Service Department will lead the Code Enforcement Division. It will cost the city of Pomona an estimate of $200,000 in overtime pay to ensure street vendors follow the new regulations and it will be appropriated from other city departments like Development Service Code Enforcement, Public Works and the Police Department. 

Community member Greg Estel expressed his gratitude toward the council and the mayor during public comment for setting up oversight over the street vendors in the streets of Pomona.

“We must protect the health of our community, streets, our sidewalks and the future promotion of business by making sure everyone is held to the same standards,” Estel said. “I urge the council to consider implementing this location based ordinance for the benefit of our entire city.”

The new regulations are the result of a report conducted by the Sidewalk Vending subcommittee. After the reports were given to the city council, they directed staff to create an ordinance to address the findings during an Aug. 5 meeting.

Vendors have set up business on the sidewalks of main streets and the city has received a number of complaints from the community reporting restricted sidewalks, walkways, parking lots and streets.

On Oct. 14, 2022, a driver crashed into the curb line and injured 12 people waiting, including one death, while they were waiting for their food or food orders from a vendor.

As a result, the ordinance states the City Planning Division will develop interactive maps that display all sidewalks with restrictions for Sidewalk Vending Districts approved by the city manager.

As a result of the approval of the urgency ordinances, the Business Department of the City of Pomona will create a Sidewalk Vending Program. The new department will be in charge of creating a system to inform the city council of all permits that are allocated, revoked and all the citations that are given.

The program will also be in charge of evaluating all applications and conducting community outreach programs that will provide education on the process of receiving a street vending permit, in Spanish and any other language that is needed.

In a separate ordinance, the city council approved appropriating $16,000 from the general fund in order to cover overtime expenses for public outreach regarding the new restrictions and regulations.

Community member Elinor Crescenzi expressed her concerns about how the regulations will affect the unhoused population setting up tents on sidewalks.

“I was very alarmed by what I saw [on the city council agenda],” Crescenzi said. “I saw an extremely broad policy targeting street vendors, in my mind an aggressive, and inappropriate way, but with very distinct implications for harm against people living in the streets.”

As a result of the concerns Crescenzi and other community members raised, council agreed to redact an item on the list of sidewalk obstructions that could be used against unhoused people.

In a community message board online, Guillermo Gonzalez, who is running for district 4 council, expressed concerns over execution of the newly approved amendments.

“There are several parts of the ordinance that needed work, most of it related to transparency and accountability,” Gonzalez stated. “Given the city’s track record with previous ordinance, I’m not confident they can execute on this ordinance.”

Anthony Solorzano is the freelance writer. He has been pursuing journalism since he realized he hated his job. Anthony loves to tell stories using humor and is passionate about covering his hometown of Pomona. 

Mayor Sandoval Says "Sidewalk Vendors are Going to Co-exist with Our Brick and Mortar Businesses”

Photography & Illustration Julian Lucas Pomona, CA ©2018

Pomona , CA - - For the last 4 months or so, street vendors have been showing up at Pomona City Council meetings addressing the city council, asking them to come up with a solution to legitimize street vending and provide them with a safe space, and for the last 4 months, brick and mortar establishments have also shown up requesting that city council remove the street vendors.

On Monday June 3, 2024, during the city council meeting the group of street vendors were present to address the city council by participating in public comment regarding becoming legitimate and to inquire about a space they spoke about during a meeting with both Mayor Sandoval and council person Victor Preciado. After inquiring about the meeting with a sidewalk entrepreneur who wants to remain nameless did in fact state they had a meeting with both representatives of the council. The sidewalk/street vendors were met with opposition as brick and mortar establishments were also present to push back and requested city council remove the street vendors.

Minerva Hernandez of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce demanded that the Council revive an ordinance dating back to 2018 “which we (chamber of commerce) participated in to help and regulate street vendors.” Hernandez complained that back then, street vendors were everywhere, “all along the downtown area, selling in front of businesses that were already established. “The street vendors took ownership of sidewalks and parking lots of other businesses.” Hernandez reported that she has met with three council members, but nothing has been done. (meeting with 4 would constitute a Brown Act violation.)  Hernandez also mentioned she met with State Senator Rubio who gave advice on revisiting the ordinance.

Monique Robles, president and ceo of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce and the only one of the two staff as stated on the Pomona chamber of commerce’s website, representing brick and mortar businesses, shared the Chamber’s concerns about street vending, mentioning safety issues (she mentioned one fatality related to street vending), sanitary conditions, a lax or non-existent permit and licensing process, lack of accountability and oversight. On the behalf of the local business community, Robles requested that city staff conduct a formal study.

Pomona resident, Greg Estol representing Juanita’s and El Super complained that street vendors are blocking the sidewalk, ruining the landscape, and using the restrooms. Estol asked the city council “when are you going to crack the whip and enforce the law? These people are getting ripped off just like the trash deal and those people are gone, and you will be too.”

Edgard Sanchez, a street vendor, stated he was hurt and ashamed that one group of Hispanics is complaining about another group of Hispanics - targeting people like himself who comes to work selling food on the street. He said that many of them should understand because they arrived here just like us. Sanchez stated he wants to send a message to brick and mortar businesses: “We, the people on the streets selling food are not at fault for what you are going through right now. Times have changed and the economy of the country has also changed. We don’t try to find who is at fault. The only thing we look for is work.”

Another street vendor who spoke said, “We should be supporting each other during these hard times. Maybe the food that the brick and mortar businesses serve is no longer the food the people want to eat. We are bringing food from our country, and maybe they should change because our food is different from theirs.”

After the public had the opportunity to speak, Sandoval stated, “before everyone leaves, I want to say, we are going to co-exist. Sidewalk vendors and brick and mortar businesses are going to co-exist, and we know we can do better, it doesn’t have to be us against them. So all I am saying is we’re going to figure this out, we’re going to figure this out so it works. I’ve been privileged enough to travel to a lot of countries and a lot of big cities and brick and mortar businesses exist alongside sidewalk vendors. All I am saying is we can work together and figure this out. I appreciate the concerns that brick and mortar businesses have because there are costs and I will admit if you have a competitor in front of you with a distinct advantage, we will figure this out.”

Sandoval concluded he was not a part of the meeting that took place with the business community, but stated he is happy to meet with members of the chamber of commerce as he has already met with the sidewalk vendors. “We will figure this out where we can co-exist.”

Yes, in other countries and within the United States sidewalk vendors and brick and mortar businesses co-exist. If you travel just 1000 miles north you’ll end up in Portland, Oregon, where food carts have existed since the 1960s. Now, there are over 500 legal food carts that exist alongside brick and mortar restaurants, including on college campuses. In addition, according to a report by IBIS World Industry from 2023 there were 85,467 Street Vendors businesses in the US, an increase of 19.3% from 2022. In May this year, the World Food Atlas presented to us a look at the best street food around the world. 

It is interesting the amount of separation, or this us vs them that takes place in the city of Pomona. In addition, the lack of understanding that sidewalk vendors put Los Angeles on the map. Historically as mentioned in the history of street vending, chain restaurants such as Carl’s Jr was once a street vendor that sold hot dogs.

The late Anthony Bourdain once said, “Street food, I believe, is the salvation of the human race.” 

We have to ask, what took the mayor of Pomona so long to acknowledge that people who sell food on the streets/sidewalks can co-exist with brick and mortar restaurants? 

Julian Lucas, is a photographer, a purveyor of books, and writer, but mostly a photographer. Don’t ever ask him to take photos of events because he will charge you a lot of money. Julian is also the owner and founder of Mirrored Society Book Shop, publisher of The Pomonan, founder of Book-Store, and founder of PPABF.

The City of Long Beach to Give Away 40 New Street Vending Carts

Long Beach Recovery Act to fund business assistance program during first year of ordinance.

Photography Julian Lucas Pomona, CA 2018

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach, through the Long Beach Recovery Act, is funding a sidewalk vending support program, “Sidewalk to Success,” to help ease the financial burden for small businesses in the first year of the City’s recently approved Sidewalk Vending Ordinance which went into effect late February 2024.

The City Council approved the development of a sidewalk vending support program to cover the costs of the required business license and health permit fees for operating in the first year and provide reimbursements for the first year of insurance costs. Under the Sidewalk to Success Program, all costs will be covered at the time of the application, with the exception of insurance costs, which will be covered through a reimbursement process for an amount not to exceed $450. A second phase of the program is being developed that will provide up to 40 free food vending carts to sidewalk vendors who apply and meet eligibility requirements; actual carts available will depend on the type of carts and program participation. Details on eligibility and how to apply will be shared later this summer once established. 

“Small businesses play a vital role in the expansion of economic development for our City,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “The new Sidewalk Vending Support Program will provide small business owners support and resources to safely serve their Long Beach customers.”

The Sidewalk to Success Program is now available for businesses. All applicants who apply for a sidewalk vendor business license and permit between Feb. 26, 2024, and Feb. 26, 2025, will not have to pay the $300 fee. During this time period, all applicants who also require a health permit and/or plan check will not have to pay the associated fees. All sidewalk vendors will be required to obtain general liability insurance coverage, which is required to be issued a business license. The City will reimburse each approved sidewalk vendor applicant up to $450 for the cost of this coverage upon receipt of the actual cost that is submitted by the vendor between Feb. 26, 2024, to Feb. 26, 2025. The goal of the program is to support sidewalk vendors who are interested in and are eligible to participate in the program. The actual number of vendors and financial support provided may vary depending on the applicants. Depending on the program’s participation levels and outcomes, additional funding may need to be explored.  

More information about the program, including how to apply for a sidewalk vendors business license and how to obtain a health permit from the Long Beach Health Department, is available at longbeach.gov/sidewalkvending. Additionally, the Health Department can be reached at 562.570.4132 for questions on health permits, and the Financial Management Department can be reached at 562.570.6211 for questions on business licenses.

The City’s Inclusive Business Navigators, a program also funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act, provides free business coaching and advising services to Long Beach small businesses. Through this program, the City partners with four community-based organizations to help guide sidewalk vendors through the business license and health permit process, assistance in obtaining the required insurance, among other business assistance and resource needs. Contact information for Inclusive Business Navigators is available at longbeach.gov/biznavigators, or contact BizCare for a direct referral by calling 562.570.4BIZ (4249) or 4Biz@longbeach.gov. Business assistance is available in English, Spanish and Khmer.

The City previously announced a sidewalk vending support program in January 2023 after the Long Beach City Council approved a new sidewalk vending ordinance with a 9 to 0 vote. The ordinance aligns with California’s Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946), which decriminalized sidewalk vending. The City’s sidewalk vending ordinance was developed at the direction of City Council, following extensive outreach.

Sidewalk to Success is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery. The program also aligns with Goal 4 of Long Beach’s Racial and Reconciliation Initiative to improve health and wellness in the City by eliminating social and economic disparities where health outcomes are significantly below city averages.

Long Beach Implements New Rules for Street Vendors

Earlier this year, in an effort to support entrepreneurial and business development opportunities in the city while protecting public health, safety and ADA access, during its Jan. 23, 2024, meeting, the Long Beach City Council approved with a 9 to 0 vote a new sidewalk vending ordinance. This action creates a clear path for those who would like to sell food from compact mobile food operations, more commonly known as food carts, or other merchandise.

“As we grow Long Beach, it’s imperative to find ways to expand business opportunities in the city,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This new ordinance will open a new avenue of opportunities for small businesses while prioritizing public health, accessibility and safety.”

The new ordinance, which will go into effect on Feb. 23, 2024, aligns with California’s Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946), which decriminalized sidewalk vending. The City developed its own sidewalk vending ordinance, at the direction of City Council, following extensive outreach. A sidewalk vendor is a person who sells food or merchandise on a public sidewalk or other pedestrian path from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack or other non-motorized conveyance, or from one’s person. Food vendors are required to obtain a health permit from the Health Department.

A comprehensive handbook and other educational materials will be available by the time the ordinance is in effect. The City is also creating a multi-pronged educational campaign to alert current and potential sidewalk vendors of the new ordinance and the associated requirements, as well as financial assistance opportunities.

"The fruition of this long-awaited ordinance is a significant and historical milestone in the City of Long Beach," said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, who first brought forward the item in hopes of creating a clear pathway for street vendors to be able to obtain a business license so they can thrive while keeping their customers safe. See Ordinances here

Julian Lucas, is a photographer, a purveyor of books, and writer, but mostly a photographer. Don’t ever ask him to take photos of events because he will charge you a lot of money. Julian is also the owner and founder of Mirrored Society Book Shop, publisher of The Pomonan, founder of Book-Store, and founder of PPABF.

Street Vending: Oppressive Past or a Culinary Epicenter for the Future

Published April 1, 2024 | 9:50am PT
Updated 5/9/2024 | 1:37pm PT

Pomona is a city of endless possibilities, but its vices overshadow it. It lies underneath its own dark cloud. However, even its biggest detractors can sense the fragrance of a mosaic city that-never-quite-became-a-metropolis. The striking red pomegranate trees fill the front yards. Limes and oranges grow in the backyards while cactus stand at attention as they climbs over chain link fences.

At this point,  Pomona is past its prime - or between its prime - and has all the vestiges - or the promises - of what once was, or could be, a flourishing city.

Even so, when Pomona flourished in the past, it was never for everyone. Now is the time to rebuild a different Pomona with a different vision.

When a city like Pomona has an abundance of resources, what does the vision for the future look like? Can Pomona be the next mecca of culinary culture? Can Pomona’s farms and street vendors, restaurants collaborate? Or will we continue down the path of separatism, individualism, racism, nepotism, classism, cronyism, and political warring?

Street vendors who serve food are an important aspect of Pomona’s past, present and future. It is over food that people come together. Conversations revolve such things as - ‘the chile is hot as fuck!’ or ‘This is my favorite (mi favorita) spot!’ Everyone can join in, food is a unifier.

The food prepared and served on the streets fuels the city, and the street corner is a place where anyone can go and be immersed in the energy of the culture. On any given night, street vendors bring in a crowd of over 300 people drawing people from the surrounding cities and beyond.

Growing up in the 1980s as a youngster, I came to Los Angeles from the midwest, and I remember how the lunch trucks would line up from their gated lot. Some people called them “roach coaches,’ but I didn’t like that because I felt like they were the coolest thing and that it was such a treat to eat from a truck that sold food.

Photo of Nicholas Martinez
The first documented street vendor

Los Angeles has a long history of street vending. Going back to the 1860s, the first street vendor in Los Angeles was Nicolas Martinez who carried a basket on his head which was split down the middle with wood - one side was tamales and the other side was ice cream. He kept them warm or cool with towels he used to insulate each side. Selling his food in the area around 7th and Spring to Sonoratown, tamales cost 5 cents and ice cream 10 cents. In his arms, Martinez carried water to clean the silverware and glass dishes. 

However, by the 1890s, Martinez faced opposition. In 1892, L.A. officials tried to ban street vending, and, in 1897, L.A. City Council, in response to a letter signed by restaurant owners, proposed not to allow tamaleros to operate before 9pm. However, that didn’t work, and the city realized they had more to gain by extracting revenue from them rather than banning them. By 1901, more than 100 licensed tamale wagons roamed Los Angeles paying one dollar a month for their city business license.

It wasn’t just Latinos who operated the tamale wagons - African-Americans, European immigrants and whites also joined in. In 1905, even the YMCA opened a temporary tamale wagon in order to raise funds so it could send a boy’s track and field team to compete in Portland, Oregon. (ARELLANO, GUSTAVO. Tamales, L.A.’s original street food: LA Times 9/8/201)

These wagons sold everything from oyster cocktails to sandwiches, popcorn to pigs' feet, but most sold tamales cooked elsewhere and kept warm in steam buckets.

The City of Los Angeles again tried to ban street vending, but Council Member Fred Wheeler defended them, stating, “The tamale put Los Angeles on the map, these wagons are an institution of our city, drive these wagons from our streets, never!”

Currently there are over 50,000 street vendors in Los Angeles, 10k of which sell food. It is estimated to be a 500 million dollar industry, creating over 5000 jobs.

In a 2018 Curbed article it was reported, in 2012, the late famed food critic Jonathan Gold was asked to be a part of Los Angeles Food Policy Council. Jonathan insisted on including street vendors as a critical part of LA’s food system. At that time members of the council formed the LA Street Vendor Coalition the same year, with a goal to propose an ordinance to legalize street vending. Rudy Espinoza, the executive director of Leadership for Urban Renewal Network who is part of the coalition, remembers Jonathan tearing up after hearing a presentation to the task force about how vendors were being targeted by law enforcement.” “When he heard that some of the entrepreneurs he frequented were being criminalized, he was visibly emotional and in shock that the city would target these entrepreneurs,” Rudy remembers. “He recognized that the best food was often found in low-income neighborhoods and was made by street vendors.”

In February of this year, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously 15-0 approved two ordinances governing sidewalk food vendors. The board also approved a program to help cover the permit expenses associated with the new regulations.

Supervisor Hilda Solis estimates that there are roughly 10,000 sidewalk vendors selling food in the county - most of them coming from Latino or other communities of color. Solis, in her statement after Tuesday’s final vote, emphasized that it is important to both foster and celebrate these micro-entrepreneurial efforts, reminding everyone that if the county’s financial barriers are too high it will cause the system to collapse:

"Sidewalk vending, including food vending, represents an integral part of the cultural and civic fabric of Los Angeles County, This is especially true in the First District, where communities like East Los Angeles have long been a hub for food vending. For many residents, especially those from low-income or immigrant communities, food vending represents one of the few economic pathways to attain financial independence and stability."

“With this ordinance, for the first time in recent memory, L.A. County sidewalk vendors now have a legal path to build their business and help grow our regional economy,” “As we celebrate this milestone, we’re grateful to the Board and the Department of Economic Opportunity for their ongoing commitment to a comprehensive set of programs to remove barriers, reduce costs, and promote greater economic inclusion.”

The same day, the Los Angeles City Council voted to give vendors in the city significant relief from what would have been a $541 annual fee for permits to conduct business, and approved lowering their cost.

The new law supports individuals in legally operating a sidewalk vending business on sidewalks and pedestrian pathways in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. The Board’s action codifies the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (Senate Bill 946), passed in 2019 to decriminalize sidewalk vending in the State of California and to allow local authorities to develop guidelines and infrastructure to formalize the sidewalk vending industry. The County law specifically creates a Sidewalk Vending Program run by the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), a Sidewalk Vending Registration Certificate and annual fee for all mobile and stationary vendors, clear operating rules and regulations related to distancing, hours, and waste disposal, and fines and other penalties for non-compliance. The law will go into effect in August 2024. LA County

  • The first ordinance that the board approved specifies the conditions that must be met in order for "compact mobile food operations," or smaller businesses that operate using carts or other non-motorized equipment, to obtain a health permit. All vendors inside the county will be subject to the legislation, with the exception of those in Vernon, Long Beach, and Pasadena, as those cities have their own health departments. Recently, Long Beach's own ordinance on sidewalk selling was enacted.

  • Under the LA county ordinance, obtaining a health permit will require the vendor to pay an initial fee, ranging from $309 for a low-risk operation selling pre-packaged food to $1,186 for higher-risk vendors who prepare and sell hot food, such as a taco stand or hot dog cart. Vendors will then have to pay ongoing annual fees ranging from $226 to $1,000, depending on the type of vending.

To that end, supervisors approved a related motion from Supervisor Hilda Solis that would make low-income street vendors in unincorporated county areas eligible for a 75% fee subsidy.

A Historical Perspective: Street Vending as an Economic Pathway

Pink’s Hot Dogs
Pink’s started out in 1939 by Paul and Betty Pink, with a pushcart they purchased for $50, with money they borrowed from Betty’s mother. The land on which the pushcart stood was leased by Paul and Betty for $15 per month. They used a long extension cord they plugged into a hardware stores outlet to power the heating mechanism to heat the hot dogs. They sold hot dogs for 10 cents and cokes for a nickel. Pink’s offered curb service, and sold 100 hot dogs a day.

Carl's Jr. (The Blimp)
Carl N. Karcher, started his business with his wife, Margaret, from $15 of his own savings and $311 he borrowed on his car. In 1941, they purchased a hot dog cart (The Blimp) in L.A, and soon grew their small business, eventually expanding the Carl’s Jr. The chain became one of the first in a new breed of restaurants that formed the quick-service restaurant industry.

Don Miguel
In 1906, Alejandro Morales, from Sonora, Mexico, began selling his wife's tamales from a tamale wagon in Anaheim. Morales, who was a ditch-digger by trade, eventually developed the concept into a restaurant, then a factory that made tamales, and ultimately Alex Foods, a multibillion-dollar company that is now known as Don Miguel Mexican Foods.

Guerrilla Tacos
Guerrilla Tacos started its journey as an illegal street corner cart, which evolved into a legit food truck, and then a brick-and-mortar location in the heart of the Arts District in DTLA.

Wes Avila was employed as a sous chef at Le Comptoir, a pop-up eatery. Avila claims he wasn't making enough money to pay his rent because it was only open for business four days a week. So he purchased a basic food cart. His final $167 was spent on ingredients. Subsequently, he and a companion started vending tacos in the downtown Los Angeles artists district, lacking the necessary health department permits. He moved to different locations in a guerilla-warfare manner in order to avoid risking being fined. Availa states in an interview, "That's why we had that name, because we'd be in random alleys, random streets, being kind of renegade like that.” 

Photography Julian Lucas Pomona, CA 2018

Being the 7th largest city in southern California as well as the touted “compassionate city”, can Pomona leaders take an initiative and a progressive approach or mirror the model of other cities to create policies that support and offer street vendors a seat at the table? Will Pomona residents support the efforts of its leaders in creating such supportive policies? Can the community come to an understanding that street vending can be the stepping stone to a culinary mecca?

LINKS
LA County
Los Angeles Times
Curbed LA

Julian Lucas, is a photographer, a purveyor of books, and writer, but mostly a photographer. Don’t ever ask him to take photos of events because he will charge you a lot of money. Julian is also the owner and founder of Mirrored Society Book Shop, publisher of The Pomonan, founder of Book-Store, and founder of PPABF.

A Time for Mourning

Photography Julian Lucas

Text and Photography by Julian Lucas
Published 8:00 a.m. PST

Pomona - Sunday family and friends gather to mourn the loss of Gilberto Cazares Payan, 52. Mr. Payan was picking up dinner at the local taco stand.

Reports explain a motorist was driving east bound on Holt Ave veered into the left lane, jumping onto the curb and driving into a crowded sidewalk into a taco stand at about 7:45 p.m. on Friday resulting in the loss of life of Mr. Payan and injuring 12 other people. The driver evaded the scene, but soon returned to turn themselves in. The driver was arrested and faces charges of suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and hit-and-run causing death or injury.

Activists, family and friends will speak out at the next Pomona city council meeting in regards to protections for street vendors and the public who patronize them. Join in solidarity and make your voice heard October 17, 2022 at 6 p.m.

A gofundme has been set up after the tragic loss. See the fundraiser here.

Julian Lucas, is fine art photographer, photojournalist, creative strategist, and writer in training. Julian has lived in Chicago, Inglewood, Portland, and the suburbs of Los Angeles County including Pomona.

The Inaugural Food Cart Week Has Begun!

Text & Photography Julian Lucas
Published 6-27-2022 6Am PST

Portland, OR—If you're in the Northwest, here's your opportunity to sample a variety of food and drink events in the Portland region, including Portland's inaugural Food Cart Week, which celebrates the city's exquisite food culture. The event was organized in partnership with Travel Portland partnered with The Oregonian. Earlier this month on April 6, 2022, Portland’s city council declared April to be Food Cart Month.

In attendance, 5 prominent Portland Chefs who engaging in a tasting session to benefit No Kid Hungry at FINEX Cast Iron Cookware factory this week. Chefs Carlo Lamagna of Magna, The Oregonian's 2021 Restaurant of the Year, Karl Holl of Smith Teamaker, Troy Maclarty of Bollywood Theater, Thomas Pisha-Duffly of Gado Gado, and Scott Dolich of Stone Soup PDX will be serving local beer, wine, cocktails, and zero-proof beverages for $50 per person, with all proceeds benefiting No Kid Hungry.

A List of Food Cart Pods: Slabtown, Cartlandia, Carts on Foster, Fifth Avenue, Eastport Food Center, Cartside, Killingsworth Station, Cart Blocks, PSU Blocks (Portland State University), Park the Carts, Pioneer Courthouse Square Barley Pod, Hawthorne Asylum, Portland Mercado, Cartopia, Prost Marketplace, Rose City Food Park, St. Johns Food and Beers Porch, and The Lot at John’s Marketplace, and Nob Hill.

Julian Lucas, is fine art photographer, photojournalist, and creative strategist. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking homeless veterans to housing. Julian has lived in Chicago, Inglewood, Portland, and the suburbs of Los Angeles County including Pomona.

Review: Italia Pasta e Pizza

Italia Pasta e Pizza Covina CA
Photography Julian Lucas

Text & Photos Julian Lucas
Published January 4, 2022, 6:40 Am PST

King Umberto I of Savoy and Queen Margherita of Savoy paid a visit to Naples in 1889. Esposito prepared a pizza in the Italian flag colors of red (tomatoes), white (mozzarella), and green (arugula) (basil leaves). This is what we now refer to as a classic Neapolitan pizza.

Who would have guessed? A rarity, a gem, almost like finding your most precious piece of jewelry in a haystack-true Italian has arrived in the region. Chef Antonio and his son Ivan are the creators of the classic, finally! And why wouldn’t they be? The family-owned restaurant or street restaurant is from southern Italy, Naples. A city perched right on the Bay of Naples where pizza originated.

Pizza, omnipresent, and usually not great. A pizza street vendor? Not too common. Served as a personal pizza, “Italia Pasta e Pizza is an arrival of the definitive. This street vendor has been holding down the block of Arrow Hwy Glendora Blvd in Covina, CA. The family-owned business has become very popular and has been feeding the people for the last 6 months.

If you understand pizza, you know it begins with the dough, and from the result, it was virtuous. The Salsiccia was hmm how can I explain, Fantastic! Fabulous! Omg! The fat from the sausage, the nutty mushroom, and the spice yet sweet taste of the basil, outstanding! But it didn’t stop there.

The Calzone is a definite spectacle, a thin-crusted oven-charred medium-sized treasure. The sweetness from the Salame and tomato sauce, fresh basil, and showering of mozzarella, a folded crust sparingly dressed with sprinkles of cheese and basil leaves.

The Margherita, the classic, the essence of spirituality, the tomato sauce, the mozzarella, and the fresh basil will leave you wanting more. You will go back the next day, again and again. You’ll need a therapist because you will develop a habit, an addiction chasing the dragon. You want it, you need it! It’s oh so good!

If you still have room left, you may want to try the Tiramisu if it isn’t sold out.

Julian Lucas, is fine art, documentary photographer, and photojournalist. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking unhoused individuals to housing. Julian has lived in Chicago, Inglewood, Portland, and the suburbs of Los Angeles County including Pomona.

Smorgasburg Los Angeles has Returned!

Photography Julian Lucas 2021

Photography Julian Lucas 2021

Text & Photography Julian Lucas

Smorgasburg L.A. is back in action! It was exciting to stroll through the myriad of restaurant booths and pop-up shops this past weekend. Last year the food market gathering temporarily closed due to none other than Covid-19 back in mid-March of 2020. But the experience was like it never closed and it was back to normal in many way, minus many people with face coverings.

You can look forward to Smorgasburg being open every Sunday, with hundreds of food sellers that will return to the ROW DTLA. You’ll also find over 80 eateries and artisans returning from prior years, but there will also be new food booths to sample as well.

From the looks of the long lines some of the food favorites were Lobsterdamus, Burritos La Palma, and if you enjoy birria de chivo The Goat Mafia out of Compton California was exceptional! Other Smorgasburg greats included Wanderlust Creamery, I love Micheladas, and Little Lama Peruvian Tacos, and many other excellent food joints to partake in.

Julian Lucas, is fine art photographer, photojournalist, and creative strategist. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking homeless veterans to housing. Julian has lived in Chicago, Inglewood, Portland, and the suburbs of Los Angeles County including Pomona.

Street Vendors United Will Host the First Street Vendors Market

Photography Julian Lucas Pomona, CA 2018

Photography Julian Lucas Pomona, CA 2018

Text Julian Lucas

Wendy Guardado, director and founder of Street Vendors United, based in Los Angeles, explains that, unfortunately, nimbyism exists and street-vendors are often the targets. She maintains that they are constantly exposed to harassment and physical attacks, and that she founded Street Vendors United in 2017 to shine a positive light on street-vending. Many street-vendors are currently working under conditions where they feel stressed and/or invisible. Many report that they feel like they are talked down to. All this sparked Wendy’s organization to come together with community members to create a space for street vendors to exist without all the stressors.

Currently, her organization will host the 1st Annual Street Vendors Market at Mariachi Plaza in the Boyle Heights district of Los Angeles June 27th 2021. The market will include over 15 street vendors with all types of food and drinks. There will also be performances and talks by Royal Roots, Mr. Paine, and many other artists.

After a short interview Ms. Guardado explains that in spite of all the difficulties and obstacles - involving city and private regulations - her organization was able to create a space for them by obtaining all the proper permits. She reports that creating this platform for them took away much of their stress and they were grateful for all the support they received.

In an article published last year there was mentioned of having street vendors move into an open lot along with other food entities such as food carts:

(Lucas 2020) I have seen, heard, and read many people complain so much about the street vendors. Ok, so here is a plan of action: let’s lower the fees, making it fair for them to be in business, have the street vendors purchase or use their food carts, and allow street vendors move into a space in an open lot, along with other food carts. This will make the complainers of street vendors happy since we should be focusing on community. The Pomonan

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HISTORY
In the later part of the 19th century, after California became recognized as a state in 1850, street vending grew widespread amongst Mexican and Chinese immigrants. Of course cities sought to limit its mobility by 1890, but the food was always too appealing to patrons.

Street vending has a long history that stretches back to the ancients when food was prepared on the streets as part of the beginning of civilization, and it is unlikely to disappear any time soon. Ancient Greeks mentioned the practice of Egyptians frying fish and selling it on the street at the Port of Alexandria between the Mediterranean Sea and Mariut Lake. In the later part of the 19th century, after California became recognized as a state in 1850, street vending grew widespread amongst Mexican and Chinese immigrants. Of course cities sought to limit its mobility by 1890, but the food was always too appealing to patrons.

In an article published by Fee.org stated, street vending prospered in American since the 1600’s. “By 2007, street-vending businesses throughout the country generated revenues in excess of $40 billion. Vendors in Atlanta alone brought nearly $250 million to their local economy.” Street vending boomed after the 2008 recession with new regulations following thereafter. Fast forward to 2021, the US market size for the street vendors industry is $1.7 billion.

Today we are seeing more and more street vendors, in part, because people have lost their jobs or they can only find low-paying ones. It's a work-around for entrepreneurs who don't have the financial means to operate out of a brick-and-mortar.

Some of these street vendors work in poorer neighborhoods, but some “foodie pop ups” can be found in neighborhoods that have flipped as a result of gentrification. These pop ups mostly cater more to the younger generation who may not have the financial means to go to a brick and mortar. Or it can be a life-style choice - 'grab and go' as opposed to 'sit-down.'

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Julian Lucas, is fine art photographer, photojournalist, and creative strategist. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking homeless veterans to housing. Julian has lived in Chicago, Inglewood, Portland, and the suburbs of Los Angeles County including Pomona.

MEET THE ELOTERO JUAN OF POMONA

Julian Lucas 2020

Julian Lucas 2020

Text & Photography Julian Lucas

I wanted to take the time to highlight Juan the Elortero who rides his bike throughout the communities of Pomona selling elote, raspados, and more. My Spanish isn’t that great, however, I was able to speak to Juan and ask him a couple of questions.

Juan is a Pomona resident and has been living in Pomona for 6 years. He has also been working as an elotero for the last 6 years. Juan explained most of his family is still in Mexico and will join him here once he has saved enough money. Juan also explained during the summer months the raspados are the best selling item, although the corn isn’t too far behind.

If you see Juan riding through the neighborhood make sure you say hello and support!