With the San Bernardino County Supervisors voting last year to lessen restrictions on food trucks, it appears we are on the cusp of being able to enjoy what folks in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties are able to enjoy every day.
However, one legislator is looking to put the brakes on the food truck industry statewide before it even gets started here.
27th District Assemblyman Bill Monning (D-Carmel) introduced on Valentine’s Day a bill (AB 1678) that would prohibit food trucks from operating within 1,500 feet (more than a quarter of a mile) of elementary and secondary schools from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on days when school is in session.
Think about that for a moment.
That’s restricting one particular type of business from doing business for an entire half day based on their location.
The goal is to increase student health, according to a quote from Monning’s website.
“All students deserve access to healthful food. The mobile vending of unhealthful snacks like ice cream, chips, and sugar sweetened beverages near school campuses undermines efforts to provide students with the nutrition they need,” stated Assemblymember Monning. “At a time when childhood obesity is at epidemic levels, we must ensure that our school environments foster student wellness.”
If that’s the goal, why not introduce a bill to eliminate ice cream, chips and sugar-sweetened beverages on campus? Why punish business owners?
But it’s not just about nutrition, Monning claims. It’s about safety:
Mobile vending near school campuses incentivizes students to leave
school grounds, which increases students’ exposure to off-campus hazards
such as heavily trafficked streets.
Never mind that students could be equally endangered if they leave campus and head to the McDonald’s or the 7-Eleven down the street, which will, of course, remain open even if AB 1678 passes.
Luckily, AB 1678 has a long way to go before it passes, if ever.
Click here to read the language of the bill as introduced. Click here to read Assemblyman Monning’s reasoning for introducing it. The latter link lists his office numbers on the left-hand side and a link to email him on the right, in case you want voice your opinion on the matter.