PORTSMOUTH, VA – Another city in the country is beginning to analyize the idea of allowing food trucks within their borders and on their main streets. In Portsmouth, VA the story is starting the same way it has in many other cities across the country…a city council member throwing out a false narrative which has been proven incorrect over the last 5 years.
This snippet from hamptonroad.com:
The City Council is considering whether to allow food trucks on public and private property throughout the city.
City staff presented a report on the issue, which was met with little enthusiasm by council members, at a work session Monday.
Councilman Bill Moody Jr. said altering regulations to allow the trucks could hurt restaurants. He also wondered whether they could pose health risks.
Council members agreed to further explore the issue by setting up a task force of city officials and others.
Current regulations do not allow for food trucks, according to a report prepared by city officials.
Attention to the Portsmouth City Council:
Competition breeds better restaurants. It doesn’t close them. If a restaurant is worried about trucks making better food, they should cook better food or provide better service. They have  roofs, walk-in seating and a full staff.
Food trucks are no less safe to the public than any restaurant in your city. Not only is the truck inspected, but in cities where a truck is required to use a commercial kitchen, those kitchens are also inspected.
Get on Board the Food Truck Revolution
While the above quoted article also mentions that there has only been a single applicant for food truck registration, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a need to modify your current rules to allow food trucks in your city.
By allowing this one truck to begin operating, you will open up a set of flood gates which will invite additional culinary entrepreneurs to get their business plans put together. Food trucks don’t create competition with restaurants in most cases…the industry that should be concerned is the one centered around city employees bringing in brown bag lunches.
Give your constituents more choices…don’t limit their options because you want to protect a segment of the food industry that does not need political protection.
