Proposal targets roadside vendorsNew N. Charleston law would force stands to move around By Warren Wise (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Carlos Reyna sells tacos, tortillas and fajitas every night from a mobile food wagon in the parking lot of Gas 'N Go at Rivers and Aviation avenues. Hubert Hair has been selling fruit and vegetables from a roadside stand near Trident Technical College about three times a week for nine years. Pretty soon, they might not be at those locations so often. 
Wade Spees Carlos Reyna has served Mexican staples from his food wagon at the corner of Rivers and Aviation avenues for two years but says that if North Charleston enacts a law restricting his stays in one location, he might have to look for another job. North Charleston is cracking down on taco wagons, fruit vendors, shrimp salesmen and anyone else who operates a transient business on private property beside a road. A new law would allow transient businesses to operate at the same location no more than 12 times each year. The measure could gain initial approval as early as next week. Reyna is not sure what he will do if the proposal passes. "Maybe I look for another job," said the Mexican immigrant who has been here for four years. "This pays for everything. This is my life." Mayor Keith Summey and City Council members say it's not fair for temporary businesses unfixed to any property to operate at the same location 365 days a year and not meet the requirements for parking, buffering, landscaping, lighting and setbacks that permanently fixed businesses do. "They are using transient rules to avoid permanent fees for fixed locations," Deputy City Attorney Derk Van Raalte said. "(The law) will take away the ability for them to abuse the system." City Council already has given the measure its blessing at the committee level. "People are creating permanent positions in locations with transient licenses," Summey said. "They are just going to have to abide by the rules." Transient vendors still would be able to operate in the city all year long, Van Raalte said, but they would have to move around to 30 locations a year if they want to continue doing business. Code enforcement officers would keep track of which vendors are at what locations. If someone is at a location more than 12 times, the vendor could lose his license. Reyna pays $200 a month in rent to use the spot at the gas station. "Maybe I speak with the bank and find a building and open a restaurant," said Reyna, who sold his restaurant in San Luis Potosi in Mexico and moved to America with his wife and two teenage children. "There is a better life over here." Hair, 62, a retired shipyard crane operator, doesn't like the proposed new law. "If a man gives me permission to set up on his land, how can they tell me he can't?" Hair says the city needs a policy to regulate mobile food vendors who have popped up all over the city, but he says the city should be fair. "If you treat all of us equal, I have no complaints," Hair said. "If you let other people do this, that and the other, then that's not right. I'm not doing anything wrong. I just want to make enough money so I can go fishing." Summey said no one group is being targeted. "We have to deal with it fairly and equitably across the board," the mayor said. |
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Comments
This article has 13 comment(s)
Posted by ForPnC on March 22, 2008 at 6:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't buy food from trailers or car trunks.
Posted by dbeast420 on March 22, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I won't buy prepared food from them either but some of the best,freshest vegetables can be found at these little roadside vendors
Posted by pavrett on March 22, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like this proposal but there are exceptions. The folks with the hot dog vendors that service large work areas durning lunch for instance. They are not like this burrito bus who stays open hours on end. If a food vendor comes into a large work area and then leaves after the lunch rush I have no issue. These people who stay open like a restaurant I take issue with.
Posted by BILLYBOB on March 22, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HUBERT HAIR IS IN IT FOR FISHING MONEY??
IF YOU BELIEVE THIS YOU DON'T KNOW HUBBIE!!
Posted by KidYendor on March 22, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have bought many tacos and other items at these roadside trucks and have not been disappointed. I like the authentic flavor and spiciness. The food is great and cheap. I don't go to chain taco places anymore. Does 12 times mean 12 days a year? The vendors should get more time than that but they should move around. Illegals can be easily watched and checked out by INS agents at these places.
Posted by ForPnC on March 22, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Totally off topic -
Have you ever noticed that during the weekend there aren't nearly as many comments? Must be nice to be paid while reading the paper at work!
Posted by ForPnC on March 22, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thomas - The IRS is busy coming after folks like you and I. You know, the ones that bother to take time to file taxes and aren't trying to dodge them.
Posted by sumDJiam on March 22, 2008 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder if these rules will apply to dealers who stand on the same corner everyday/night????????????????
Posted by bpwnz on March 23, 2008 at 4:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are a bunch of these trucks on Rivers. They always seem to be busy, so they must be doing something right. If they're paying taxes let them stay. The trucks are no more of an eyesore than the Gas 'N Go itself. The P&C could do a story on their men's bathroom alone.
Posted by sixcar on March 23, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"If a man gives me permission to set up on his land, how can they tell me he can't?"
people, remove your blinders will you!
This is nothing more than an overreaching government interfering with a mans freedom to provide for his own. If these vendors have a license to operate in the city, they are in fact paying taxes. You can't get a licenses without a tax ID. If you don't have one, they use your social security number.
Mr. Hair's comment is spot-on, and everyone reading this story should be calling city hall and demanding N.Charleston to back off! Doesn't anyone around here value individual freedom anymore?
Posted by ForPnC on March 23, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
8theistic - I've never commented to you before but find myself almost always in agreement with you. btw - LOVE the screen name!
Question though, What is a Messyskin?
Posted by ForPnC on March 23, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know... I just now got it. LOL!
Posted by JohnS on March 23, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Most of these outfits are self contained trucks. Nothing is left after they close. I agree if you are on private property and have the necessary bus/DHEC lic I don't see a problem. It's not like the folks are on highway right of way or doing this in a zoned residential neighborhood. The trucks I have seen are in commerical parking lots. This plan will make things worse. If this law passes you will see these folks parked anywhere and everywhere until someone runs them off.