The Los Angeles County program, with a $6.8 million budget, promised to deliver 200 free food carts to street vendors this summer.
However, officials say the carts will not be ready this year.
The Los Angeles County program, aimed at supporting mobile vendors with carts certified by the Department of Public Health, emerged in 2021 during the pandemic under the direction of the department of economic opportunity. This effort sought to allow vendors to operate legally on the streets.
However, after years of waiting and more than $700,000 spent informing sellers, the carts have not yet been built.
This delay has been criticized by the company Revolution Carts, who allege that their offers of help in producing the carts have been rejected by the authorities.
“Those affected are the sellers, right? We have been doing giveaways thanks to sponsors and we have to talk to these vendors every day and we see grannies who want to go out and sell something legally and can’t, because they are afraid that their food will be thrown away,” said Richard Gomez, engineer for revolution carts.
When questioning Los Angeles Supervisor Janice Hahn about the delay, she expressed that she shares the frustration generated by the wait. But she assured that everything possible is being done to have them delivered soon.
Beverly Estrada, a tamale vendor, says she fears for the future of other vendors waiting for carts.
“It’s like his life is on hold,” Estrada said.
Estrada received a cart through a donation, which as you can see, has all the certificates to operate legally and she tells us that she went from selling 50 tamales per day, up to 400.
“So it’s like I have a mobile restaurant and that opportunity is very great for one, so one can give a better future to one’s children or family,” Estrada said.
“So it gives more confidence to buy and we also know that the city is not going to bother them and they have the support and what they have offered, we hope they fulfill it, so that everyone can also have a livelihood for their home,” said Jose. Cardenas, resident of Los Angeles.
It continues to await a response from the Department of Economic Opportunity, which has only stated that the carts are expected to be ready in early 2025.
