Cleaning Up the Taco Carts
None by KCPW
SLC Council Considers New Rules
(KCPW News) More than 10 years ago, Salt Lake City began allowing street vendors to sell tacos and hot dogs as a way to increase pedestrian traffic downtown. Today complaints from a few neighboring businesses have prompted the City to reexamine its street cart policies. KCPW's Julie Rose reports:
The popular taco carts and street vendors around Salt Lake City may soon be forced to clean up their acts. The City Council tonight is considering new rules requiring the vendors to more frequently scrub the sidewalks where they sell their wares and take down the unsightly tarps they use in cold, hot or windy weather.
The changes were motivated by complaints from a few businesses near 8th South and State Street. Shop owners say they are tired of grease-stained sidewalks, strong odors and loitering customers.
Restroom access poses another problem. Vendors must have an agreement with a neighboring business for restroom access during the entire time the cart is open for business. But taco carts routinely do their best business well past 9 p.m. when most nearby shops close. If the ordinance passes, street vendors will have to prove their compliance by reapplying for a business license.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW
1. Miguel Rovira said:
I believe that the taco stands should maintain their area clean and commercial degreaser is not that expensive. However, the taco stands provide an epicurean relief from our standard fast food fare and at very reasonable prices. Even our Governor frequents the stands on 8th and State. If other businesses are complaining it is probably because the taco stands are taking clients away from them.
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