Today (5/6), DC food trucks are protesting the proposed food truck regulations by showing what will happen with Farragut Square if the restrictive regulations are passed: no food trucks are serving in the square.

Make your voice be heard here!

UPDATE: Some background on the issues.

UPDATE #2: The official press release is copied at the bottom of this post.

Photo credit

Food Trucks Gather in Heart of Downtown to Serve No Food

Day Without a Food Truck Shows Future if Mayor Gray’s Proposed Regulations are Adopted

WASHINGTON, DC –Food trucks today gathered at one of the city’s most popular food truck destinations – and served no food – to show the District a glimpse into the future if Mayor Vincent Gray’s proposed new food truck regulations are adopted.

Seventeen food trucks organized the event, called Day Without A Food Truck, at Farragut Square. Food truck owners asked supporters to write to DC Council and urge them to reject Mayor Gray’s proposed regulations.

“We’re showing the District the serious consequences of Mayor Gray’s proposal,” said Doug Povich, chairman of the Food Truck Association of Metropolitan Washington and Co-owner of Red Hook Lobster Pound-DC. “If passed, these regulations result in fewer choices and less competition, food trucks shutting down and food truck employees losing jobs.”

Supporters can write a letter to the DC Council at www.SaveDCFoodTrucks.org. The council will hold a hearing about the proposed regulations on Friday.

Mayor Gray has proposed severe restrictions on where food trucks can serve customers, including:

• Forcing food trucks into a limited number of lottery-assigned locations at Farragut Square and other popular food truck destinations;
• Banning food trucks within 500 feet of lottery-assigned spaces; and
• Banning food trucks where there is less than 10 feet of unobstructed sidewalk.

“The proposed restrictions have little to do with protecting public health and safety, and everything to do with restricting competition and consumer choice,” Povich said.

The food trucks organized Day Without A Food Truck at Farragut Square because it’s an area of the District with both a thriving food truck community and brick-and-mortar restaurant industry. More than a dozen food trucks on a typical weekday gather at Farragut Square and serve thousands of meals a week. At the same time, two new brick-and-mortar restaurants have opened across the street from Farragut Square within the last year.

“Food trucks are a great thing for Farragut Square,” Povich said. “We are a great use of public space, generate revenue for the city, and the surrounding businesses benefit from the increased food traffic the food trucks bring here.”

Food Trucks Participating in Day Without A Food Truck::

BBQ Bus

Borinquen Lunch Box

Chef Driven

Curbside Cupcakes

DC Ballers

DC Empanadas

DC Slices

Fojol Bros.

KaftaMania

Mojo Truck

PhoWheels

PORC

Red Hook Lobster Pound-DC

Something Stuffed

Stix

TaKorean

That Cheesecake Truck

About the Food Truck Association of Metropolitan Washington

The Food Truck Association is a group of more than 60 local food truck owner-operators. We seek to sustain the wellbeing of our industry, foster a sense of community and work in partnership to improve food truck regulations. We are engaged community members who deeply care about our city and believe in working together to make a positive impact. The Food Truck Association’s signature event is the Curbside Cookoff food truck festival series. For more information visit www.DCFoodTrucks.org.