Police raid ‘Food Truck Wednesday’ in Virginia Highland
Atlanta Police arrived at this week’s Food Truck Wednesday in Virginia Highland and issued citations to five different trucks for the lack of proper permits.
Bettie Cagle, who organizes of the weekly food truck gathering, stepped away from the park for a few minutes, returning around 8:15 p.m. to find two police officers in the park checking permits for each of the vendors. The permits in question – the City of Atlanta business licenses that requires a vendor must have a license for each specific address they operate from – appear to be the same ones that led to the temporary closing of the Atlanta Food Truck Park this May.
“It is not a health or safety issue. These guys are fully permitted and follow all of the health regulation codes,” said Cagle, “but when you are at an event and the police come and shut it down, there is a lot of speculation, which makes me nervous for the trucks.”
The officers that arrived on the scene explained that they were responding to a complaint, but, at the time, did not explain the nature of the complaint or who filed it. However, I spoke with Officer John Chafee of the Public Affairs unit of the APD, who explained that “Our License and Permits Unit was responding to an anonymous complaint regarding food trucks operating in the Virginia Highlands area.”
Cagle, who also organizes the relatively new Smyrna Food Truck Tuesdays, went on to say that many of the suburban cities are coming out as much more supportive of food trucks, and that has many vendors looking outside the perimeter as a safe haven from the convoluted processes that vendors must deal with in the City of Atlanta.
“I really think it is why the trucks are migrating out of the city,” Cagle explained, “because I think Atlanta is theoretically behind it, but there aren’t a lot of processes in place.” Cagle said that the recent events in Smyrna have been drawing crowds as large as 1,000 people.
All five of the trucks that were cited were shut down for the remainder of the evening, which constituted over half of the trucks in attendance. Cagle confirmed that Food Truck Wednesday will go on next week as planned.
- By Jon Watson, Food & More blog
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
91 comments Add your comment
Frank
August 24th, 2012
6:09 am
Why would anyone eat food made in a truck????
Kirk
August 24th, 2012
6:23 am
@ frank:
You take the food to where the people are. Truck, kitchen, what’s the difference?
ted
August 24th, 2012
6:56 am
So, who will win the pool on which across-the-street restaurant is the anonymous complainer? Osteria? American Roadhouse?
Joeintown
August 24th, 2012
7:15 am
Has to be American Roadhouse. Their food sucks.
LargeLeon
August 24th, 2012
8:11 am
Dang it Atlanta, quit trying to stifle foodtrucks….
Nick
August 24th, 2012
8:30 am
The person who made the “complaint” against the food trucks is probably the same person who made the “complaint” against the Atlanta Eagle and more than likely “complains” about every little thing in his/her life. Some people are never pleased no matter what.
My bet is American Roadhouse
August 24th, 2012
8:40 am
I agree with ted
Sarafina
August 24th, 2012
8:40 am
I’m very glad the Atlanta Police Department has nothing else to do but bust food truck evil-doers. So all the murder and mayhem has been taken care of and they’ve moved on to bigger and better things, yes?
Jeff
August 24th, 2012
8:41 am
raiding a food truck, dont they have better things to do? i dunno, gangs, drugs, home invasions….
Smokewagon
August 24th, 2012
8:42 am
I don’t know why these hard working people even fool witht he City of Atlanta. Come on out to the burbs where we are smart enought not to strangle you in bureaucratic red tape.
Jon Watson
August 24th, 2012
8:43 am
@Joeintown – I still don’t know who file the complaint, but I will say that American Roadhouse closes at 3pm. Since they don’t compete with the food truck park, I’d be very surprised it they called in the complaint.
Not a racist
August 24th, 2012
8:45 am
There might be an occasional crime or two in Clayton County…..
Jerry
August 24th, 2012
8:47 am
It’s not just food trucks. I know somebody who has been trying to start a tour of Atlanta. The permitting process has been onerous at best. It almost seems that at every corner they turn they have to get a new permit just to get started.
If the City of Atlanta ever wants to understand why more mom and pop businesses don’t open in the city, just walk down the hall and look at the permit process to start a business in Atlanta.
Rupricht
August 24th, 2012
8:50 am
Frank, if your thought is that the operations are not sanitary – think again. The professional standards for quality control are most likely better than those in your own kitchen. Give it a rest.
markie mark
August 24th, 2012
8:52 am
the only crime in Clayton county will be perpetrated by their new sheriff…..the citizens of Clayton must be so proud….
Tim
August 24th, 2012
8:56 am
Frank…people eat sandwiches made at a gas station!
http://www.facebook.com/notquitedevils
Elvis Prez
August 24th, 2012
8:57 am
Having just spent 16 hours over 4 days sitting in the building department of COA, trying to obtain a permit for a small landscaping job. I find it amazing anything ever gets built in this town. The food truck permit debacle is just another example of the COA picking low hanging fruit. How about concentrating on fighting real crime, rather than stifling innovation and ideas that might actually make this city a better place to live. Total BS
joe
August 24th, 2012
8:59 am
“All right…Shakedown!” ATL PD = Barney Fife
Police Break Up Atlanta Area Food Truck Event | Mobile Cuisine | Gourmet Food Trucks, Carts and Street Eats
August 24th, 2012
9:03 am
[...] Find the entire article byJon Watson at ajc.com <here> [...]
Devie Dev
August 24th, 2012
9:05 am
Seriously City of Atlanta?!? I guess that if the money isn’t being secrelty fed into your pocket, you want nothing of it huh? Those operating the food trucks are just tyring to make a living and provide the citizens of YOUR city a new, hip alternative to dining out. Let them be. They drive a TRUCK. It has WHEELS there for, it is MOBILE. Change your policies/practices to those that make sense, if the definition of that word is known.
Alison of a Gun
August 24th, 2012
9:08 am
I thought about getting a food truck business started a couple years ago. Until I took the class by the Atlanta Street Food Coalition and learned how insane the rules here are. No thanks! I’ll stay at my desk job and then move to a real city some day…
Dave
August 24th, 2012
9:09 am
This is one reason it’s nice to live in Orlando now and not Atlanta. The food truck scene is insane here and you can get a lot of really creative, good food. Many towns support and ask for “food truck nights” here. Heck, we even have a ShipYard Brewing truck at a lot of our “roundups!” I’d love to see that go over up there in Atlanta! Bottom line, get with the times up there!
Bob
August 24th, 2012
9:09 am
It’s impossible to try and impart logic and reason when the CoA government is involved. Without a doubt it is the most inept government in the metro area. An embarrassment to the city
Dawg Will Hunt
August 24th, 2012
9:15 am
And the ridiculous war on Atlanta’s food truck community continues. Because, you know, there aren’t other, more pressing issues to deal with in this city. Hopefully this doesn’t affect the future of the Wednesday night food trucks in VaHi, as that is a prime location for pedestrians to be fed and the trucks to make some money. God forbid the economy be stimulated by offering a new, unique service that benefits citizens and businesses alike. Shut it down! Shut it down! Everyone go to Chili’s! Shut it down!
Really
August 24th, 2012
9:26 am
Hey @Will – wake up man, over 10,000 morons in Clayton county voted that ass-clown Hill back into office – they deserve what they get for voting for him, unbelievable – and you wonder why Clayton county is so screwed up . . .
Baltisraul
August 24th, 2012
9:27 am
Frank……..to ans. your question of who would eat food from a truck; millions do, every day across the country. You need to get out more or re-check that ego!
FedUp
August 24th, 2012
9:30 am
International city? Hardly. It’s the city too greedy to operate. Maybe if they offer to sponsor food trolleys running up and down Peachtree, they can get Federal funding to pay their “Fees?”
CHris
August 24th, 2012
9:40 am
@Frank. You obviously are not a very fun guy…food trucks are great. I would probably say to you…why does everything you eat get heated up in the microwave?
nsk
August 24th, 2012
9:44 am
Did we really need the word raid? Way to sensationalize the issue. The Atlanta Eagle incident was a raid. This is little more than a traffic stop.
DD
August 24th, 2012
9:44 am
If the organizers brought a few panhandlers in, the City of Atlanta would have done nothing. The police would not even show up!
Sluggo
August 24th, 2012
9:47 am
Here’s an example of local government at work.
Last week, I asked a Park Atlanta employee to assist me operate a street parking meter because it refused to take money. Even she could not operate the broken machine. Next,she advised me advised me not to park in the spot. I decided to go home instead of spending money at my intended intown location.
Mel in Midtown
August 24th, 2012
9:49 am
My bet as to who called the cops is Matt Coggins at DBA BBQ. Although he’s 6 blocks from the food truck park, he bass been very vocal in that he thinks the food trucks hurt his business.
NotYourTypicalAtlantan
August 24th, 2012
9:55 am
Another reason to vote Kasim Reed out of office come election time.
He is the one is responsible for hiring all of these rookie revenue citation writers that is in turn chasing people a dn small business away from the City Of Atlanta!!!!
It’s no wonder why City’s like Austin, Tx are booming for it’s eclectic welcoming atmosphere without being hassled to patronize and to do business!
Bring the Food Trucks To Cobb County…..We welcome you!!!!
Food Truck would do well in Athens as well for the college town patronage much like Austin, Tx has created for itself!
KJ Beckham
August 24th, 2012
9:58 am
People eat food prepared in food trucks anytime they eat food at the fair
Grasshopper
August 24th, 2012
10:19 am
The City of Atlanta must not have developed an efficient way to take money from the food truck vendors and stuff it into the pockets of the Jackson-Franklin-Reed mafia …yet.
Give them time. They will make this process much smoother and more lucrative for their friends in short order. At the expense of the truck operators, of course.
After all, it took them about 15 years to turn the airport into a hugecash cow for the J-F-R familia. A few little food trucks should only take half that amount of time..
This is weird - there are usually cops hanging out there
August 24th, 2012
10:31 am
I live two blocks away from the Va-Hi food truck location and have walked past the food trucks a few times as I run errands. Every time, I have seen uniformed police officers hanging out in the parking lot.
It’s not like the police didn’t know they were there…
I'm confused
August 24th, 2012
10:41 am
I don’t understand how the voters of Clayton County voted Victor Hill back in office, all of those charges & wrong doings. He also has the short man (Napoleon) Syndrome. Not too surprised the Former Mayor of D.C. was caught on camera smoking crack at a crackhouse & he was voted back in office. It seems some voters are drinking stupid juice before going to the polls.
quake
August 24th, 2012
10:48 am
I, for one, would much rather the police worry the robberies and shootings in the area, instead of devoting their thin resources to the food trucks. The priorities of this city seem to be getting more and more backwards by the day.
Atlanta Kills Jobs
August 24th, 2012
10:52 am
The City of Atlanta government is a make jobs and make-your-friends-rich-with-government-contracts program run by incompetent, corrupt and racist politicians. Their main concern is to find ways to force money from you and put in their pockets. Frankly they look at business and average tax payers as a pantation owner looks at slaves, and don’t mind beating a few to death if it squezzes a few extra nickels out of the rest.
Elvis Prez
August 24th, 2012
11:40 am
Whilst in the department of buildings the other day, I was issued a citation for not submitting plans. While I was sitting in the chair (after an hour wait, and being only the 2nd person through the door that day) submitting plans. I’m still trying to make sense of that………….at least the guy didn’t have to drive very far.
Xavier
August 24th, 2012
11:41 am
Here’s betting the “complaint” came from an Atlanta Police Officer driving down the road, and thinking to himself: “I wonder if they have all their permits?”
I feel safer already. Thank you, APD, for taking the bold steps and doing what must be done!
Shubie
August 24th, 2012
11:57 am
ATL get a clue, like LA, Boston, street carts in NYC, even Nashville.
angela
August 24th, 2012
12:22 pm
Oh Atlanta, how I wish I could love you. One of the biggest cities in the US and yet one of the most backward. I am out of here as soon as I can find employment in a real city…big or small.
Edward
August 24th, 2012
12:29 pm
Every morning I walk out the gate of the compound to the little cart that sells freshly steamed baozi. Yum! As I walk to the nearest metro station, I pass by other carts selling fried egg sandwiches, steamed buns, fresh noodles and stir fried vegetables. And the subway system (currently with nearly 900 miles of tracks and more on the way) goes nearly anywhere you want with about a 3 block walk max to any one station. In other words, right now I’m in a REAL city, not Atlanta.
Just ask 5 Seasons West......
August 24th, 2012
12:39 pm
About the city of Atlanta and how obtuse they are. They installed a system to catch and filter rainwater to brew with. The water was tested and determined to be far better than the COA water, however, COA shut down the use of the rain water for brewing by 5 Seasons for “health” reasons.
It’s a wonder any business can get a start in this city with the ever present imbeciles preventing any new, clever or enviromentally sound ides to happen.
Woody
August 24th, 2012
12:39 pm
Didn’t bribe the right folks, or at all; it’s a learning process. Anyway, we should talk about cities, and food, and the lack of ability of cities to feed themselves. For Atlanta, the food is shipped in from way far away, mostly California. Atlanta used to have an agricultural belt surrounding it like a donut, but with some exceptions in the southwest and east/southeast quadrants, the farmland has been converted to condominiums and Mcmansions. Whatever farming takes place, is largely for hay to feed horses (!). Very, very little farming to feed people. So, and think about this, people: what happens when a big earthquake causes a meltdowns in several nuclear plants on the west coast? And this is not such a wild idea these days, since it actually happened in Japan a year ago. It is entirely possible that all that cropland in California will get spoiled for decades, leaving Atlanta produce shelves bare and empty, with no local agriculture to fill the gap. And the reason there will be no local agriculture to fill the gap, is that hostile attitudes and actions drove local farmers away when they were trying to create a market in the city. Now, instead of taking shakedown money, the mayor should be actively coordinating the various agencies to go a little soft on business regs, in order to encourage the emergence of a new industry. Instead of playing whack-a-mole and pouncing on local ag initiatives whenever they pop up their heads.
And while we are at it.....
August 24th, 2012
12:44 pm
Lets talk about brewing. The hurdles one has to over come to open a brewiy is stifling economic growth in the city and state.
Asheville is kicking Atlanta’s ass in that category. Ashville, a small tourist town has managed to lure New Belgium and Sierra Nevada to open breweries there. Yeah, they were interested in Atlanta for the infrastructure(numerous highways),but found the process too daunting, and chose lil ol Ashville instead.
Thanks Atlanta, and Georgia for your backwards ways…..
Dr. J.
August 24th, 2012
12:47 pm
All the more reason not to patronize anything within the city limits of Atlanta, if for no other reason than to see the government’s tax base crumble. Taxpayer spite like that is the only way to bring an end to the corruption.
I know why......
August 24th, 2012
12:49 pm
None of the food trucks had donuts. Cops need donuts…..And a woman to slap around.
@ Dr J
August 24th, 2012
12:52 pm
That’s not a good idea because you punish the business first……They are already getting it from the city…….Why let the consumer punish them as well?
Douglas
August 24th, 2012
1:05 pm
The Food Trucks do a great job of offering food. I was at an Orange Conference several months ago and they served several thousand people. However, they must abide by the laws and have a permit. I’m really tired of this sense of entitlement people have and feel they do not need to follow the law.
Gomez
August 24th, 2012
1:21 pm
I’m the owner and operator of a food truck. Getting the required permits was a bit of a pain but it wasn’t rocket science either. There are many of us who have gone through the process and are happy to help others through the process even if they’re going to become our competition. What we don’t like are those who come in and cut corners. We took care of business and so should they. There are too many new operators getting into the business not because they love food but because they see a trend and they want to cash in quickly. They don’t talk to the rest of us. They don’t seem concerned about keeping this from being a passing fad. They certainly don’t care about following the same rules the rest of us follow.
What worries me is that someone of them are going to get their customers sick. And then the news is going to jump on it and make all of us look bad. I take great pride in running an operation that is clean and serves up quality food. These guys with trucks bought from a junk yard and filled with old equipment painted over to make them look presentable are going to hurt us all. I didn’t enjoy paying for all the permits and dealing with red tape but at least it created a couple of hurdles that kept the less serious out and lead to having a fleet of good quality operators. Now it looks like there is just too much money to be made for the criminals to ignore.
If you value your health, only eat at food trucks run by people willing to go to the effort to get the proper permits. Only eat at trucks where the operator has invested in high quality equipment and supplies. Only eat at trucks filled with smiling faces. Trust me, it does make a difference.
Uhhhhh Gomez
August 24th, 2012
1:29 pm
The report states there were no food related violations…..Just arcane permitting problems.
Those complaining are doing so regarding the permitting process, not the food safety.
You need to work on your reading comprehension.
Matt Coggin
August 24th, 2012
1:32 pm
Midtown Mel,
It want me. The trucks don’t negatively affect us anymore. It has been a great summer at D.B.A. Barbecue.
Matt
Matt Coggin
August 24th, 2012
1:33 pm
Sorry. Wasn’t me.
Dustin Novak
August 24th, 2012
1:46 pm
What kind of permits do the crack dealers have at the Texaco station?
Why doesn’t the COA raid their operations? Its time for the City to revisit their priority list.
Bevan
August 24th, 2012
1:51 pm
I returned from Portland last night, opening an office there. All over the city are HUNDREDS of food carts selling every conceivable cuisine, at affordable prices. Every day they set up, the city has made it easy to do. They regulate it in favor of these food entrepreneurs. SO, ask yourself, what is the City of Atlanta’s motivation to throw these obstacles, even while stating their interest in this type of thing. I think there is a political answer that’s pretty obvious.
B Rickey
August 24th, 2012
3:00 pm
City of Atlanta needs to start making experience, not short-term revenue the paramount issue.
People have options. Frankly, this is not a welcoming city … at all. Too bad.
Gomez
August 24th, 2012
3:02 pm
@Uhhhhh Gomez, yes, I am well aware of the violations. I am well aware of the “arcane” permitting issues. I went through them personally. It was a bit of a pain but I pay attention to details and that’s why I made it through the process.
There is a reason why rock bands have riders in their contracts for things like a bowl of M&M without any brown ones. They don’t do it to be a pain, they do it because it is a signal that the local crew is paying attention to detail. Same here. The permitting issues aren’t a problem for those of us to pay attention to details. For those who are sloppy and just cashing in, they have problems. And they don’t even have to figure it all out by themselves. The rest of us are happy to share our knowledge but there is a subset of “get rich quick” operators who don’t want anything to do with those of us who have been at this for more than a couple of months. They just want to get in, get out, and cash in. That lack of attention to detail and motivation by only money is what concerns me. Who do you think is more likely to cut corners and endanger your health?
Amanda F.
August 24th, 2012
3:22 pm
@Gomez – thanks for your perspective on being a Food Truck owner and for going through the necessary hoops to deliver a safe product. As I kept reading, I realized I was a confused on the food trucks permitting issue as I thought they amended it to allow multiple locations on the permit. I did a little digging and came across this article from May that provided some clarity on the permits: http://www.peachpundit.com/2012/05/09/bureaucrats-shut-down-atlanta-food-truck-park/
This article states, “. . . the Food Truck Ordinance did not re-write every tangled link of compliance across the wide range of required permits, only the City of Atlanta codes. The wording still remains in the State of Georgia’s code that “a mobile food service unit or an extended food service unit must restrict operation to a maximum of two (2) locations or areas stipulated by the permit.” That would mean a re-application process and hundreds of dollars in fees every time a food truck wants to operate from any location that isn’t one of the two on file with the State Health Department.” I thought I’d share this in case anyone else out there was a little bit confused like me
Not buying your argument Gomez
August 24th, 2012
3:27 pm
Your rhetoric is consistent to someone on the law enforcement/administration perspective and not a retailer.
You’re missing the point.
The concern is the difficulty and absurdity of the city’s requirements and actions. It hinders NEW business.
Further, there are other posts here from other locations espousing the joys and benefits of cities that have fewer, restrictive regulations on food trucks. No one….Again, NO ONE has yet to mention health or safety in regards to the other cities. Is there something about Atlanta that if the food trucks were allowed one permit, instead of the numerous required for each location, the proprietors would suddenly ignore safety and health?
Restaurants that do not have the same level of permit requirements have demonstrated both high and low scores from the health department……The number of permits does not play a role here.
Your argument is specious.
Not buying your argument Gomez
August 24th, 2012
3:29 pm
I do want to mention that these food trucks were in violation……Not condoning that. I am just unhappy of the level of regulation that is really not neccessary.
Jessi
August 24th, 2012
4:49 pm
To those comparing Atlanta to Portland, you really can’t. Food trucks in Portland work because Portland has a pedestrian and transit culture that leads to an active street scene. In Atlanta people drive to the food trucks. In Portland, they walk or bike, and maybe sometimes use Max or the streetcar though usually not because there are so many places to go nearby that you don’t need to go far out of the neighborhood to find something good to eat.
Atlanta will never ever have Portland’s street food culture. Atlanta is too in love with driving, free parking, cheap gas, and too anti-pedestrian, anti-bicycle, and very anti-transit. The only places in Portland you’ll find something like food truck park are those places that have so much foot traffic that there needs to be a spot for many trucks to have room to do business.
Sad thing is that there are so many people in denial about who they really are. Too many claim to want walkable neighborhoods but then hop in their car at every chance they have, always rationalizing how it is someone else’s fault that their neighborhood isn’t walkable. Atlanta has many wonderful qualities but it simply isn’t a place that puts a high value on the human environment. This is a place very concerned about appearances and not very concerned about substance. You don’t have to scratch the surface very hard here to see all the fakery behind the facades. Food trucks in Atlanta are just another window dressing on the truth of Atlanta being the epicenter of sprawl and automobile addiction.
While I have enjoyed my time in Atlanta and met some really nice people, I will be glad when my work assignment is up and I can move back west. And yes, I know Delta is ready when I am. I’ll be ready in four months. I wish the best to Atlanta but am very doubtful you guys will ever truly get it. Car culture and keeping up appearances are simply too much of the culture here.
Report: Police Raid Virginia-Highland Food Truck Wednesdays
August 24th, 2012
5:04 pm
[...] Five trucks were cited, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. [...]
ED
August 24th, 2012
5:20 pm
The complaint was probably files by the truck that had the proper permit. They did’t shut everyone down. Why should I pay to do the right thing and they make the same as me.
Jed
August 24th, 2012
5:27 pm
This is one of the reasons I’m kind of mad at myself for owning a home in Atlanta. I’m paying outrageous taxes for mediocre services (that’s probably a really nice way to put it). I can’t imagine myself making the same mistake twice: Next time it’s back to Decatur.
Baltisraul
August 24th, 2012
8:07 pm
Gosh Edward we are all so impressed with your world tour! What a Maroon!
Joe
August 24th, 2012
8:40 pm
Moved from Atlanta in May, greatest decision ever. I feel bad for folks when reading these things, but if I could give a piece of advice, it would be to move.
There is too much racism, greed and corruption for Atlanta to survive the next 20 years. The gridlocked traffic, crumbling infrastructure and theft by politicians is literally turning Atlanta into Birmingham.
Report: Police Raid Area Food Trucks
August 25th, 2012
5:05 am
[...] Five trucks were cited, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. [...]
curmudgon
August 25th, 2012
10:59 am
If you think ATL is backwards you should have seen it 30 years ago. ATL has never been nor will it ever be more than a second tier US city and forget about it ever being an international city – Mayor Campbell buried that dream during the 1996 Olympics. What ATL is, however, is a blue spot in a southern sea of red. People come here to be free and for all that dislike “your” government get off your butts and do something about it. What a bunch of lazy cry babies.
James
August 25th, 2012
1:29 pm
Actually, Atlanta is classified as an “Alpha-” world city. Only whiny hipsters wanting everything their way would call Atlanta a second tier US city. Sorry, we don’t have government employees on every street corner handing out baby bottles filled with PBR and fixies with training wheels. In the world of grownups, Atlanta is world class. It’s only the hipster-tea-party-ayn-rand-ron-paul-alliance of the poorly traveled who believe otherwise. Get a real job, enter the real world, and take off that stupid fedora or pork pie hat. Everyone thinks you’re a tool, even your friends who act the same way.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city
Eliza
August 25th, 2012
3:05 pm
What goes around comes around in my mind. The Food Truck circle wants to eliminate good old fashion competition by only having one vendor selling a certain kind of food. (Ex. BBQ) Then its only
karma that the local eateries don’t want them across from their businesses sharing in on their profitability. So they call and have them shut down if they are not carrying the proper paper work.
Wake Up Atlanta
August 25th, 2012
6:15 pm
Unless you have been asleep for the last twenty years or just moved here, the city of Atlanta and its affiliates hires only the people that are unqualified or too ignorant to do anything else. The Broham society of ignorance reigns again. I am so f#$%ing glad these ignorant asses got no more money for them to misappropriate in the last election for the “TRAFFIC TAX” . My 12 year old daughter has more qualifications to run a city than the ignoramuses that work in the city of Atlanta! Its time to take our city back. Get rid of the “hire your brother and sister network”. The transportation system would be better, the education would be better, the utilities would be better, and least of all the food would be better. Get rid of the ignorance! JEEZUUSSS
Atlanta, GA: Police Raid ‘Food Truck Wednesday’ in Virginia Highland | Mobile Food News
August 25th, 2012
10:45 pm
[...] By Jon Watson | Access Atlanta [...]
Edward
August 25th, 2012
11:47 pm
Sorry, James, but you’re wrong. Nobody who has traveled to actual world-class cities would ever classify Atlanta as being one of them. While there are a few small bright spots in Atlanta, overall it pales in comparison to any actual world-class city. I say this as someone who has traveled extensively all over the world. I’m not just sitting on my sofa watching the Travel Channel.
roadkill
August 26th, 2012
12:07 am
Well it’s the same officers? AND anonymous complaint? Sounds more that the officers are not getting what they want. In any event across the country you don’t need a permit for most special events. If the city/county does require it, the Permitting Agency is there to sell it to you. This sounds more like dirty greasy hands. I would suggest FOI the report for the “anonymous complainant”, and their CallerID records… trust me, been there, done that… be surprised how reports disappear or just happen to appear.
Report: Police Raid Food Trucks in Atlanta | Atlanta Local Me.me
August 26th, 2012
12:26 pm
[...] Five trucks were cited, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. [...]
Beck
August 26th, 2012
4:22 pm
I assure you, no street-level cop even cares about the stupid food trucks or their permits. He would also rather be preventing robberies and thefts in the area, but he has to go where his supervisors make him go. Pressure from above dictates which wheel gets the grease, just like at any other job. Quit blaming the police and just follow the rules–if you don’t like the rules, move.
Report: Police Raid Food Trucks in Atlanta – Otro sitio realizado con WordPress
August 26th, 2012
5:39 pm
[...] Five trucks were cited, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. [...]
Diego
August 26th, 2012
8:11 pm
Okay, Edward. We get it that you don’t like Atlanta. Good for you–probably a consultant, inside auditor or tech guy doing weekly trips here. Hopefully, you can go soon and back to lovely Portland (been there, done that; pretty unmemorable; Portland to Seattle (which itself (and, frankly, the west coast, for that matter) simply is not really all that) is kind of like New Zealand to Australia–big chip on its shoulder. But, hey, its got lots of rail, supposedly good micro-brews, and lots of food cars (hey, just like Bankok!). Atlanta is just fine to many of us world class travelers. Sorry you miss your hipster food carts outside your hipster apartment/condo in your hipster, mid-tier city. At your next assignment in the big city, try to be a bit more open-minded (I thought thats what you northwesterns were) and explore beyond a few blocks of your hotel.
Edward
August 26th, 2012
10:32 pm
Wow, Diego, I hope your livelihood doesn’t depend upon your predictions since you get nothing correct. I live in Atlanta (and by that I mean Atlanta, not a suburb) for the last 30 years. I like my life here, enjoy time with my friends here. But, I am lucky enough that I’ve been able to travel and spend months at a time in other cities around the world, not just a quick tourist trip. I understand you love Atlanta and don’t like to see it disparaged. However, one must be honest and recognize it for what it is, and isn’t. Atlanta is a decent city, but “world class”? No. For that matter, I wouldn’t even classify Portland as “world class”, though it does possess many great qualities that Atlanta would do well to adopt as closely as possible. The US has four cities I would consider in the category, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami. The rest, while good in their own rights and have some admirable and interesting features, don’t make that heady list that includes cities like London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Tokyo, Sydney, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing. I’m currently in Shanghai, a city of over 20 million people, with a public transportation system that is a marvel of efficiency, yet each district has a “small town” feel and the vibrant street life is so inviting and fascinating. The dining options available here are amazing. This is a “world class” city. If you spent more than a few days or a week in some other place, not as a tourist but as a resident, you would understand.
JustBlameThePolice
August 27th, 2012
10:04 am
The Atlanta Police Dept. is a large agency with many specialized units, which includes the Licenses & Permits Unit. It also has a Homicide Unit, as well as many other specialized units, to insure that someone is handling the “murder and mayhem” while the Permit Unit DOES ITS JOB.
You do realize that not everyone who works for Coca-Cola actually makes Coke right?
Tammy
August 27th, 2012
11:13 am
“Why would anyone eat food made in a truck????”
Because it is trendy, hip and costs more than eating in a quick service restaurant. Plus you get to wait in line and eat Hellman’s mayo that has hot sauce added to it and then they give it a fancy name and squirt it all over french fries. Sounds great!
Eric
August 27th, 2012
1:40 pm
I hope the food trucks license and move to the suburbs, Atlanta deserves the shrinking tax base it bring on itself, and I will never vote to increase my taxes to support the city. It’s a joke when it comes to supporting local businesses.
BrianZim
August 27th, 2012
5:44 pm
Am sure there’s probably >1 VA-Highland “anonymous complainant” restauranteur NOT thrilled about pop-up food trucks taking away some of their WED night revenue.
loopy loo
August 29th, 2012
9:27 am
the atlanta police department has a unit whose function is to handle permits-not chase robbers and other bad guys. so if there are instructed to go to the food trucks and check permits that is what they are supposed to do, anything else is subordination. i agree the CoA is very poorly run, and will most likely run the food trucks out of the area. i for one totally enjoy going to them, and would hate to see it happen. seriously people, realize there is more that a police department does than deal with crime- i’d like for them to lock up all the 80+ mph drivers on 75 that weave in and out of traffic!
Righteous Republican
August 29th, 2012
3:41 pm
Hey, Democrats run the city just like they treat small business on a national level
Yelp Elite
August 29th, 2012
4:12 pm
@Frank
August 24th, 2012
6:09 am
Why would anyone eat food made in a truck????
Frank, we at Yelp would like to invite you to join our group, you would fit right in.
Baltiraul
August 30th, 2012
9:49 am
Tammy……I agree, anything w/ Hellmann’s mayo sounds great. Boston has a Hellmann’s food truck. Wish ATL did also.
The Artist Assena V
August 31st, 2012
1:01 am
@Frank, due to the way Atlanta operates, I’m not at all surprised you’ve never seen one. Its actually sort of like a moving van, but has been converted to a kitchen with running water, etc, not some scuzzed out old truck that someone threw a grill and some plates in. Hit google for images.
Chuck Snow
August 31st, 2012
1:24 am
I was in DC earlier this year for a week food trucks and carts were everywhere I went. I was amazed at the variety and quality of the food and the cleanliness of the trucks and carts . I have a hard time imagining why the APD and several of the other Govt agencies are harrassing the food trucks in Atlanta.