A brief exchange between L.A. mayoral candidates Representative Karen Bass and Rick Caruso about street food vendors perked our (and many others) ears up at their September 21 debate.
In answer to a moderator's question about whether she'd have vendors on the street and regulate, or move to a marketplace, Bass indicated she'd be open to both approaches, according to what the vendors want. Amid her answer, she interjected, "it'll be interesting to see street vendors in front of The Grove," to which Caruso replied, "We've had it, we've had it." Bass went on to stress the importance of communicating with entrepreneurs who sell food on the street and expressing concern for their overall safety.
Which made us curious as to what our mayoral candidates maintain as their official stances on the critical issue of L.A.'s street vendors. Hoping to push toward political platitudes, we reached out to both of their offices and Long Beach's mayoral candidates to ask for their statements on the still-pending, now passed SB 972, and details on what they specifically would do for street vendors if elected.
Read on for their answers, then go out and vote with your heads clear and your hearts open on November 8.