John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – The proliferation of illegal food vendors in Santa Barbara County has been a challenge for government leaders for several years, but new plans could bring the situation under control.
The county is discussing more enforcement combined with an outreach to the public. In that communication the county will have public service announcements explaining that street kitchens have food that is transported without appropriate refrigeration or warming storage equipment.
Restaurants near the pop-up street kitchens have also complained about unfair business operations. Those owners claim the street operators do not have approved permits, health inspections, or fire prevention equipment.
The county has been frustrated by some state laws that allow for certain types of vendors with mobile carts to set up. The main target is larger cooking operations under pop ups that can be seen on roadside locations including around county sites in the Santa Maria valley, Highway 246 in the Santa Ynez Valley or near Santa Ynez High School. Those without proper refrigeration or fire safety pose a health and safety risk. Photos show some food in buckets on the ground before it is served.
There’s also no sign of bathrooms or hand washing stations. One complaint has included cooking impacts or grease left in the area.
They also say there is an economic impact on local businesses who are paying annual fees and going through inspections required by law.
Jason Aguilar and his family operate a restaurant in Northern Santa Barbara County. “Legitimate food businesses have to go through rigorous inspections by the fire department and health department,” he told the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. He said in addition to the street kitchens, some people are running food establishments out of their yards and garages, similar to a restaurant with food and alcohol. “This not only violates state and local alcohol regulations but also creates a high risk of unknowingly serving minors.”
Several longtime restaurant owners in the Santa Maria area explained how street kitchens with no authorization have directly impacted local businesses and some have closed. One restaurant owner, speaking to the board in Spanish through an interpreter said, he was thinking of just closing and going out to the streets like others because he wouldn’t have the overhead costs. The message also pointed out the gap in enforcement.
County Supervisor Joan Hartmann said, “it is heart wrenching to hear that businesses that have been serving this community for decades and playing by the rules has to be threatened by people who aren’t. It is a complicated problem.” She also said it is a statewide problem but there are local ways to control some aspects of it.
Hartmann was also particularly concerned about where these stands are set up near, for example, Santa Ynez High. Attracting a crowd in and around a street location is a safety concern. Hartmann has been working with the county in general to improve pedestrian trails and safety around the school after a fatality involving a child in a 2015 traffic accident.
County Environmental Health officials have said they are doing inspections, writing citations and at times confiscating equipment. They have had issues with storing the cooking supplies and food which is required until the legal process is completed. The report indicated only one operator has asked for their equipment back.
The county plans to increase its space to hold these item as part of the upgraded outreach and enforcement during the scheduled future actions.
County Supervisor Bob Nelson said he expects more night time enforcement when the kitchens are set up, and suggested that get done without overtime costs for the staff, just an adjustment in their work schedule.
“We don’t have to pay overtime. It seems like we are already employing them to do the work that needs to be done. We should have the regulatory staff meet the regulatory job that needs to be done not the 9 to 5 job,” said Nelson.
The Executive Director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, Tracy Beard said the problem has been ongoing and the impacts are directly felt. She said she has spoken not just to the Board of Supervisors but the regional Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. “We have had KEYT out there to show that these things are happening. Open flames every weekend. This is a catastrophe happening continuously. Supervisor Nelson and Hartmann are correct this must stop.”
Beard has gone out to take pictures as evidence of the problem she was speaking of. The county has many photos that back up their claims of health violations.
The county plans include:
Alert the public to health risks of consuming food from unlawfulvendors (e.g., foodborne illness and pest contamination)
County PIO will conduct six-month multifaceted media campaign
Digital and social media
Earned media (e.g., press releases in local newspapers)
Example Public Service Announcement (PSA)
The county says Compact Mobile Food operations are generally not the issue that is immediately before the board. Those include smaller fruit vending or ice cream carts.
Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said he was also concerned about other vendors. He pointed out a florist where he buys flowers in Santa Maria has closed and noted, nearby there were several street locations with free lance style sellers.
One of the speakers, a restaurant owner, said she has been doing research. In San Diego, where a similar problems exists, multiple business closures have taken place. Some vendors have sued the city, alleging that restrictions conflict with state laws.
Some of the restaurant owners said they were concerned about the reaction in the community by their comments and said, many will not come forward for fear of retaliation. It is not known if that has been taking place but Supervisor Roy Lee told one owner, he personally will be coming to her restaurant the next time he is in Santa Maria.
Lee and is family are Carpinteria restaurant owners and he has personal experience in the cost of the operations.
He also said in Carpinteria they were very strict on enforcements even though vendors would move between city, county and state sites to avoid citations.
Supervisor Lavagnino also agreed a very aggressive enforcement would make a difference and said he would support it, even if it cost additional county funds during a time of budget tightening.
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