The many non-motorized and non-permitted food carts throughout Santa Maria, both bicycle and push carts, pose a real health threat to our community.
Most of these non-permitted food carts can be seen throughout our community in the north end of town in the shopping centers and residential areas. Not only are they a blight to our community, but they are also a potential health hazard in that the food they sell is not inspected by Santa Barbara County health inspectors. Consequently, no one knows where, how, or by whom these foods are prepared.
And not only is there a real health risk to members of the community, but there is also unfair competition with restaurant owners and markets struggling to stay afloat in today’s economy.
The city of Santa Maria is leaving itself open to lawsuits should Santa Maria residents become sickened as a result of eating food from non-permitted vendors. In these lean economic times, Santa Maria cannot afford to defend itself in these costly court battles.
Just as the city of Santa Maria recently took action to make it illegal to sell flowers on street corners, so too should it take similar action and make the distribution of food from food carts illegal.
This article appears in Apr 23-30, 2009.