The Food Truck… Or…

Yet another reminder that things are seldom as simple as they seem

I want to say thanks to Penny Bianchi, Sally Bromfield, and others for reaching out to the Montecito Association on the food truck situation and engaging in a very complicated conversation.

This is not a simple case of a food truck being asked to leave Montecito by some pesky neighbors. 

How we got here:

– Food trucks began appearing in Montecito early in 2022.

– We received a lot of complaints. So did sheriffs and CHP.

– The food trucks were parked on Olive Mill, on the 192 in front of the Randall Rd debris basin, at Butterfly Beach, and in the Casa Dorinda triangle (pre-landscaping).

– The complaints were about safety – you couldn’t see around the food truck when trying to navigate these roads, food truck patrons were parking haphazardly, etc. The food truck on Olive Mill partially blocked the bike lane at times.

The legal situation:

– The Montecito Land Use codes do not allow food trucks. 

– Vendors can’t get a license from the county to sell roadside. 

– The food truck’s presence here signaled other would-be roadside vendors that they too could drop people off to sell oranges, flowers, toys, or merchandise:

When I approached the roadside vendors, alarm bells went off. Except for the large operation immediately above, it was clear these were not micro-entrepreneurs just trying to make a go of it. They were working for someone, and they were afraid of that person. They didn’t have bathrooms nearby, or shade. They were being dropped off early in the morning and picked up in the evening. I asked a few questions in Spanish and was nervously handed a burner phone to talk to the ‘boss,’ in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, or Santa Clarita. The ‘boss’ didn’t care that they might be violating labor and county regulations, and neither did the ‘boss’ care about their worker. 

These are indicators of labor exploitation, and likely human trafficking, where the person vending is coerced by organized criminal forces. I contacted the sheriffs and the District Attorney, as they investigate human trafficking cases, and they responded quickly.

Next door, the City of Santa Barbara is deluged with illegal food cart operators. The mayor observed a flatbed unloading a slew of carts on the waterfront early in the morning. The vendors are made to operate all day and then get picked up at night. We attended a city meeting on this, as the city is three weeks into enforcement operations, and struggling. We asked the District Attorney, Sheriff, the Mayor, and city council if a human trafficking operation is masquerading as food cart vendors. We also asked for, and received, assistance from our Assembly Rep Gregg Hart to connect with the Attorney General’s office, as they have human trafficking resources. 

Labor trafficking is a massive statewide problem. Kern and Tulare counties have done some great work on it, and our Sheriff and District Attorney are very good at human trafficking investigations.

The taco truck operator, for instance – had they queried how to get a permit to operate in Montecito – would have learned the same thing we did: food trucks are not allowed per the Montecito Land Use codes, and you can’t obtain a license from the county to vend roadside.

What about the workers who need lunch?

We understand people felt sorry for the workers who patronized the taco truck. Regrettably, with the closure of Little Alex’s and Giovanni’s, there are now very few options for a quick, affordable lunch in Montecito. We would be willing to work with our local businesses to encourage them to develop offerings to meet that need. 

To change the Montecito Land Use codes to permit food trucks would require Planning and Development. Their queue is notoriously backed up. We have been waiting for a Vacation Rental Ordinance for five years. We also would like to see a Formula Business ordinance, to protect the Montecito Village from big box stores. Neighbors who’ve long contended with problematic STRs might not agree with prioritizing food trucks above their concerns.

A food truck ordinance would also require the county to regulate the food trucks – hours of operation and locations they can operate. Can any taco truck from L.A. or San Luis Obispo get a permit? Or would it be restricted to South-Coast based operators?

We hope this helps clarify what looked like a simple situation, and turned out to be rather complicated, with possible ramifications in human rights.  

Sharon Byrne is the Executive Director of the Montecito Association