Some action on the food-truck front going down tomorrow. From the office of 32nd Ward alderman Scott “not for mayor” Waguespack, the food-truck ordinance’s chief sponsor:
9/30/10 — Alderman Waguespack and his staff will brief other Aldermen regarding the proposed Mobile Food Facilities Ordinance on Tuesday, October 5, 2010. The purpose of these meetings is to acquaint members of the City Council with the details of the ordinance prior to scheduling committee hearings. These briefings are specifically for Aldermen and their staff, and are closed to the public. If you support this ordinance, please let your Alderman know.
On a side note, since I’ve been covering this issue, I’ve repeatedly tried to find out if the Illinois Restaurant Association has an official position on food trucks. Widely viewed as just another arm of the mayor, the IRA’s support or opposition could be crucial to the future of food trucks in Chicago (at least while Daley is in office). No one from the IRA has ever returned my calls. Perhaps they’ve all been stuck waiting in line somewhere.
It’s clear, however, that the idea of food trucks seems troubling to some minds at the IRA. A few weeks ago the latest issue of Seasonings, the IRA’s print newsletter, hit its member’s mailboxes, and its Government Affairs column noted that the “Government Relations Committee held a special meeting on August 18 to discuss the ordinance.” It makes no mention of the meeting’s outcome.