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Group Rallies For Legalization Of Street Vendors In LA

KOREATOWN (CBSLA.com) — A group rallied in Koreatown Thursday night to support the legalization of street food vendors in Los Angeles.

Members of the Los Angeles Street Vendor Campaign were backing a proposal introduced by Councilmen Jose Huizar and Curren Price that would establish formal regulations, and legal protection, for sidewalk vending operations.

If approved, the move would have a positive effect on food safety, KCAL9's Melanie Woodrow reported.

"Once legalized, these vendors would be subject to routine inspections by the [LA County Department of Public Health]. They would also be required to post A-B-C letter grades issued by the health department, giving the public an easy way to recognize lawful vendors from those operating without permits and outside food safety requirements," Angelo Bellomo, the director of Environmental Health for the county's health department, said in a statement.

Some vendors said they have spent far too long looking over their shoulders and operating without permits.

"It gives people a chance to be entrepreneurs," Wo'se Kofi said.

Rudy Espinoza of the Leadership for Urban Renewal Network agreed with Kofi.

"We want the streets lit up and we want entrepreneurs making a living," he said.

Sidewalk food vending is permitted in cities such as New York, San Francisco and Chicago.

RELATED STORIES:

Councilmembers Call For Legalization, Regulation Of Street Vending Operations

Street Food Vendors Call On City Council To Legalize It

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