A town hall style meeting convened at the Blarney Event Center Monday afternoon, creating a forum for discussion concerning the impending legislation to impose restrictions on Toledo's food trucks. Mud Hens/ Walleye GM Joe Napoli lead the conversation, creating an atmosphere of guarded trust and understanding.
Attendees spoke one at a time, providing insight from their differing perspectives on the food truck dilemma and the proposed restrictions. Ed Beczynski, owner of The Blarney and Foccacia's Deli, two downtown eateries, voiced support for the unique and creative food offered by the trucks, reasoning that some restrictions were likely necessary but assuring that a workable solution could be reached.
Sandy Spang, a freshman city councilperson and owner of Plate 21 on Rugby Dr off of South Detroit Avenue, shared her perspective as a legislator and a coffee shop owner. She suggested what will likely be a rallying cry for all sides in this new debate – more conversation will lead to more cooperation and, hopefully, eventually an agreement. The concerns of the brick and mortar restaurant owners and their landlords and the food truck operators seemed more aligned than different; to provide a quality epicurean experience while avoiding unfair competition.
Toledo City Council has a Meeting of the Whole scheduled to discuss the ordinance proposed by the Collins administration before the regularly scheduled council meeting at 4 pm. It seems likely that given the limited time for conversation at the committee meeting and the number of competing interests which will be effected, that any vote on the administration's hastily proposed legislation will likely be delayed while the issue is held in committee, providing additional time for review and study.
Interested? Exercise your civil rights and bring yourself down to One Government Center to council chambers to watch our participatory Democracy in action beginning at 2pm Tuesday.
A town hall style meeting convened at the Blarney Event Center Monday afternoon, creating a forum for discussion concerning the impending legislation to impose restrictions on Toledo's food trucks. Mud Hens/ Walleye GM Joe Napoli lead the conversation, creating an atmosphere of guarded trust and understanding.
Attendees spoke one at a time, providing insight from their differing perspectives on the food truck dilemma and the proposed restrictions. Ed Beczynski, owner of The Blarney and Foccacia's Deli, two downtown eateries, voiced support for the unique and creative food offered by the trucks, reasoning that some restrictions were likely necessary but assuring that a workable solution could be reached.
Sandy Spang, a freshman city councilperson and owner of Plate 21 on Rugby Dr off of South Detroit Avenue, shared her perspective as a legislator and a coffee shop owner. She suggested what will likely be a rallying cry for all sides in this new debate – more conversation will lead to more cooperation and, hopefully, eventually an agreement. The concerns of the brick and mortar restaurant owners and their landlords and the food truck operators seemed more aligned than different; to provide a quality epicurean experience while avoiding unfair competition.
Toledo City Council has a Meeting of the Whole scheduled to discuss the ordinance proposed by the Collins administration before the regularly scheduled council meeting at 4 pm. It seems likely that given the limited time for conversation at the committee meeting and the number of competing interests which will be effected, that any vote on the administration's hastily proposed legislation will likely be delayed while the issue is held in committee, providing additional time for review and study.
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Interested? Exercise your civil rights and bring yourself down to One Government Center to council chambers to watch our participatory Democracy in action beginning at 2pm Tuesday.
