Food Trucks!

     So what’s the big deal about allowing food trucks? I think it’s a great idea. I think it would elevate the food production industry in our fair town. From what I see on the Food Network, today’s food trucks are not the bean wagons they once were. No, these rolling kitchens are dispensing pretty sophisticated cuisine and in my humble opinion would give our existing restaurants a run for their money. Of course, I don’t own a restaurant, so I see this as a good thing, a view not shared by some of those who do. But isn’t this America, home of the competitive? Isn’t good, honest competition one of the mainstays of our capitalist system? I’ve asked several people, (none of them restaurant owners), for their thoughts on this, and without exception they have said “Bring on the food trucks!” It seems there is a certain school of thought that embraces the idea that our restaurants need a good ‘kick in the pants’ to relieve a complacency believed to exist in the local food industry. Personally, I think it’s a good way to get people to come here. Why couldn’t this be a foodie destination? Of course the trucks would have to be regulated, and subject to the same health laws and licensing as any food distributor here in town, and we would need to designate areas where they could operate with appropriate fees for the spaces they occupy, but that’s all just an extension of the regs already in place.  

     Or, if that’s not acceptable, how about allowing them in a designated area only on certain days of the week, the way we do the Farmer’s Market? That might work. In fact, what’s the big difference between the two? I see them as more similar than different.

     I’m sure there are other ways to do this that I haven’t thought of. Why not consider it? Food trucks might be a great addition to our town, and I don’t think we should reject the idea out of hand, just because it’s a change. It could be a good change.

I'm Back!!!

November 18, 2015

            I know, I know. If I’m going to have a blog, I have to keep it up. My apologies. I hope I haven’t lost the few readers I had. All kinds of things got in the way, none of them a valid excuse. I can only say I will try never to do that again.            

            A lot has happened since I last wrote, but to me the most dismaying were the attacks on Paris. I know I’m not alone in feeling the same way I felt after 9/11, but also there’s a touch of the way I felt living in New York during Son of Sam. It’s a little scary to go outside.

            We all know there is evil in the world, and to our credit, we seem to pull together when it manifests itself. The around-the-world response to Friday night in Paris was quick and touching. Our finest hour. It wasn’t until Saturday that I heard someone use the attacks as a political instrument, and of course it was, who else? Donald Trump. (I guess he doesn’t like being referred to as “The Donald” anymore. I haven’t heard that in months.) He thinks we should ban all refugees from Syria. Period. Jeb Bush evidently wants to allow Christians only to come in. My question is: What happened to “Give me your tired, your poor…” What about the “wretched refuse yearning to be free…” ? Do we just trash all those values and standards? If so, what’s left? This is supposed to be a free society we have here. To me, that means we let everybody in. Terrorists? We’ve been told for years they are already among us. What’s changed? The attacks in Paris were hideous, but they didn’t suddenly signal every terrorist in Europe and the Middle East to join the flood of refugees. Obviously that’s what Isis wants us to think, but it seems ridiculous to me.

            Well, this turned into quite a rant. Let me know what you think. It’s good to be back.