Owners of the Dumpling Station food truck, commonly seen at , are looking to continue parking in South Pas—without being fined—after police served them with a City ordinance violation last month.
"This ordinance is not specific to food vendors and applies to anyone selling anything from a parked vehicle for that purpose," said Police Chief Joe Payne.
The Dumpling Station has been frequenting Garfield Park for six months. While Payne said the police department has received multiple complaints regarding the truck being parked near Garfield Park, owner Julie Chung claims one resident in particular was unhappy with the truck.
"It's a big hit [in South Pasadena]. We love the community. Everyone is so nice (except for one person)," Chung told Patch via e-mail in June. "It's nice seeing parents with their adorable kids. ... It's unfortunate that it has come down to this."
South Pas isn't the only community dealing with food truck controversy. Over at Eagle Rock Patch, an opinion piece entitled Food Trucks, Pot Shops Hurt Eagle Rock evoked over 120 comments.
"Many municipalities are struggling with the proliferation of food vending trucks and the complaints received," explained Payne. "Our intent is to enforce existing ordinances applicable to the situation rather than enact an ordinance designed to target food vendors."
In this case, it was City ordinance 19.49 that states "no person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of selling therefrom or therein any article, service or thing."
Yet regardless of the ordinance, Chung said Dumpling Station is not gone for good. "We won't be entirely gone. We won't be there as frequent, because we will be fined," she told Patch June 9.
Dumpling Station has come to the park three times since Patch initially spoke to Chung in June, according to its Twitter feed. And from here on out, residents can expect the truck Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. at Garfield Park, Chung said Tuesday.
"I am trying to find an alternative—just because we're getting ticketed each time. I've spoken with a few other trucks, and we want to appeal the tickets. The city issued us a permit that we've paid for, and now we are being fined," Chung explained, also mentioning the truck by law can't park anywhere in South Pas unless it's a private lot.
What do you think? Should Dumping Station be allowed to frequent Garfield Park? If so, any suggestions on where it could park? Weigh in below. Patch will continue to follow and report on the story.
