Unlicensed food trucks have taken over prime spots around the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and this problem persists at the Great American State Fair.
A small group of operators runs most of these illegal trucks as a coordinated network, Washingtonian reported. Longtime licensed food truck operator Zack Graybill walked around the National Mall during the fair with reporter Jessica Sidman and observed illegal trucks blocking traffic and hydrants, creating fire hazards, charging high prices and intimidating legal vendors through turf wars.
“For all the people eating food right here? The food isn’t being refrigerated. That’s fucked up. That’s gross,” Graybill told Washingtonian.
He observed that there was no generator running in one of the trucks and no ventilation.
“For all the workers, that’s miserable and shitty. And that’s not healthy. Dangerous,” Graybill emphasized.