BREAKING NEWS: Vancouver Food Cart Program Is Yet ANOTHER Vision Vancouver Concocted FAILURE (Even Before It Starts!)–Health and Fairness Concerns Abound!!!
As usual, Vision Vancouver pushes the minions at Penny Ballem’s feet to make the wrong moves and an otherwise possibly workable initiative goes to hell in a hand basket.
You heard from me previously on how this program would hurt smaller pubs and bistros particularly in the downtown core (due to them having to pay the most exorbitant retail/commercial rent in North America and suffer this unnecessary competition), but now there are even more concerns.
It turns out that some operators are actually trying to turn a massive profit on the licenses they’ve received WITHOUT ONE CART ON THE ROAD YET. Also, Clr. Heather Deal is out trying to spin the comments of many involved in the process of getting a licence. One woman quoted in the article clearly thinks the whole lottery process was a sham. You can read a terrific column by Robert Matas of the Globe and Mail, here
But now, I have also exclusively learned that Vancouver Coastal Health have some very serious concerns about some cart vendors. Some have suggested they would even prepare some of the food at home (!!!) and food handling procedures might not be followed as a result.
So I contacted Vancouver Coastal Health and their spokesperson, Claudia Kurzac, was as wonderful and pleasant as she was informative and to-the-point:
AGT: So what do you say to concerns some of our colleagues have made about the ‘Food Cart Program’ with respect to some vendors wanting to prepare food at home, food handling problems and the like?
CK: ANY vendors will need to meet our requirements. If a particular vendor can’t address any of our concerns, then they don’t get out there–it’s like any restaurant. It’s the same rules and standards.
AGT: Specifically, what about those who want to prepare their food at home and bring it along in their carts to sell to the public? What controls have you got in place to prevent this and spare the public from possible contamination-generated illness?
CK: Well, there will be no permit granted to anyone unless all the safety requirements are met. They are not allowed to prepare anything at home under the Public Health Act. We will not make any exceptions, under any circumstances.
AGT: And what about the City’s lottery system and failed process that has clearly contributed to all this?
CK: (audible, soft laughter) I can’t comment on the City of Vancouver’s process. It’s THEIR process.
‘nough said.
Hopefully they will all have to pass the Food Safe Program just like any restaurant needs to do.
[Translate]
Surely they will. But it’s clear–VCH is NOT happy with the way a good portion of them want to operate. And that’s a direct result of Vision’s iditotic ‘fools-rush-in’ mentality. They could have waited until next year.
[Translate]
Councilor Deal – remember the 7 P’s
Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance
[Translate]
At this point I’m not sure what to say about Heather. I’ve know her for a long time and she’s an affable enough woman, with a torturously funny sense of humour. But being a nice person doesn’t seem to translate, in this case, into being an effective councillor.
[Translate]
I read that the vendor for “chocolate covered fruit”, was offered kitchen space at Potluck Cafe. In return Portland Society (runs Potluck Cafe) asked him to teach life skills.
I believe this is the vendor @ Kit’s the article states is sharing the license with the Red Dragon.
Article further stated that the chocolate fruit cart owner wasn’t sure, at that time, if he would take up the offer…..
[Translate]
My apologies, in my previous post it should have read the Roaming Dragon food cart. In my defense, it is a red cart
[Translate]
Not at all…
[Translate]
Interesting…I’m not surprised that Mark Townsend, overlord of the PHS, has managed to get in the game…
[Translate]
Lottery system? Has this got something to do with the provincial government’s gambling laws? Really want to hear more about the process; do you have to own a bicycle to get a chance?
[Translate]
Too funny, Sir Lawrence!
Frankly, this whole problem could have been averted if Vision had thought this through, instead of their usual ‘Fire, Aim, Ready!’ The carts should have been awarded by merit only. But this is how little Vision Vancouver cares about your health. They only care about their ability to spin a story about how they “improved” street vending. Ridiculous. But dangerous, too! Always a pithy comment from you. Enjoy your long weekend!
[Translate]
Easy there Mr. Tsakumis, my ego has a propensity to obesity, edema, tumescence, conceit, distention etc., etc..
[Translate]
Really?!? I never noticed… LOL!
[Translate]
Interesting, typical Vision
[Translate]
Indeed.
[Translate]