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This is the tale of an epic food fight, and one groups heroic struggle for
freedom.
In the realm of the winds, the people cried for sustenance.
Clever merchants launched mobile taverns, capable of sating the people's
hunger wherever they may be.
I'm Greg Burke, I'm the owner of the Chicago Schnitzel King,
this is my mobile food jeep,
where I produce the best Schnitzel in the city of Chicago.
I'm Kristin Casper, the Chicago Schnitzel Queen, of the Chicago Scnitzel King food truck.
I'm Laura Pekarik, entreprenuer, owner of Cupcakes for Courage and Courageous Bakery.
Most hail these horseless carriages as Godsent.
but a few of the landed gentry fear of the new ways.
They beseech the Grand Council,
whose Alderman lord over each of the realms fifty wards, to forbid the
carriages from drawing nigh to the gentry's own taverns.
The affect of the decree was to prohibit the carriages from feeding the people
throughout vast expanses of the realm.
The two hundred foot rule that's in place right now restricts all food trucks and food
operators to park within two hundred feet from any
brick and mortar establishment, which means any business that sells food,
such as a seven-eleven, the *** Mart on the corner.
The penalties for any transgressions
would be swift and severe. I could legally park on the street,
but be within two hundred feet of a restaurant and receive a two thousand dollar fine,
where as somebody who parks real parks in front of a fire hydrant pays only a hundred dollars.
The sole council member to rise up against the decree,
defiantly declared, I think restraint of trade
is what this ordinate serves up.
Cooking up innovation was the intent.
A brick and mortar restaurant lobby got ahold of it, and it was stuffed with
protectionism, and baked in the oven of paranoia. The herald of record
similarly noted the council's protectionist motive.
Being that I'm an owner of a food truck and
a bakery, I think that they definitely can coexist even a Los Angeles today, there's
a very viable restaurant industry and, also very viable food truck industry.
It's possible here in Chicago too.
The council even called upon their seers, to observe the food trucks' every move.
It just feels like an ankle bracelet as a small business owner to have to have a
tracking device monitor your every whereabouts.
Um I don't see what the need for it is. I think it's wrong and I personally don't want
it on my vehicle.
Their fortunes appeared bleak
but our merchants refused to falter.
They joined forces with a merry band of warriors known as the Institute for Justice, which
have thwarted similar attacks in other realms. IJ's national street vending
initiative has improved food food truck laws across the nation.
Many cities have embraced reform,
but a few continue to decide what businesses win or lose.
In those situations, the only way to protect people's constitutional rights
is through the courts. I'm fighting with the Institute for Justice and my fellow food
trucks because I'm fighting for what I believe is right, and
I think competition is what makes America great, and I want to be able to compete,
and
serve my customers. Hearing of the King's Great Quest,
Princes and Paupers, and all the people throughout the realm, join together
to cry out, "Long live the Schnitzel King!
May he forever fill out stomachs with Schnitzel and our
lives with liberty."
Food trucks are a vibrant symbol of the American dream, and together with
the Institute for Justice, we can fight to make that dream a reality.
For more on these corageous heroes and their epic battle,
visit IJ.org, and like IJ on facebook.