A sign prohibiting oversized vehicles from parking alongside Shoreline Drive was removed by the city Friday afternoon following a protest by local food truck vendors who said they were being targeted. Officials, meanwhile, said the issue was a misunderstanding.
Earlier this week, food truck vendors were alerted by the city’s public works department about temporary “No Parking” signs that would be placed along the parking spaces on Shoreline Drive in preparation for overflow parking and shuttle services related to the Shaqtober Halloween event that kicked off Thursday.
“But we weren’t freaked out about that,” said Edin Enamorado, a community activist who helped organize the protest. He said the local vendors figured they would just move somewhere else for the weekend and then come back later.
The issue, Enamorado said, began when a new “permanent sign” suddenly popped up without explanation along the popular food vendor area. It specified that unattached trailers or vehicles over 85 inches high, 80 inches wide or 22 feet long would no longer be able to park there.
Lupe Godinez, Owner of Hibachi Queens Food Truck, one of roughly 10 food trucks that park along Shoreline, said they were blindsided by the sudden placement of the sign ahead of a busy weekend.
“We’d understand if this was voted on but it wasn’t that,” she said. “It felt like it was sneaky and done behind everyone’s back.”
But city officials said the signs were not meant to target food trucks and that the oversized parking prohibition signage was “erroneously installed.”
According to the city, closing down areas along Shoreline Drive for shuttle services is a common practice whenever the city hosts large special events at the Queen Mary.
In this case, the closure of these parking spaces were meant be in effect from Thursday through Sunday.
“Signage was posted in the impacted areas on Monday, Sept. 26, and was additionally communicated to nearby businesses and stakeholders,” according to the city.
Regardless, on Friday, vendors gathered at around 10 a.m. on Shoreline Avenue holding signs that read “Stop the food truck injustice” and “food trucks pay taxes too.” They marched to City Hall where they demanded to speak to someone over the changes.
Eventually, a representative from State Sen. Lena Gonzalez office addressed the crowd and promised to help them work toward a solution.
At about 2:40 p.m. the new signs along Shoreline Drive were removed, according to officials, due to Shaqtoberfest not requiring “this level of service due to the number of expected attendees.”
However, depending on the logistical needs of the special event, which will run through the end of October, the parking spaces may once again be subjected to restrictions, the city added.
Still, the removal of the signs was only half the battle, according to food truck vendors, who say they’ve also been facing complaints from local restaurants who see them as competition.
But Godinez, who has operated Hibachi Queens Food Truck at The Pike for over a year, said food trucks have been beneficial as they have brought a more diverse crowd to the area.
“I was born and raised in Long Beach,” Godinez said. “I can tell you that we have never seen The Pike this busy.”
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