Hi, my name is Reyawna Sharpe-Brown, and I’m the owner of Rey De Los Taco. I’ve been running my food truck for 2 years, serving delicious LA Mexican street food  to the Grady community and helping to create a vibrant and diverse food scene in our area.

Recently, a video aired by 11Alive reported on the food truck industry in a negative light, which has caused severe damage to the reputation of small businesses like mine. The video painted a misleading picture of food trucks, spreading misinformation that has made many of us appear unreliable and unsafe to customers, even though the truth couldn’t be further from that.

As a result of this video, myself and my fellow colleagues have seen a significant decrease in sales and vending opportunities. Many potential locations and event organizers are hesitant to allow food trucks now, fearing that the issues presented in the video might be attract unwarranted police attention. I’ve already had to lost several locations due to the bad press. It’s becoming harder and I fear for the future of our small businesses, which help make Atlanta an inspiring place for locals and tourists.

Food trucks are more than just a place to grab a quick bite – they are a vibrant part of our local culture. We bring people together, support local suppliers, and create jobs. I’ve worked hard to build relationships with my customers and suppliers, and I know that my food truck helps bring life to local events, festivals, and gatherings.

I am asking for your support in urging the mayor, chief of hospital, and other relevant officials to reconsider the misinformation  and to provide a platform for food truck owners like me to share our side of the story. We deserve the opportunity to show that we are not just an essential part of the local economy but also a trusted and valued service in our community.

This petition is brought forward by Rey De Los Taco in collaboration with:

Smokey’s Barbecue • Rockaz Jamaican Kitchen • Witty’s Seafood & Wings • T’s Catering 

— Local Atlanta food vendors working together to create a safe, legal late-night vending zone.

We, the undersigned mobile food vendors, small business owners, and community members, respectfully request that the City of Atlanta:

Allow permitted food vendors to operate past 12:00 AM in designated zones or on private property with owner permission.

Develop a clear permitting process for late-night food vending.

Support small businesses and provide safe, regulated food options to Atlanta’s late-night community.

This policy will help local entrepreneurs earn a living, create jobs, and reduce unregulated street vending by bringing vendors into compliance

We are committed to creating a safe and well-regulated late-night food vending zone. To address community and city concerns, we propose implementing the following measures:

Lighting & Visibility: Temporary floodlights or string lighting to keep the area well-lit at night for safety.

Trash & Cleanliness: Shared trash bins with daily waste collection and each vendor responsible for cleaning their station.

Security: Hire licensed security or coordinate with off-duty officers for on-site safety during operating hours.

Crowd Control: Clearly marked vendor spaces, pedestrian lanes, cones/barriers, and limits on the number of vendors to avoid congestion.

Health & Permits: All vendors will hold valid City of Atlanta business licenses, food service permits, and health inspections.

Noise & Hours: Operations will be limited to agreed-upon evening hours that balance public need and nearby resident concerns.

By implementing these measures, we will create a safe, clean, and organized environment while supporting local small businesses.

We propose 228 Edgewood Ave NE as the primary pilot location,

Monthly lot cost: approximately $135
Currently available Monday–Sunday, 8:00 AM–7:00 PM (requesting permission for extended late-night hours)
Capacity for 4–5 food vendors safely spaced apart

and also request the City of Atlanta consider designating additional safe late-night vending areas around Grady Hospital, including:

1. Jesse Hill Jr. Drive surface lots (vacant or underused at night)
2. Decatur Street and Edgewood Avenue lots (within walking distance of downtown nightlife)
3. Gilmer Street & Coca-Cola Place lots (currently unused after business hours 

These areas are close to the Grady and Georgia State University communities, have open space for setup, and could be regulated with the same safety plan: lighting, sanitation, security, crowd control, and health code compliance.

This vendor lot will:

Provide safe, accessible late-night food options near Grady Hospital for staff, patients, and the community. Allowing a much easier access for emergency personnel to do their jobs properly without interference. While also supporting local small business owners and help them continue earning a living.
Bring positive, organized activity to an area that currently lacks late-night food access.
We are ready and willing to work with city officials, health inspectors, and law enforcement to ensure full compliance and safety at this proposed site.

A Vendor Association Committee (to be formed by participating vendors) will oversee safety, cleanliness, scheduling, and compliance

• All vendors will sign a shared maintenance agreement

• Issues will be reported directly to the property owner and city officials to ensure accountability.

We, the undersigned, support the creation of this regulated late-night vendor lot at or near 228 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, and urge the City of Atlanta to approve our proposal.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. This petition isn’t just for me; it’s for all small business owners who are struggling because of false narratives. I hope that we can work together to restore the reputation of the food truck industry and continue to bring joy and good food to our community.