Before taking office, most politicians hope to "make a difference" for their constituents. After taking office, many politicians are so tied up in small debates that actual "make a difference" opportunities seem rare. Today, you have a chance to make a big difference in Grand Prairie. The food truck regulations you currently have in place benefit a few landlords.  What you do going forward will have ripple effects across all of Grand Prairie and North Texas as many will come to visit. 

Other cities have welcomed food trucks as dining pioneers, benefitting from an expanded variety and quality of foods. As evidenced by strong citizen support for these trucks, they undeniably generate goodwill and contribute to a city's culinary discussions: when the food's great, people literally follow the trucks from location to location, forming lines to support the new businesses. Some trucks, such as Los Angeles's Kogi BBQ, have received international attention and become tourist draws in their own right, while bringing crowds of new people to help generate additional support for existing businesses. These trucks generate precisely the sort of public excitement and improvement that a city needs, particularly in challenging economic times as we have witnessed during the Covid pandemic. 

Today, Grand Prairie has two locations that are allowed to set up food trucks anytime without going through a permitting process each time and that is Asia Time Square and the Premium Outlet Mall. Any other food truck would have to apply for a special use permit for a special event on an as-needed basis. Let’s designate a few locations within the City of Grand Prairie so that on weekends in Grand Prairie food trucks can be set up at those predetermined locations such as parks or other areas agreed upon by the city so that this can be a win-win for Grand Prairie. Let's create a committee to see us through this process. Invite community members to be a part of the process. 

Your prompt action is needed. It is important. The regulation you will pass is not just about protecting the pockets of a handful of your constituents. It is about helping everyone in the community. Your actions will directly affect the ability of a truck such as local residents to receive regional or statewide attention while making direct contributions to our community. It will help to improve the variety of foods available in this area. You will inspire or discourage the next generation of Grand Prairie small business people.

Since most of your constituents will not be present at the public or private meetings that are held regarding this item if it were to make it on to your agenda, it is up to you to act in Grand Prairie’s broader interest, and consider the unspoken needs of the many rather than the loudest shouts of the few business owners who are afraid of competing with these trucks. Like other cities that have embraced and seen tangible cultural, culinary, and economic benefits from food trucks, Grand Prairie will grow and prosper as these small business people test new models on their own dime, infusing our streets with long-awaited energy and excitement. 

We urge you to expedite regulations that enable licensed food trucks to operate with minimal interference from established businesses. In thriving cities, food truck regulations and permit processes are designed to encourage healthy competition. Grand Prairie should follow their example -- immediately.

As much as private landlords may want to lay claim to our public spaces, these individuals need to be reminded that they can control their own property, but they cannot preclude access to the surrounding streets and infrastructure our tax dollars paid for and maintain. Existing businesses cannot and should not be able to stop new, law-abiding competitors from offering higher-quality products at different or even nearby locations. Let the market decide the victors and reward them for their quality and innovation

Respectfully Yours,

The Residents of Grand Prairie