SPPD seizes illegal food carts
near Our Lady of Guadalupe
June 04, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
There was no dining ala carte Sunday on Oak Street after Santa Paula Police confiscated a handful of illegal food carts trying to cash in on the huge crowd visiting El Santo Niño de Atocha at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
“We started receiving reports of unlicensed food vendors Saturday,” said SPPD Sgt. Ken Clark, shortly after the procession accompanying El Santo Niño de Atocha arrived at the church.
Our Lady of Guadalupe conducts ongoing fundraising by selling food and with the thousands of people visiting the shrine of El Santo Niño; private food purveyors saw their chance to make some money that normally would be spent at the church’s dining hall.
Sunday at about 6:30 p.m. police took action and arrived in the 400 block of Oak Street with a truck.
After questioning the food vendors police confiscated four food carts found to be “unlicensed and un-permitted,” by the City of Santa Paula and Ventura County Environmental Health, which oversees restaurants, food trucks and cart sales.
Clark said the cart operators “Were also cited for selling food without a license... I’m not sure what will happen to the carts,” which once seized by the authorities often goes unclaimed.
“Most of the time they don’t even try to get them back,” but Clark said, “We did advise them to contact City Hall Monday,” regarding reclaiming the equipment.
The carts that were confiscated were selling shaved ice refreshments and hot corn on the cob, which included the buyer’s choice of, “Butter, sauces, different toppings, so much stuff... it’s a health and safety issue,” when carts are not permitted as storage temperatures and cleanliness go unchecked.
Clark said those ticketed, “Were cooperative although not too happy when we confiscated their carts... “
