Slightly off topic, I went to Breed Street once and saw a boiling pot of oil unattended and waist high. It looked like a terrible accident was going to happen. Always regretted not saying something but they probably would have resented the intrusion.

On the positive side, my Word Verification is “Trippy”

The real people targeting vendors are (always) other restuarants, residents, and competitors. Now, it’s politicians trying to save their butts… because the restaurants and complainer residents are way more likely to vote and give campaign donations.

Seriously – I imagine that approximately 100% of these complainers will vote or donate, and it’s a key issue for them. 100% easily, and their complaints will even cause friends to make protest votes.

I imagine, for the customers, it’s barely an issue at all.

Legitimizing the business would provide protection. The only problem would be that legal food carts cost $5,000 and upwards, and legalized vending zones would probably charge rent.

something i got from a website a few years back and saved for my reference:

The Ten Legal Commandments of Photography

I. Anyone in a public place can take pictures of anything they want. Public places include parks, sidewalks, malls, etc. Malls? Yeah. Even though it’s technically private property, being open to the public makes it public space.

II. If you are on public property, you can take pictures of private property. If a building, for example, is visible from the sidewalk, it’s fair game.

III. If you are on private property and are asked not to take pictures, you are obligated to honor that request. This includes posted signs.

IV. Sensitive government buildings (military bases, nuclear facilities) can prohibit photography if it is deemed a threat to national security.

V. People can be photographed if they are in public (without their consent) unless they have secluded themselves and can expect a reasonable degree of privacy. Kids swimming in a fountain? Okay. Somebody entering their PIN at the ATM? Not okay.

VI. The following can almost always be photographed from public places, despite popular opinion:

* accident & fire scenes, criminal activities
* bridges & other infrastructure, transportation facilities (i.e. airports)
* industrial facilities, Superfund sites
* public utilities, residential & commercial buildings
* children, celebrities, law enforcement officers
* UFOs, the Loch Ness Monster, Chuck Norris

VII. Although “security” is often given as the reason somebody doesn’t want you to take photos, it’s rarely valid. Taking a photo of a publicly visible subject does not constitute terrorism, nor does it infringe on a company’s trade secrets.

VIII. If you are challenged, you do not have to explain why you are taking pictures, nor to you have to disclose your identity (except in some cases when questioned by a law enforcement officer.)

IX. Private parties have very limited rights to detain you against your will, and can be subject to legal action if they harass you.

X. If someone tries to confiscate your camera and/or film, you don’t have to give it to them. If they take it by force or threaten you, they can be liable for things like theft and coercion. Even law enforcement officers need a court order.

-In the end im always camara ready in appearance (and i try to carry my 2 cameras with me at all times) – because “big brother” or el vato de la esquina is watching.

So don’t pick your nose in the elevator

Then I began inviting others to come paint there, and the word spread. At the same time taggers began killing innocent bystanders, and the supervisor got pissed and now these alleys are buffed constantly. The lame thing is that other alleyes filled with chicken scratch and gang tags have been left untouched, but this one ful of art is now burned because of exposure. Not to mention the fact that this is a total waste of finite resources (like buffing the LA river, while 2 art projects have been halted due to lack of funding) needed to improve other forms of blight in Eastlos.

BTW, the 2 art projects i noted as being stalled for lack of funding both cost less than $8,000, whereas it cost millions to buff the LA river. What a damn shame.

I have gotten a lot of shite taking flics without asking, I try to, but many folks doing extra legal stuff or who are socially ostracized are fearful of you being the chota, its just a sad fact of life here.

Those vendors were cool people, they kicked me down with free comida once when i was fixing a tag on the homie chose’s mural nearby. Its a shame that they are now burned, as is what happens with many things that working class people create in this city. I have tons of things i have withheld sharing due to my fear of burning them. A while back that homeless encampment in baldwin park was burned because some dumbas grad student let everyone know about it.