Los Angeles street-food complaints reveal unsanitary practices as mayor halts vendor citations

A massive 662-page dossier compiled by the LA County Department of Public Health lists 9,746 complaints about street-food vendors filed between 2023 and early 2026, including graphic reports of dogs eating meat, cockroaches in trucks, mice near salsa, and vendors serving food without hand-washing stations. The California Post’s request revealed that most complaints received minimal or no follow-up, with many marked simply as “closed,” “canceled,” or “justified” without clarification from the health agency.

Mayor Karen Bass this week directed the LAPD to stop issuing criminal citations to vendors who violate permitting rules, effectively granting unpermitted carts broader freedom to operate. Business groups such as the Los Angeles Business Federation and the Westside Council of Chambers of Commerce warned that the lack of sanitation oversight threatens both public health and brick-and-mortar establishments. Councilwoman Nithya Raman, a mayoral rival, called for streamlined permitting and consistent enforcement to allow safe coexistence. On the ground, areas like the El Salvador Corridor in Pico-Union see a surge of vendors crowding sidewalks, prompting local merchants to lament lost sales and heightened competition.