‘I don’t think it’s right’: Ursula supports Everett’s push against unlicensed food stands

The City of Everett proposed an ordinance that would make it a misdemeanor to operate unpermitted food stands, giving local police the authority to arrest vendors.

Ursula Reutin, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, agreed with the proposal even though she believed that some of the food they provide is tasty.

“I agree with the city of Everett, and the city says they’ll focus on education first, but the warnings would not actually be required, so they’re going to give police the discretion to decide,” Ursula said. “Someone’s going to say we’re party poopers, because some of that food is really good.”

Restaurants push back on unlicensed food stands in Everett

Ursula noted that, aside from the health risks posed by an unpermitted food vendor, other restaurants have expressed concerns about losing business due to the added competition, even though it is improperly credentialed.

“It’s not just the lack of fairness, because licensed vendors are saying, ‘Hey, wait a minute. This is our competition now, and they’re not having to go through all the hoops,’ but the health department has seen a huge number of complaints. It’s in the hundreds just last year alone,” Ursula said. “Part of it is because many of these stands don’t even have refrigeration. They don’t have clean water for hand washing or safe food storage.”

Fill-in host Angela Poe Russell noted that although she had an amazing experience at a roadside food truck, she will not go again unless it has a permit.

“Listen, I had the best taco I ever had on the side of a road in Tucson, under a tent. But after learning what I learned, I won’t do it again,” Angela said. “Everett is cracking down because there are businesses that go through the process, they have a permit, they paid the fees, and then someone can just set up on the side with a tent, and sell food with no regulation. I don’t think that’s right.”

“I mean, not all food carts are bad. There are great food carts that are doing it the right way,” Ursula responded. “But I think the city of Everett has some great reasons to do what they’re doing.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.