Comments on: Let the Correspondence Begin http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/ The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer covers downtown OKC brick by brick. Thu, 16 May 2013 02:42:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 By: LT http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36366 LT Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:10:53 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36366 I had a front row seat for this situation, and I would only like to add that there is no way this was not a coordinated raid. The “agents” came onto the truck with a show of force that I can only compare to a drug raid. There was nothing that the trucks could have done not to be shut down. BTT had the wrong license, yes, but that license was issued by the same people that were shutting down the event. How can it be BTT’s fault that they were issued the wrong license. On another note, BTT was inspected the very next day, made absolutely no changes to the trucks and passed without any problems. How can this be? If they were shut down because elemental never got a license, then there should have been no examination of the trucks and thus no bad press for all of these vendors.

]]> By: david ball http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36266 david ball Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:39:59 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36266 it is a frequent pattern of enforcement agencies to operate in groups. ever drive down i-35 on the north side of town? unfortunately, while the agents or officers feel more secure by having others to watch their backs, the citizens’ perception is entirely different. when government is perceived as strong-armed and heavy handed, you get the kind of community relations that exist in los angeles with the police department. strangely enough, i just visited san francisco, where the atmosphere is completely different.

other food vendors are not likely to be “scared into compliance.” they are far more likely to be scared off completely. deliberate? can’t say for sure, but some folks who are employed by government aren’t the least bit bothered by the prospect of collecting the same pay for not having to do as much work in the future. if there are no food trucks, they don’t have to be inspected. there is no need for a conspiracy. it is more likely to be herd mentality. besides, food trucks are likely considered to be a pain to inspect. you have to track ‘em down, and apparently they must be inspected constantly. it’s not hard to imagine the motivation here.

]]> By: kent http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36243 kent Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:53:40 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36243 Was on the beach in Santa Monica several years ago and noticed that all the food vendors there would have been shut down if they had been in Oklahoma City.

]]> By: Tom http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36242 Tom Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:59:16 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36242 According to the Dallas Morning News, a “Food Truck Festial” was held in Dallas this weekend. I don’t subscribe online, so perhaps someone else could give us the gist of the article found here: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20110827-food-truck-festival-held-on-greenville-avenue-in-northeast-dallas.ece

]]> By: GenghisDuck http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36239 GenghisDuck Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:00:15 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36239 Oh. And I would like to say that I appreciate the well experienced thoughts. Some people just don’t get it and
it’s nice to see someone who does!Plus, I totally relate to
a lunch rush when you think it’s going to be a slow day.

]]> By: GenghisDuck http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36238 GenghisDuck Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:57:58 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36238 I’m not trying to brag but I worked at OU Concessions.

Does anyone else understand this captcha thing. I can’t read what to type in. Isn’t that weird?

]]> By: MartzMimic http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36237 MartzMimic Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:22:53 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36237 I don’t think anyone really questions the need for food safety. That said, the way these inspections were carried out seems to have been rather ham-handed. If it had been a couple health inspectors and an ABLE agent, it would be easy to accept that this is what they always do. Instead, they treated it like the vendors were Branch Davidians.

]]> By: Mike N. http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36236 Mike N. Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:03:19 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36236 Janet R. thank you for your sage and obviously well experienced thoughts. It is nice to see an insider that has been there done that and fully understands and supports the equal enforcement of the health codes.

]]> By: slackmeyer http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36233 slackmeyer Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:03:29 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36233 Janet, I’d love to quote your comment in an upcoming story… can I do that and use your full name?

]]> By: Janet R http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/08/27/let-the-correspondence-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-36231 Janet R Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:00:34 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/?p=6468#comment-36231 I operated a mobile food concession for 3 years at events and festivals throughout Oklahoma. What most people don’t realize is these mobile concessions are inspected every time they attend a festival. The health inspectors may show up before the event starts or in the middle of the event. I had one walk in on me after I had been slammed during a lunch rush that I was working alone thinking it would be a slow day. The inspector wanted to see if the temps and conditions of food meet requirements while you were serving. These mobile food vendors have to meet all food handling requirements same as a restaurant, meet electrical code, and contain fire suppression systems. I was delayed opening at one event due to a fire extinguisher having an out of date tag. Most restaurants are inspected once a year while mobile concessions are inspected at each event. Did I feel it was unfair, no. But I did feel it unfair for non-profit organizations as churches to not follow the same requirements. I understand this has been changed now and they too must meet all health codes. Personally I did not oppose to this inspection. And I hope any facility I purchase food from be a restaurant or mobile vendor meets all health requirements. It wasn’t a raid on the event, it was the inspectors job. It may have been an action in response to your story only in the fact that they were not aware of the event until they read your story.

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