RSS Feeds
'NY Times' Riles An Already Grumpy, Taco-Deprived Population
Posted by Seth at 11:00 AM on May 8, 2008
Metromix L.A. posted an angry—and justifiably so, we'd say—response to a NY Times piece from earlier in the week about the movement to save L.A.'s beloved taco trucks, currently endangered thanks to new city ordinances that would limit where they can do business. (The article begins, "Los Angeles, loath to rally cohesively around a local cause, has joined hands around tortillas," and continues to paint a portrait of an apathetic community who only manage to rally when the fate of their al pastor-access is in danger.) Decries Metromix:
In drawing upon predictable stereotypes, Steinhauer presumes that food is not in itself political. While we stupid Angelenos fail to notice real issues like architectural blights on our skyline or the mismanagement of municipal funds, the food-obsessed have rallied around something as inconsequential as taco "carts."
Steinhauer at once minimizes the gravity of the issue and the accompanying call-to-arms while also failing to recognise that food plays a significant role in dispensing culture. And in a place as complex as L.A., food is the first, if not only, ambassador that enables communication between disparate and varied communities.Yes, taco trucks are about as authentic or integral to Mexican cuisine as bacon-wrapped hot dogs from a mini cart. But like those hot dog carts—which are a far cry from the NYC street carts that Steinhauer must be used to—they are but one representation of the resourcefulness and fortitude that sustain L.A.'s immigrant communities.
Yeah! Who you calling "loath to rally," NY Times? This from a newspaper whose recent, L.A.-based crack investigative work includes, "As 'American Idol' Fans Cheer, A Geppetto Pulls the Strings", and "Amidst the Engineered Reality of L.A.'s The Grove, A Real You." Angelenos care! About a lot of stuff—not just parking restrictions. When's the last time a New Yorker got a rubber bullet in the neck at an immigrants' rights demonstration? Or a Hummer over the foot protesting at the Bronson Gate? Or faced down an evil Japanese dolphin fisherman?
What do we want?!
Tacos and a bunch of other stuff!
When do we want them?!
NOW!!!
- This Angeleno ain't so mild [blogs-losangeles.metromix.com via EaterLA]
Tags: culture | gawker | tacotruckgate | top
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
david
Posted May 8, 2008 4:52 PM
Wasn't NYC the only major city in the US that didn't hold a city-wide immigration rally last year? In LA, approximately a million people showed up in downtown.
Henifer Hropes
Posted 11:53 AM 8/5/08
WjhaT!?!?!
They cannot mess with my taco taco burrito burrito.
Henifer Hropes
Conbon
Posted 11:48 AM 8/5/08
They're coming for the bacon wrapped hot dogs, too? FIGHT THE POWER.
Conbon
fileunder
Posted 11:38 AM 8/5/08
Bizarre. "Good Food" on KCRW just did a feature last week on the LA Burrito Project. People make burritos to hand out for free in parts of town.
I'm guessing this isn't regulated?
Oh also, this is my first ever Defamer post in the 2 years I've been a commenter. It's remarkably like...commenting on any other GM site!
[www.kcrw.com]
fileunder
TheStarterWife
Posted 11:23 AM 8/5/08
It's the end of a very long, long, long day here in TSW-land, so please forgive me if my memory is sketchy...
Didn't the same sort of ban go into effect in the OC a couple of years ago? And not just taco trucks, but the small fruit / grocery trucks that work the neighborhoods? What ever happened to with that?
TheStarterWife
Al_Pastor
Posted 11:23 AM 8/5/08
carne asada is not a crime (nor is al pastor)
[www.saveourtacotrucks.org]
[tacohunt.blogspot.com]
Al_Pastor
TheStarterWife
Posted 12:00 PM 8/5/08
@Conbon: They've always been against the bacon wrapped hot dogs. Spend any time around them (don't ask) and you'll see the cops toss all their food into the trash and dump the coals.
Now granted, most of them are not licensed and are cooking them on a baking sheet that is above another baking sheet covered in hot coals...
TheStarterWife
Seeräuber Jenny
Posted 12:42 PM 8/5/08
"But this is also a food-obsessed city with rich Hispanic cultural traditions, and tacos have crossed the miles of road and class divides."
NYTimespeak for "Rich, Non-Minority People Involved, Thus Worthy Of Attention."
It's not like Manhattan doesn't have taco trucks.
Seeräuber Jenny
Whiteboyfunfark
Posted 1:02 PM 8/5/08
Apathetic? Wasn't it just yesterday that everybody was all worked up over preferred parking on Brad & Angelina's street?
Whiteboyfunfark
Henifer Hropes
Posted 1:50 PM 8/5/08
oh si si si
this makes me muyy triste....
Henifer Hropes
Jaguares
Posted 3:02 PM 8/5/08
Where do these people expect NATIVE Angelenos get their tacos? A West L.A. restaurant? I think not!
Jaguares
Mike_Jahn
Posted 3:31 PM 8/5/08
@Seeräuber Jenny: There's a Mexican couple selling burritos out of a sidewalk setup (not even a truck) on the corner of 8th and 40th every morning rush. They're always mobbed.
Mike_Jahn
tunamelt
Posted 4:17 PM 8/5/08
@Conbon: Toy District, downtown, where they sell porn and bongs, there's a bacon-wrapped hot dog cart where the hot dog comes with homemade salsa and quac. It's epic.
tunamelt
Giganto Panda
Posted 4:17 PM 8/5/08
Taco trucks should drive around like ice cream men. Why don't they do that? I'd wave them over.
Giganto Panda
Little Mintz Sunshine
Posted 10:59 PM 8/5/08
@TheStarterWife: Who knew LA had Kosher cops who have solved all crime?
Hmmm...Kosher...cops...crime...drama..."Kosher Kops". Don't thank me until Emmy time, NBC.
Little Mintz Sunshine
SugartitsMcFirecrotch
Posted 12:07 AM 9/5/08
Bacon-wrapped hot dogs?!?
That's new since I left L.A.
My arteries are hardening just at the thought . . .
@Sweet Panda Love: In other news - I lurve you!
SugartitsMcFirecrotch
Sweet Panda Love
Posted 11:50 PM 8/5/08
@Little Mintz Sunshine: Would a bacon-covered hot dog be the equivalent of triple homicide to Kosher Kops?
Walkin' the beat
Separatin' cheese and meat
You might go treyf
Or they might just save your liiiiife
Kosher Kops
Kosher Kops
They're coming for your bacon cheeseburger
Sweet Panda Love
NoGrumpys
Posted 1:26 AM 9/5/08
Did someone say GRUMPY?
NoGrumpys
Shumina
Posted 2:23 AM 9/5/08
@Sweet Panda Love: Inspired.
@fileunder: Except Kotaku. You'll get the ban-hammer for farting in Nintendo's general direction, but here you can pretty much get by with being smart...assed.
Shumina