SDPD to begin citing illegal food vendors in Gaslamp Quarter
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — The Gaslamp Quarter may soon be without illegal street vendors. Starting Friday, a team of San Diego police officers will begin ticketing and possibly impounding illegal food carts. Officers will start by giving warnings on Thursday — the same day fans will fill Petco Park for the Padres home opener. “Tomorrow’s opening day. PD is going to go out and educate the vendors that enforcement will begin on Friday,” CEO of Gaslamp Quarter Michael Trimble said to KUSI on Wednesday. What’s the forecast for Padres opening weekend? Some nights in the Gaslamp Quarter, sidewalk food vendors have seemingly outnumbered the brick and mortar restaurants. “Any given night you can 40 to 60 vendors up and down Fifth Avenue, 10 per corner. It’s just out of control,” Trimble said. In 2018, California enacted the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, decriminalizing sidewalk vending statewide. In 2022, the San Diego City Council approved an ordinance establishing regulations for sidewalk vending, including requiring vending permits and restricting vending in some areas, including Gaslamp Quarter. Petco Park: What’s new to see this season “It’s going to happen,”