Xavier Becerra uses tacos to distract voters from his failures

I highly doubt Xavier Becerra spends much time eating at the street taco vendors he’s now telling Californians to visit. These vendors are typically found in lower-income neighborhoods, under freeway overpasses, in parking lots, or on the outskirts of town.They often operate late at night with food prepared on folding tables under tents, with limited or no permanent hand-washing stations, and many are cash-only operations. Most politicians in California don’t wander far away from their comfortable cocktail parties. And yes: Chefs love the street vendors because the food can be authentic and usually costs a fraction of what you’d pay at a brick-and-mortar restaurant (and we are used to eating anything; chefs are crazy when it comes to food). But it costs less for a reason.In California, restaurants have to pay the highest commercial rent along with property taxes, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, liability insurance, utilities, health permits, business licenses, fire inspections, grease trap maintenance, credit card fees, accountants, lawyers and equipment costs — and comply with some of the most burdensome labor laws in America. We spend thousands of dollars every year just to earn the privilege of opening our doors.  California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story The trade-off is that customers also get the protections that come with those costs: permanent hand-washing stations, refrigeration standards, temperature controls, inspections and accountability. When those safeguards aren’t followed, people get sick; that’s why health departments exist (although not always; that’s another piece for another time).Knowing all of that, the former secretary of health and human services (and current gubernato...