Bass tells LAPD to stop issuing criminal citations to street vendors

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Set us as preferred The newest battleground in the Los Angeles mayoral race is at your favorite taco stand, as Mayor Karen Bass and her opponent, Councilmember Nithya Raman, spar over how they plan to run the city and treat its street vendors.The Los Angeles Police Department told Bass’ office that it had erroneously issued criminal citations to vendors around MacArthur Park, Bass spokesperson Paige Sterling told The Times on Thursday.Bass has ordered LAPD to stop issuing criminal citations to vendors and is working to remove any charges issued in error, Sterling said.

The mayor’s office also asked LAPD to make sure that these citations aren’t happening citywide.“The Mayor and her team will continue meeting with street vendors to implement policies and programs based on their needs.

Street vending is a quintessential part of L.A.’s world-class food scene and a livelihood for thousands of hardworking Angelenos,” Sterling said in a statement.The sudden focus on street food comes after Bass faced scrutiny for saying street vendors should not be allowed to set up in front of brick-and-mortar restaurants at a mayoral debate last week at the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.“Just like you shouldn’t have encampments in front of restaurants or in front of schools, you just should not do that,” Bass said.Critics, including Raman, said Bass was directly comparing homeless encampments to street vendors.

Raman followed up on negative interpretations of her Sherman Oaks statement with a one-two punch, showing up with supporters and television cameras at the famous Brothers Cousins Tacos stand on Sawtelle Boulevard on Wednesday night to mark the release of a pro-street-vendor policy plan.“When you come for our street vendors, you’re coming for the heart of L.A.,” Raman said of Bass.In the plan, Raman hopes to create an...