City rethinks university food truck bill

City Council has decided to hold off on further action on legislation introduced in June that would have “killed” the mobile food community on Drexel University’s campus.

"We don’t know which parts to keep or must change yet," Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell told the Philadelphia Business Journal. "We will keep it where it is as we meet and deal with all the vendors, the business community, university and students — as we deal with everybody involved."

Blackwell in June introduced Bill 150600, which would essentially create a Drexel University District, or the area along 32nd Street between Market and Chestnut streets, where a total of 25 vendors – street and sidewalk – would have been permitted to operate.

Vendors said the bill would have "killed" the campus' food truck scene.

A meeting with Gary Koppelman, of USA Mobile Commissary, who spoke on the food trucks' behalf, led Blackwell to recognize that some of the bill's requirements don't fit in with today's mobile food vending industry, according to Josh Kim, owner of Spot Gourmet Burgers.

For instance, not all vendors want to be remain stationary – one of the bill's stipulations.