Newark public safety cracking down on unlicensed food peddlers
Each license costs between $250 and $500, according to the online application.
Law enforcement in Newark shut down several unlicensed food vendors earlier this week - and the decision drew mixed reaction from locals.
According to the Newark Department of Public Safety, a community service officer shut down several peddlers on Bloomfield Avenue who were selling without a peddler's license, citing complaints on Tuesday.
"The one here on the front end and the one on the other side of the street, they've got a lot of people coming in and out of there," Robert D'Inocenzio, owner of Dickie Dee's on Bloomfield Avenue, said in reference to nearby peddlers. "People just double park in, jumping out, a lot of cars everywhere, a lot of commotion."
However, the DPS's social media post about the situation has drawn pushback from many locals who are unhappy about the loss of some of their favorite places to eat.
Some competitors, though, told News 12 this kind enforcement evens the playing field.
"It's like 50-50 because I kind of understand why people do it. Some people don't have enough money to you know pay for the permit, but at the same time, you're cheating out some of the people who do own the businesses, like my parents. My parents," Jayden Rojas, whose parents own a local food truck, said.
To get a peddler's license, applicants must have proof of citizenship, a warrant check and several health certificates of approval.
Each license costs between $250 and $500, according to the online application.
"When you take the license, for one guy you pay $500. I have five licenses. My car is $2,500. It's a lot of money," Rene, owner of Antojitos Victoria food truck, said. "My business is more complicated because now my price is coming down because now the guys they sell more cheap."
The Newark Department of Public Safety said the peddlers' merchandise was not confiscated and all left the area without incident on Tuesday.
