Freeing food trucks to feed the people.

Dear Friends of Pittsburgh,

Over the past two and a half years Franktuary has had the privilege of working with many fine citizens and organizations that have requested the service of its food truck. This past year, Franktuary has been thrilled by the emergence of other food trucks in Pittsburgh and the corresponding opportunity to create Pgh Mobile Food, an organization that gives local food truck operators a cohesive voice. Pgh Mobile Food, The Saxifrage School, and Councilman Bill Peduto are in the midst of improving Pittsburgh's mobile vending code and we would be honored to officially have your support!

Pittsburgh has a mobile vending code that makes it very difficult to legally operate a food truck. Some of the more onerous components are as follows:

No operating after midnight
No occupying a metered parking space
No vending in one place for more than 30 minutes
No operating within 500 feet of a brick and mortar business that sells a similar product
Unclear language, such that even the ability to operate on private property is sometimes questioned

To combat these restrictive policies Pgh Mobile Food recently hosted a series of educational events highlighting the issues Pittsburgh's mobile vendors currently face as well as best practices that exist in other cities with more vibrant food truck cultures. The series of events culminated on October 14 with a food truck rally, where Councilman Peduto introduced his proposed new legislation (read it here).

While Councilman Peduto's legislation is pending, we're recruiting support from private citizens, brick-and-mortar restaurant owners, and other organizations we think may have interest in our cause. As such, we would very much appreciate a letter of endorsement from you or your organization! If you care to write such a letter, please send it to tim@franktuary.com.

Additionally, we ask you to consider signing our petition.

Tim Tobitsch and Megan Lindsey for Franktuary

Tim Cook for the Saxifrage School