Carne Asada is NOT a Crime

I'm no political-activist-guy, but that doesn't mean I don't care. I just have to come across the right cause. I came across two articles in the Los Angeles Times and Time.com that really got me fierd up.

It has to do with tacos, and taco trucks. Starting May 16, taco trucks in unincorporated parts of L.A. County will only be allowed to park in a particular spot for one hour at a time or face $1,000 fine or six months in jail...or both. This essentially detroys any loyal customer base.

As many of you know, I've been going to one particular taco truck for close to 20 years. (On Fair Oaks, just North of California in the Nishikawa Auto Service parking lot in Pasadena... affiliated with El Taquito #2 - also a good Pasadena restaurant.) These guys at the taco truck know my parents, my sisters, my wife, my son. I've gone there for dinner, second dinner, late night snack. I went there with my Dad, family, friends and dates. The food I miss the most being here in Tokyo? You got it, the taco truck. This is one of my favorite things to do in all of Los Angeles, and is so intertwined with my childhood that losing my taco truck would be in the general emotional vicinity of losing my childhood home.

Now maybe you think that's a little extreme...and you'd probably be closer to the truth. But, these are tacos after all. If you've had them, you'd know what I'm talking about. And I'm not talking about those sissy hard shell tacos with cheese and lettuce (I'm talking to you Tito's Tacos). Come on. Warm corn tortillas, meat, onions, cilantro, hot sauce, lime...you're done.

I bring this up not only because I'm hungry, but because I think it would be a cultural shame if somehow L.A. County became very un-taco-truck-friendly. I don't think my experiences with taco trucks is totally out of the ordinary, either. Obsessive? Yes. But one only has to see how long the lines are at a good taco truck at midnight to know that many people love their local taco truck. I only urge you to visit your local taco truck and enjoy a few tacos for your old pal Tony. You can also visit a website dedicated to preserving L.A. County taco trucks - http://saveourtacotrucks.org to sign a petition.