The sight of street-side bacon-wrapped hotdog carts contribute to Los Angeles’ identity just as much as its traffic and celebrity sightings, but for decades, the delicious service that vendors provide has remained illegal throughout the city. Now, we may start seeing a change. 

In its meeting Tuesday, the Economic Development Committee approved a framework to provide citywide street vending regulations, moving the long-awaited policy goal one step closer to completion. The memo outlined the proposed responsibilities of several city departments, including the Bureau of Street Services and the L.A. Police Department, that would oversee L.A.'s 50,000 street vendors, according to the city's Chief Legislative Analyst estimate.

“I agree with my colleagues that this plan, as we would say in Sacramento, is not cooked yet,” said Councilman Gil Cedillo, one of the plan's main proponents. “But I would say also at the same time that this is an idea whose time has come. This process of legalization is a process that cannot be stopped.”

Prior to the committee meeting, Huizar spoke along with Councilman Curren Price at the L.A. Street Vendors Campaign rally, where more than 40 vendors and community activists gathered. The councilmen, community activists and vendors spoke in a rally of the benefits that legalizing street vending would bring.   

“I’ve got a lot of illegal vendors in my district, entrepreneurs that would like to become legal and provide services in a lawful way, and we want to help facilitate that,” said Price. “It’s a real opportunity to encourage and support these microbusinesses.” 

Jerri Wingo, a street vendor who has been selling buttons and crafts in Leimart Park since the 1990s, said she was tired of navigating what she calls the “maze” of operating as a street vendor in L.A. 

“If street vending became legal, I would not always be in fear, or worry about police, worrying about how I’m going to make it if someone shuts me down,” Wingo said. 

Throughout her years in Leimart Park, Wingo said she has only been issued one citation. The fee however, cost her upward of $300, considerably more than what she makes in one day, she said. 

Another benefit of legalizing street vending that was discussed at the committee meeting was the opportunity for increasing the availability of healthy foods in many L.A. neighborhoods and alleviating the problem of food deserts.

“Street vendors are on the front lines of bringing healthy foods into their communities,” Clare Fox, the Director of Policy and Innovation for the Los Angeles Food Policy Council said.

While many associate street vendors with unhealthy products like soft pretzels and hot dogs, Isela Gracian, Vice President of Operations for the East L.A. Community Corporation, said her organization was looking forward to working with city officials to offer incentives for vendors selling fruits and vegetables. The details of the plan to incentivize healthy foods are not yet clear.

There appeared to be a general mistrust among those who opposed the plan. Peter Drivas, a businessowner in downtown L.A., called street vending "a safety hazard."

"It creates opportunities for criminals and pickpocketers. For example, a lady buys something and someone follows her after they see she had all the cash in her handbag,” he said.

Don Garza, a resident of downtown L.A., said that street vending could introduce increased drug problems into communities, citing the possibility of vendors using food or crafts as a money laundering front for the sale of illegal substances. He spoke in favor of legalization, but called for tight regulation to ensure that the law was enforced. 

Drivas also cited economic reasons for his oposition, saying that many legal businesses are losing revenue. "The stores are paying high rents, insurances," he said. "This is all free money [for street vendors]. They are not going to report it.” 

Others, like Barry Johnson of Studio City, asked councilmembers to allow each neighborhood to make its own decision on whether to legalize street vendings, rather than a citywide policy.

“One size does not fit all. I’m all for street vending, but it’s not a part of the culture in Studio City," Johnson said. "I urge you to allow each neighborhood to decide its own future."

City departments are expected to report back to the Economic Development Committee in the spring of next year. 

Reach Staff Reporter Emily Goldberg here. Follow her on Twitter here.