Chicago a step closer to lifting ban on food carts

Today, the Chicago Committee on License and Consumer Protection voted in favor of an ordinance that would legalize food carts in the city. Now the ordinance moves to the full City Council, which will meet on Sept. 24 for a vote. Chicago is one of the only major U.S. cities that bans food carts; these...

Today, the Chicago Committee on License and Consumer Protection voted in favor of an ordinance that would legalize food carts in the city. Now the ordinance moves to the full City Council, which will meet on Sept. 24 for a vote.

Chicago is one of the only major U.S. cities that bans food carts; these businesses are recognized in 23 of the 25 largest cities in the country. If the city embraces food carts, it could see up to 6,400 new jobs and up to $8.5 million in new local sales-tax revenue. This is an easy way to provide additional revenue for a city staring down a billion-dollar budget deficit while helping some of the areas in the city that are hurting the most.

The ordinance passed the license committee with strong support. Now, Chicago’s food-cart entrepreneurs are one step closer to an important victory: the right to make an honest living.