UA proposal advocates ending strict food truck closing hours

In a swift and decisive move, the Undergraduate Assembly unanimously passed a proposal to extend the operating hours of food trucks on campus.

The University has recently enforced a clause in the vendors' leases, which require that food trucks close at 6 p.m., leaving vendors and students disgruntled.

In the past, food trucks were typically open for several hours after 6 p.m.

Food trucks that are part of the Fresh Air Food Plazas -- the designated areas for food trucks around campus -- must now close before evening.

Understanding that Penn has not enforced this policy in the past, the UA requested "that the University suspend any changes in contracts or changes in the enforcement of contracts with food trucks until the issue has been addressed by a University Council committee."

The recommendation also called for the administration to "justify its sudden enforcement of this clause in the lease agreement, other than its concern regarding health standards."

Council Representative for the UA and College junior Jason Levine authored this proposal after discussion with members of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly.

"We've been in contact with GAPSA, which has taken a strong stance against this policy," he said. "Since this affects both of our constituents, we wanted to also take a position."

UA Chairman and College senior Jason Levy also hopes that this policy will change.

"We're definitely pretty hopeful that the administration will reverse their decision," he said. "We're going to work strongly with GAPSA to present a united front so that we can lobby to at least temporarily suspend any rules that keep these food trucks from running after 6 p.m."

"We're not categorically looking to protect food trucks," Levy added. "We're just asking that the status quo remain until a proper UC committee meets to look over the broader issues in this situation."

The five areas that are affected by this recent enforcement include 37th and Walnut streets, 33rd and South streets, 34th and Spruce streets, 34th and Walnut streets and 40th Street.

Trucks located on 38th Street and those outside of the Quadrangle are not affected by these changes because they have leases with the city and consequently have not been affected by recent University crackdowns.

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