Night Food Market in Downtown OKC

[Steve]

Larry, I'm working on a more extensive story that details the southside raids, etc. But yeah, they definitely hit the trucks in south OKC.

[Thunder]

Jim Hughes, assistant director at ABLE, was the one agency representative who did not acknowledge any missteps or suggest that there will be any review of his agents' actions.

Prime example of this guy and the entire ABLE cult thinking they are above the law. Something has got to be done about this.

[Steve]

Interesting tidbit on ABLE from the Red Dirt Report: http://axiomamuse.wordpress.com/2011...sa-nightspots/

[Larry OKC]

That's just crazy! I don't see why they (ABLE) feel the need to do this, the Night Food Market was a hit from my understanding and would love to see them start operating it again

Someone posted they have the next one planned, think they are planning it as a once a month thing, the last friday??

[MDot]

Someone posted they have the next one planned, think they are planning it as a once a month thing, the last friday??

Aha, that sounds fantastic. Like I said, I haven't kept up with it much. Lol sorry if I post about things that have been answered or covered already.

[soonerguru]

Interesting tidbit on ABLE from the Red Dirt Report: http://axiomamuse.wordpress.com/2011...sa-nightspots/

Well, there's your confirmation to what Bluedog was talking about. Wow, Sullivan looks like a total fascist in that picture. Creepy.

And I guess based on Steve's article, ABLE is basically promising to show up at the next Night Food Market, and, while there, go ahead and "inspect" Ludivine.

Total aholes. We should have the agency dismantled, but that's not happening with Sullivan and the other current occupants of the Leg.

[MustangGT]

Whether you agree or disagree with their methods ABLE serves a need. Even if ABLE was dismantled don't for one second be so stupid to think they will not be replaced. Possibly with something even worse. Regualtory agencies are a FACT OF LIFE we ALL have to live with, it is just as simple as that. Transparency should be as great as possible, public accountability you bet but abolishment is drunken fantasy. I am NO fan of the jack boots at the BATFE but they do serve a purpose.

[Steve]

The question, Mustang, is whether ABLE agents are conducting themselves appropriately. Accountability for behavior of those in power comes with exposure of their actions to the community they answer to. I'm not here to say what they do is good or bad. But I do believe people need to know what's going on and make that decision for themselves.

[MustangGT]

Steve I COMPLETELY agree with you. Obviously there are areas that the public should have complete unfettered access to and there are areas that the public should have NO access to. ABLE is both a regulatory agency and and enforcement agency. The majority of the transparency must be on the regulatory side as law enforcement methods and techiniques are not, and never should be for public discourse.

If they were following the policies and procedures of their agency when the actions took place a reasonable case can be made that their conduct was appropriate. Now if changes are needed then a dialogue is necessary. But if changes are made you cannot act ex post facto towards how this situation was handled.

[Steve]

There are a lot of issues coming out of this raid. One that seems to be hitting a chord is how ABLE agents go into respectable restaurants where there is no threat to their safety, and where there have been no reported crimes, and come into the dining area with guns and badges as if a crime has occurred. I'm wondering if having folks who are wired for law enforcement are best suited for inspections.....

[bluedogok]

The TABC did the same thing several years ago arresting people inside bars for public intoxication, a "crime" which does not need a breathalyzer or blood alcohol test like DUI/DWI does. It merely requires the arresting officer to have the opinion that they believe the person was intoxicated. It caused quite a stink down here and ended up with the TABC going under a Sunset Commission review which determines whether state agencies should be terminated or not. They have modified many of their enforcement actions after that and the subsequent pressure from the legislature. Seems like it needs to happen in Oklahoma as well.

The ABLE Commission or the TABC should be regulatory agencies and have inspection authority but not that of police agencies. So should the IRS but I know where their guns are kept in the "Enforcement Division" of the Austin office....since we did the plans for their new space. Why an agency like the IRS, ABLE or TABC should have police powers is beyond me when there are plenty of other policing agencies out there that could assist them in what their agencies are officially tasked with should a particular situation warrant police support. In most cases I think ABLE does not need police support for their actions. In the days of prohibition and the mob control of the illicit alcohol trade I could understand but in todays legal alcohol environment it seems like a holdover to a time long ago.

[MustangGT]

bluedogok as to the charge of Public Drunkenss it is soley within the discretion of the LEO whether to make the arrest or not. Same with ticketing a person for speeding it also has no test or documentation proof required. You are correct that no test is administered and I can virtually assure you that local juriisdictions and the state will never change that basic fact of life. As to whether the alcohol agencies need police powers I am on the fence with this but leaning toward the no side. With or without guns they should continue to have the authority to close a business on the spot in like manner the health dept does.

I do not like the IRS having police powers but with the nut cases in the violent anti-tax movement I do see a provable need for it.

[Edgar]

if you could follow the $ here good chance the trail goes through the chamber of commerce junta and the mayor's office. They abhor this kind of free enterprise and vigourously enforce those mythical onerous regulations when it can be used to crush any feared competition. You know Mick is obsessing over the lost rev stream to the city from these events. OKC will never be cool like Austin with selfish narrow people running the show.

[Thunder]

if you could follow the $ here good chance the trail goes through the chamber of commerce junta and the mayor's office. They abhor this kind of free enterprise and vigourously enforce those mythical onerous regulations when it can be used to crush any feared competition. You know Mick is obsessing over the lost rev stream to the city from these events. OKC will never be cool like Austin with selfish narrow people running the show.

Then we answer by voting Mick CornOnTheCob out of office. Get him out of Oklahoma, then we can move forward.

[ljbab728]

if you could follow the $ here good chance the trail goes through the chamber of commerce junta and the mayor's office. They abhor this kind of free enterprise and vigourously enforce those mythical onerous regulations when it can be used to crush any feared competition. You know Mick is obsessing over the lost rev stream to the city from these events. OKC will never be cool like Austin with selfish narrow people running the show.

Lost revenue? Do the food trucks not have to collect and submit taxes?

[soonerguru]

if you could follow the $ here good chance the trail goes through the chamber of commerce junta and the mayor's office. They abhor this kind of free enterprise and vigourously enforce those mythical onerous regulations when it can be used to crush any feared competition. You know Mick is obsessing over the lost rev stream to the city from these events. OKC will never be cool like Austin with selfish narrow people running the show.

I didn't vote for Mick, but I don't believe this is true. I think you're off base on this assessment. It's probably some other interest that was offended, not sure which.

[rcjunkie]

if you could follow the $ here good chance the trail goes through the chamber of commerce junta and the mayor's office. They abhor this kind of free enterprise and vigourously enforce those mythical onerous regulations when it can be used to crush any feared competition. You know Mick is obsessing over the lost rev stream to the city from these events. OKC will never be cool like Austin with selfish narrow people running the show.

delete

[kevinpate]

just a thought, but when you only attract one disciple for a notion, maybe the underlying logic on the original thought warrants reexamination.

[metro]

Someone posted they have the next one planned, think they are planning it as a once a month thing, the last friday??

Late to the party again?

[foodiefan]

Late to the party again?

. . . perhaps, but some things bear repeating.

[Edgar]

Feel pretty certain the powers that be don't want food trucks to flourish as that have in other cities. Thay don't approve of that type of free enterprise. Who pulled the trigger on sending 27 agents packinbg heat to close down a couple of taco trucks. what have the mayor's comments been on the embarrassing incident? Haven't heard. A controvesy like this, surely he had a take. Didn't hear it.

[BBatesokc]

Feel pretty certain the powers that be don't want food trucks to flourish as that have in other cities. Thay don't approve of that type of free enterprise. Who pulled the trigger on sending 27 agents packinbg heat to close down a couple of taco trucks. what have the mayor's comments been on the embarrassing incident? Haven't heard. A controvesy like this, surely he had a take. Didn't hear it.

I seriously doubt "the powers that be" (as in the Mayor, City Council, etc.) have it in for food trucks. Sounds like conspiracy theory stuff to me. I really wouldn't expect the mayor to have said anything about the incident. However, I doubt he said anything against the trucks at the City Counsel meeting.

I really don't see how its any bigger of a deal than an agency or two that overreacted and felt perfectly justified because what they did was legal.

[Steve]

I think the problem is much more nuanced... but there is a question over whether the deck is stacked against these food trucks and in favor of regular restaurants... and the initial information does lean that way, and Jim Couch made a couple of comments that verifies there is some friction in this matter.... more coverage to come. But did Mayor Mick Cornett give an order for this raid? I seriously doubt he was even in the state that night.

[Thunder]

Steve, could you ask the ABLE agents if they plan to shut down all the food trucks at the Great State Fair of Oklahoma? I bet the local restaurant owners will call in to whine about losing customers to the Fairgrounds.

Btw, this thread are approaching 6,700 views. Those agents are keeping watchful eyes...

[kevinpate]

Steve, could you ask the ABLE agents if they plan to shut down all the food trucks at the Great State Fair of Oklahoma? I bet the local restaurant owners will call in to whine about losing customers to the Fairgrounds.

Btw, this thread are approaching 6,700 views. Those agents are keeping watchful eyes...

Thunder, did you not ever catch on that ABLE did not shut down food trucks at all? The city/county health dept. inspectors did that.
ABLE was there, and they cited a brick/mortar establishment, and perhaps a beer cart, but I do not recall for certain on the beer cart. But ABLE was not who sent the food truckers packing.