A man was stabbed in a “turf war” argument among street vendors in downtown Los Angeles.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Feb. 18 near South Figueroa Street and Pico Boulevard.
Witnesses said the suspect stabbed the victim amid a “turf war” argument, according to local news outlet KTLA News.
The victim was taken to a hospital in unknown condition, while the suspect fled on foot and remained at large as of Feb. 18.
In November 2022, San Diego police cracked down on street vending after a man was stabbed in another “turf war” argument involving a hot dog vendor.
But Los Angeles is beginning to open up pathways for street vendors to safely sell food and goods.
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Feb. 6 to amend current street vending laws, which ban the carts from certain high-traffic areas.
The council removed seven zones from the list of banned locations, meaning street vendors can again do business on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as well as outside the Hollywood Bowl, Dodger Stadium, LA Live/Crypto.com Arena, Universal Studios/City Walk, and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument and at Exposition Park.
On the same day, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a pair of ordinances regulating sidewalk food vendors, while also adopting a subsidy program to offset much of their permit costs.
