‘That’s [bleeped] up’: Food-truck pirates turn National Mall into a lawless mess * WorldNetDaily * by Dylan Kresak, Daily Caller News Foundation
‘That’s [bleeped] up’: Food-truck pirates turn National Mall into a lawless mess
By Dylan Kresak, Daily Caller News Foundation
Unlicensed food trucks have taken over prime spots around the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and this problem persists at the Great American State Fair.
A small group of operators runs most of these illegal trucks as a coordinated network, Washingtonian reported. Longtime licensed food truck operator Zack Graybill walked around the National Mall during the fair with reporter Jessica Sidman and observed illegal trucks blocking traffic and hydrants, creating fire hazards, charging high prices and intimidating legal vendors through turf wars.
“For all the people eating food right here? The food isn’t being refrigerated. That’s f***ed up. That’s gross,” Graybill told Washingtonian.
He observed that there was no generator running in one of the trucks and no ventilation.
“For all the workers, that’s miserable and sh***y. And that’s not healthy. Dangerous,” Graybill emphasized.
One Tunisian vendor named Jackie said a rival pulled a screwdriver during a dispute over a parking spot and tried to stab him in the eye. “He came and stab me,” Jackie said. “He was trying to make me blind. He do it on purpose.” He still sees the attacker operating near the mall.
On the eve of America’s 250th birthday celebration, a specter is haunting the National Mall: the band of food truck pirates operating with impunity. A report in Washingtonian pulls the curtain back on an organized crime syndicate “operating in plain sight.”
The unlicensed trucks… pic.twitter.com/gl9R2VzrvB
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) July 1, 2026
In 2024, an unlicensed food truck caught fire and exploded near the National Mall, and two people were critically injured, WTOP News reported.
“[T]he majority of the illegal operations in the city are organized crime,” A Park Police spokesperson told Washingtonian. “The majority out there illegally are not individual food-truck operators trying to make an honest living … We’re talking about repeat offenders who ensure that if we remove one truck off the street, that another stands ready to continue collecting money from an unsuspecting public.”
Youssef, an ice cream truck operator, does not list his truck prices. “It depends if somebody got [Casio] or somebody wearing a Rolex, you know? It’s not the same. It really depends on the customer,” he told Washingtonian. He charges $6 to $10 for a single cone at the Mall.
The truck operator mentioned that “we got a team” of food trucks, and more than 50 of them are owned by his “religious” boss.
“Everybody’s religious, pretty much. We’re Muslim people,” he said.
The operation includes “watchers” who look out for police for $80 per day.
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America 250, Food truck pirates
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
