I said it before, whenever I start booking a lot of gigs and/or doing the TV circuit, the haters, stalkers, fakers and frauds come around more. I don’t let it get to me on a day-to-day basis. Now and then you see me ranting or blogging to basically vent…There’s something going on right now that’s particularly bothering me and it’s killing me because it’s happening by fellow counterparts of mine and I thought we are all supposed to be on the same team.

The truth is, far too many don’t have ethics in life, let alone in this whole street food selling game. No more love thy neighbor, it’s step on everybody to get ahead, forget your roots, forget how you make others feel.

I’m quite frankly tired of being politically correct all the time but I am going to now address a few of these things I have been eluding to on facebook through memes for the past month or so…However I am not going to name names and I am going to choose my words carefully for several reasons. Firstly, I am far from some whistleblower and not about stirring the pot (except for my meatballs) and I have so much happening with my business right now that I am minding that business. But a few things need to be said here partially for self therapeutic purposes---outwardly expressing and addressing some of this crap rather than continuing to let it fester inwardly until I truly explode seems healthy, no?

Secondly, there may be potential lawsuits involved with all of this (not against me but towards some with regards to slander and fraud) and thirdly, I am honestly not here to hurt anyone and being that there are mutual friends wrapped up in this situation, I don’t want to potentially put them in a position of choosing sides as that would be divisive and I am all about unity. That’s really what this is all about today---the fact that there are people in my circles, people I did consider allies and colleagues who seem to be backstabbers and who are out to create some kind of totally unnecessary street food turf war.

So basically what we have going on to put it in it’s simplest terms is there is sort of this collectively, newly assembled food vendor mafia tying to corner a free marketplace with scare tactics, manipulation and lies. I will not be strong-armed, extorted or told what to do. We are all entrepreneurs, we chose this field so we don’t have to answer to anyone. As I have said in past blogs, I am far from a newbie and never once, never have I failed a health inspection or got shut down or sued, bothered or even questioned for that matter. I know all that there is to know regarding police…. fire…. zoning…. health. So I don’t need anyone’s assistance or promotion. What’s sick is this gang tries to come across as if it’s actually there to help its fellow vendors but in reality, there is a whole other agenda going on. Don’t get me wrong, they do have good qualities and have put some to work---but that’s just it---only “some” are deemed acceptable. I was approached by someone who recruited me for this group...I went out twice on their behalf with no issues or problems. Third time was not the charm and I was sent home by another member who claimed I was in their territory. Hmmm.....was I a threat? Or, as they later claimed, was my setup not “up to standards”? What a joke.

The lies have got to stop.

Looking back, I should not have even attempted to align myself with certain people, those you think are your friends are usually those backstabbers or wolves in sheep’s clothing, but I generally get along with everyone, promote everyone and help my neighbors personally and professionally however I can. First strike that I let go was when one of these so-called friends poached one of my employees. Ok, whatever. Second strike---which should have been the final one---was when I learned another vendor who I had previously had a well-known contentious relationship with was recruited to be a head member of this mob. Talk about unethical. Still, I thought why start trouble and I did not say a word. But then, the final straw came when I was basically blackballed (no pun intended) by these “select” dozen or so food trucks and concessions and all of “their events.”

So you may be saying to yourself, I am only writing this out of sour grapes and because I am being excluded. That could not be further from the truth. I have no problem booking gigs---my schedule is so filled to the max I need to clone myself. Beer festivals, block parties, a rock concert, and a new venture with car dealerships to name a few. I am honestly writing this because there are event companies out there who are getting the impression that the only way to book a traveling food concession in New Jersey is through this mafia. Therefore, it’s not just me being excluded, it’s every potential vendor who is losing the opportunity to work because of this ongoing ruse and elitist attitude of these guys who are portraying that they are the only game in town and everyone else is garbage. And although we all travel in the same circles and have mutual friends, you must declare sides. Because if you associate with us “garbage” people, you are then banned from their grand master-plan of taking over the street food world! (This is why I have curiously been getting deleted on facebook and getting all kinds of letters from third parties who say my reputation is being dragged through the mud.)

To top it all off, I was told by a very credible source that many previously held events run by other independent agencies are being mysteriously “restructured” and “revamped” in “conjunction” with these guys. Basically what that means is they are swooping in on already established festivals and trying to take over. What balls!

Now just for the record, let it be known that New Jersey does not currently have in existence in any way, shape or form any sole committee or association who is in charge of or in any affiliation with the state with regards to regulating, inspecting, permitting, scheduling, or booking food truck owners or mobile food vendors including any who utilize towable carts, trailers, other equipment, any tent and table vendors, pop-up concessions, or any traveling food stand. We are all independent contractors operating under our own chosen LLC/insurance and each town/county has their own laws and ordinances. Any representation by any one mobile caterer or group claiming so, is a fraudulent tactic of collusion in an attempt to dominate and control an open market. So if you are an event organization or a private individual planning an event---whether on private or public property, do not be conned.

Recent local governmentally granted initiatives went into place with regards to allowing more freedom to peddlers in parks and elsewhere, certain folks want to take credit for brokering deals or launching such programs but I happen to have many connections and I know the full inside story. Again, a private independent group has no legal jurisdiction or exclusive right to dictate the actions of any mobile vendor simply because that said group makes it their mission to try and win contracts before others get a chance. Elitist attitudes and controlling natures do not represent all food trucks or, more specifically, the ones they “see fit.” When I first attempted to align myself with a few of these groupies I thought to myself there’s strength in numbers as they say and why not be part of something organized where we all work together, right? But…I’ve gotten personally attacked and insulted on more than one occasion. All of a sudden certain spots are “too crowded” to have me…then I find myself shut out of other events and when questions get asked they go ignored… Mysteriously I start losing friends here and there and even getting blocked on facebook. All stupid nonsense I have no time for. I have thousands of other friends and followers who are truly loyal.

The whole situation makes me sick because there is no need for any of this. I cannot stay silent any longer, this blog needed to be written before my name gets slandered any further and although I did not divulge specifics, just be warned and beware. Hopefully it also offers a wakeup call to anyone who gets involved with them and did not know this stuff or gets fed the lines of BS from said association / groups---whom I will not name but they know who they are. They are reading this and they need to know the jig is up. I for one will not be pushed around or taken advantage of and they are lucky that I do not utilize my media contacts to really go public and make a stink.

OK, I have said my piece and now I will go on doing what I do best and that’s meatballin' and keeping positive. I feel the negative energy flowing right out of me now and will say one final thing and that’s if I get crossed in the streets by anyone trying to tell me the deal and how / where I am supposed to operate, they had better watch out!

I am the nicest guy in the world but I am not Mr. Niceguy when it comes to anyone trying to fraudulently infringe on how I make a living and put food on my table. Again, no puns intended.