A Reversal of Fortune in A Virtual World

In an amazing reversal of fortune, staunch defenders of the infamous Sunland Tujunga debacle: "Food Truck Night" (FTN)  have completely reversed their stand and removed their support of the hotly debated weekly event to join the side calling for the strong control of, or complete dismissal of, the event. Prominent community activists who previously attended every FTN and deliberately stood in view of passing traffic to show their patronage and support of FTN are now calling for "picket signs" and an organised effort against the Sunland Tujunga Chamber of Commerce who created Food Truck Night.

Recently 'talks' between two rival groups: one for the CofC and support of the Food Truck Night and the other for the merchants (brick and mortar stores) to contest the FTN, faced each other in a 'standoff' and ended the meeting in conflict and disagreement. The primary battle ground for this controversy exists in the virtual world as Facebook pages are created by the score to discuss talking points primarily with those of like mind. Facebook members of opposing views are either denied membership in the page and prevented from posting their views or are challenged by the majority in packdog behavior until every view but the one the page is devoted too is silenced. Excellent ideas for solution to the conflict are shredded without consideration.

The Meeting of Twelve as the talks between six merchants and six Chamber of Commerce members is popularly called, was mediated by a professional assigned to guide the talks by Councilman Alarcon. No record of the talks has been produced so any reports from participants is suspect as none agree on what was discussed, concluded, or carried over for further discussion. In fact the talks have been so hotly debated on Facebook by both sides that further talks may not be possible. Any invitation by the Chamber to 'discuss this face to face' (in the real world) is dismissed with suspicion by Facebookers who want an answer on the medium they have become accustomed too.

In truth, there is a third "member" of this controversy who is hammering at the virtual door of the meetings for admission. The General Public has not been represented in any formal discussion and is the driving force behind the social media use of multiple Facebook pages as they find a marginal way to air their views. More than that however, is the final straw in this huge pile of very real controversy: every Wednesday night hundreds of happy customers greet the food trucks with enthusiasm and buy the wares offered there; they have no idea what a brou-ha-ha this is. They do not participate on little-known Facebook pages; they consume goods in a real world and vote with their attendance. Their innocent delight is the one element of honest opinion expressed without rancor or agenda. They will be the ones who suffer the consequences of decisions made in ether.

Brick & Mortar Stores Air Their Views

Food Truck Night (FTN) in the “small” town of Sunland has taken on an amazing number of opponents and proponents since its unheralded start at the behest of the Sunland Tujunga Chamber of Commerce a few months ago; Facebook pages by the score, blog posts, and news agencies large and small: report every nuance of its daily activity.

Most surprising in their determined stand are the opponents to FTN. Opponents are a quiet and stubbornly persuasive lot (consisting of brick and mortar store owners and their followers) and their message is being heard. They will not ‘yield the floor’! Councilman Alarcon has again arranged a meeting between six Brick and Mortar store owners (who object to FTN) and six members of the Sunland Tujunga Chamber of Commerce (who organized the event and support it).

This meeting, held a couple of nights ago afforded representatives from “both sides” of the argument to hear and be heard by those expected to carry the message of the meeting back to their side, and to the community. The community of Sunland Tujunga is unrepresented in these meetings and is the only group held captive to decisions affecting them without a voice in the matter apart from Facebook.

One of the most respected members of the brick and mortar stores told Brock Baj’er that the primary negotiation points are the location for the food trucks and the number of times a month they appear. Surprisingly, the complete discontinuation of the food trucks is not an issue! This contradicts the many heated arguments on community Facebook pages which (not surprisingly, since they have no representative to inform them) are unaware that argument is no longer discussed as a main point.

Many merchants including my source have conceded the influx of customers to FTN is making more residents and outsiders aware of the community and the businesses that are always here, not just on Food Truck Nights. They appreciate this marketing potential but, “every week, every week, every week… is just too much: too much traffic, too much stress, too much loss of revenue,” this restaurant owner explains. “Customers spend their dollars at food trucks every Wednesday, I loose customers Tuesdays and Thursdays too because they spent their money at FTN on Wednesdays. The whole week, every week, my business is affected.”

My source reports: the likely outcome of these meetings will be a reduction in the number of times a month the food trucks are allowed to sell in ST and the favored location being discussed is Sunland Park, not Foothill Blvd. This would reportedly satisfy many members of both sides and community response remains to be heard.