Letter to the Editor: Food Trucks Build Community

To the Editor,

I have been a proud Coolidge Corner resident for about three years.  Having attended both undergraduate and graduate school in the area, I’ve lived from Roxbury and the Back Bay to the North End and South Boston.  And I couldn’t be happier now living in Brookline. It is a wonderful area with lots to offer and residents that seem to take great pride in their community. I thought it couldn’t get better.

And then --I think I actually yelped with joy. Having enjoyed the food trucks that have popped up in Boston, I was thrilled to hear Brookline was going to get a piece of the action. I think food trucks are what is all about--creative and delicious ways to reach the people in the neighborhood; people who are quite literally, within walking distance. Food trucks in Brookline seemed like a great proposal that would bring both young and old, singles and families together. Food trucks would also encourage people to discover and explore the surrounding local businesses. As someone who has often felt like I don’t really belong in the area, with my absence of children, I was excited to see something proposed that would really invite all residents to participate, and at the same time, encourage entrepreneurship and small business.   

So, I was pretty surprised when I . With the influx of new banks to the area and the complaints that have surrounded that business, the food trucks seemed like a perfect counteraction to keep a great balance in the area of food, retail, and other services.  I am honestly pretty confused and frustrated by the immediate dismissal of what . I do not understand why people would not want to give small and local businesses a chance in the area. Just because they have wheels does not mean they can’t add to the permanent vitality of the area.  

My uncle owned and operated a hot dog cart for much of his life in the New London, CT area. He was constantly embattled by towns on where he could and could not set up his business. He passed away almost 10 years ago, but I know he would love to have seen the growth of food trucks in the country. People still remember him as the hot dog man, and I believe he brought something to those towns that goes beyond what brick-and-mortar can. His cart was like an outside town hall. Bringing people from all walks of life together to see what was new for lunch.    

As someone who hopes to stay in the Brookline area, I hope that we give these food truck owners a chance to become a part of our community and to bring a little something different to our town.  

Nicole Fonsh
Green Street Resident

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