Public Health Notice

A message from 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore:

Hey Neighbor,

The Chicago Department of Public Health notified me today of ongoing incidents that occur in our community. One example is this:

On Monday, August 13 several plywood carts were seen being pushed by unlicensed food vendors in 7400 block of N. Clark Street and other locations as well. A number of residents have called 311 and my office to complain about these unlicensed, illegal, unsanitary food vendors in the past. The vendors are given a free pass on their various health code violations by the City of Chicago. The food items they sell should be sent to the Department of Health and, according to standard procedures, sent to a laboratory to be tested for food born diseases. But they won't be, because neither the Mayor, the City Council nor I really give a shit about these illegal food vendors, or about your health. In fact, a good buddy of mine rents his rotting, filthy garage space just north of Morse Avenue in the alley just west of N. Greenview to several of these illegal vendors, and he's a partner in a local restaurant. He doesn't give a shit, either.

In other news, there was a rabid bat found in the neighborhood recently. The odds of you being bitten by a rabbid bat are extremely small. The odds of one of your neighbors getting sick from an illegal food cart are far greater. But the rabid bat story is more sensational, and the City of Chicago does not grant sanctuary to illegal bats.

While it is not uncommon for rabies to be found in wild animals, it IS common for food born illness to be found in illegal, unsanitary, unlicensed, uninspected food carts, particularly in the summer months. We should all take appropriate precautions. Public health officials advise us to make certain our pets are vaccinated for rabies and that the public at large and our children in particular are instructed to never handle dead animals. Should you encounter a live, injured or confined illegal food vendor or other wild animal, do not touch it.

Please call 311 for assistance and/or instructions on how to dispose of the elotes ("corn") safely. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your Congressman and Senator and ask him/her why undocumented, unlicensed, unregulated, unsanitary food vendors are allowed to compete with more scrupulous, tax paying restaurants.

But don't bother me about. Like I said, I don't give a shit.