July 29, 2026 By N. M. RoyThe California Restaurant Association raised concerns on July 29 about the impact of sidewalk vending regulations on brick-and-mortar restaurants across the state. He said many owners feel undercut by sidewalk vendors who face less overhead and little regulatory enforcement. The association pointed to Senate Bill 946—the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act passed in 2018—as contributing to these challenges. The law was intended to decriminalize sidewalk vending and promote entrepreneurship but has restricted how local governments can regulate vendors. He cited estimates of approximately 50,000 sidewalk vendors in Los Angeles County alone.