When the clock strikes 11 PM in Philadelphia, the lights go out for dozens of Latino-owned food trucks—and so does their livelihood.

A 2024 curfew ordinance, aimed at reducing crime in Kensington, has left food truck owners like Edward Bonilla grappling with a 75% drop in sales. What started as a targeted measure has now expanded, forcing trucks across North Philly to shut down overnight—slashing incomes, stifling culture, and fueling frustration.

‘We are not part of the problem. We’re part of the solution,’ says Ramon Mesquita of the newly formed Latino Food Truck Association, fighting for compromise. But with trucks now being towed and fines mounting, the question remains: Can the city balance public safety with economic survival?

📽️ Watch their story—produced by Inti Media, video by Becca Haydu —and read the article by Jensen Toussaint.