Milwaukee's food truck curfew is now an issue in the governor's race

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The debate over whether Milwaukee can or should further restrict food truck hours downtown is now getting attention from some of the candidates running for governor.

Republican candidate Tom Tiffany, a congressman representing the northern and northwestern parts of the state, harshly criticized Milwaukee this week for its move to set a curfew for downtown food trucks.

The new restrictions would force downtown trucks to close at 10 p.m. instead of at 1 a.m. However, a Milwaukee County judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday morning blocking the curfew from taking effect this weekend. Tiffany blasted the curfew on social media.

"Small business owners aren’t the problem. Criminals are," Tiffany posted. "Maybe instead of going after neighborhood workers, the Common Council should support police, lock up criminals, and stop making excuses for crime."

A CBS 58 reporter spoke with Tiffany over the phone Friday afternoon and asked about the comments. Tiffany said he stood by the criticism, even when asked about the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) publicly testifying in support of the curfew.

"All I know is that I've talked to small businesses, people in Milwaukee, and I've talked to some law enforcement," Tiffany said. "They've said, 'I'm not sure why they would go after the food trucks.'"

In an April 10 meeting of the Milwaukee Common Council's public safety committee, MPD Chief of Staff Heather Hough testified in support of the curfew.

"Milwaukee Police Department is very supportive of this ordinance and the restrictions of time for these food truck zones," Hough said. "We know last year, and this year, we have issues with people congregating around the food trucks that are patrons."

When asked whether any of the law enforcement members with whom he's discussed the curfew are MPD officers, Tiffany said they are "Law enforcement members that are in southeastern Wisconsin. "

Tiffany added that regardless of MPD leaders' position on the curfew, he disagreed with the decision to limit food trucks' hours as a crimefighting solution.

"Let's deal with the underlying crime," Tiffany said. "Rather than trying to foist it off on legal small business owners that are just trying to make a living."

When asked for their positions on the food truck curfew and Tiffany's comments, three Democratic candidates responded Friday. Missy Hughes, the former CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, accused Tiffany of targeting Milwaukee for purely political reasons.

Hughes said Tiffany should instead be concerned about President Donald Trump's tariffs raising costs for food truck operators. 

"With no resources and very limited options, I can see why they're making choices that are probably counter-intuitive to many of the business owners," Hughes said. "I think that the complaint Tom Tiffany has is completely disingenuous about what's happening here."

Another Democratic candidate, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, slammed Tiffany in a statement his campaign sent to CBS 58.

"Tom Tiffany is an out-of-touch DC politician who has never done a damn thing to make life better for Milwaukee families," Barnes said. "This decision belongs to local officials, and I hope they get it right by keeping people safe without punishing small businesses just trying to get by."

State Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison), who was the early frontrunner over Barmes in the two Marquette Law polls so far this year, said Milwaukee's violence issues were a manifestation of underfunding from the state. She called for more public money to go toward programs related to jobs, youth services and mental health.

Hong also stated opposition to the proposed food truck curfew.

"Spending more on policing is not the answer — we’ve seen this backfire time and time again. We need to treat this as a social issue and look to the root of the problem," Hong said. "Scapegoating food truck operators — often already struggling to keep their businesses afloat on razor-slim margins — is a distraction and a grave mistake.”

The campaigns for Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, State Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison), and former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan did not immediately provide statements on the food truck issue.