One of the many downsides of government regulation of business is that rules can be enforced in ways that satisfy their alleged purpose, or they can be used selectively and abusively to punish entrepreneurs who offend officials. In many cases, without open threats, business owners have a good idea that the bureaucracy has been weaponized to push them to fall into line in ways that please the powerful. That's the case with food truck owners in Philadelphia who found that inspectors took a special interest in them after they publicly opposed a new business curfew.
Closing Businesses and Fomenting Opposition
In 2024, Democratic Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker signed into law a bill that "requires businesses without liquor licenses located between Kensington and Frankford venues and Lehigh Avenue and Tioga Street to close at night from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m."
