Update
A judge has blocked the rule impacting food trucks until at least June 10, the next court date.
NEW: A Milwaukee County judge has granted a temporary restraining order, keeping Milwaukee from enforcing a new 10 p.m. food truck curfew. The curfew was set to take effect tomorrow.
— A.J. Bayatpour (@AJBayatpour) May 8, 2026
The order will last until at least the next court date, which is June 10
Original story
Following a spate of violent crime in downtown Milwaukee, including several shootings, the city passed an ordinance to address the issue. But, no, that ordinance has nothing to do with increasing law enforcement or putting criminals behind bars. Instead, the city is limiting the hours during which food trucks can operate, blaming them for the violence.
Now they're facing a lawsuit from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL). WILL shared a video with residents reacting to the new ordinance.
The city of Milwaukee has a new ordinance banning food trucks from operating downtown after 10pm. The city says it’s to reduce crime…
— WILL (@WILawLiberty) May 7, 2026
Well, it’s bad for freedom, bad for Milwaukee, and we asked residents what they thought about it all. We have some thoughts too. 👇 pic.twitter.com/1uOidDGvP2
"I go to food trucks once or twice a week, especially on the weekends," said one woman.
"Once or twice a week," said a man, who added, "I have a lot of friends who go more often because they go out more often."
According to WILL, there's more to it than just blaming food trucks for crime. "The ordinance author and one of its main public sponsors both revealed their true intention, which is the protection of brick-and-mortar restaurants from competition. But that is an illegitimate reason to interfere with food truck owners' right to earn a living."
🚨🚨BREAKING: @WILawLiberty files new lawsuit against the City of Milwaukee to challenge ridiculous new ordinance forcing downtown food trucks to close by 10PM.@kirstatan out here defending economic liberty and the constitutional rights of small business owners in Wisconsin!…
— Lucas Vebber (@ltvebber) May 7, 2026
On behalf of a Milwaukee food truck owner, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit seeking to block a newly approved food truck curfew. The City of Milwaukee ordinance bans food trucks after 10:00 p.m. in the downtown area and after 11:00 p.m. near Burnham Park. The new law is unconstitutional, violating the right to earn a living and the guarantee of equal treatment. WILL is seeking an emergency stay of the law, which takes effect at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Associate Counsel, Kirsten Atanasoff, stated, “The City of Milwaukee’s ordinance is an unlawful attack on good, honest small businesses like those run by Abdallah Ismail, owner of the beloved Fatty Patty food trucks. By aggressively limiting hours of sale while simultaneously keeping brick and mortar restaurants open, the city is violating the rights of our client. WILL is proud to help this small business owner oppose the city’s senseless policy.”
WILL Client, Abdallah Ismail, stated, “This ordinance is going to shut down small businesses and provide less affordable food options to workers and residents of our city. Food truck owners create good food and provide a real service, but the city has made us into scapegoats for violence and crime. This cannot stand.”
Milwaukee clearly has its priorities.
I guess my question is who is even going to enforce this law on the trucks?
— Lvl 99 Libtard End Boss (@Investor4201) May 7, 2026
As it is the mayor/chief refuse to put enough cops downtown to arrest the “teens” shooting each other.
They won’t stop black thugs but they will stop the food truck?
Democrat paradise
The city will pull the operator's license for food trucks. That's how they'll enforce it.
Food trucks are not the problem.
— Megan Novak (@meganjnovak) May 7, 2026
The ordinance banning them after 10pm is simply scape goating and won’t solve the real problems happening in Milwaukee. https://t.co/vSQDFsIeGd
There's also the political corruption angle of using crime as an excuse to end competition for brick-and-mortar restaurants.
Problem: Crime is Up.
— Eric Bott (@EricJBott) May 7, 2026
Leftist Solution: Ban Food Trucks.
🤦♂️ https://t.co/3uSO6AuQXA
This is the same logic the Left always uses. When thieves steal cars, they blame the automakers instead of putting the thieves in prison where they belong.
Deal with criminals instead of blaming food trucks. They are a business. They go where the people are. This is another example of scapegoating instead of taking a serious look at the root cause of the problem. https://t.co/DvZcRTqXfK
— Matt Henkel (@mhenks05) May 7, 2026
Taking a look at the root cause of the problem would be considered racist.
Food trucks are a hallmark of America’s entrepreneurial spirit.
— Brooks (@EBrooksUncut) May 7, 2026
Scapegoating innocent business owners because you’re unwilling to prosecute criminals is unserious policy.
Glad to see @WILawLiberty suing over this. https://t.co/OInPUeBsAS pic.twitter.com/pdVfRueEKu
Tom Tiffany, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, also blamed the Milwaukee Common Council for not going after criminals.
Milwaukee’s solution to crime is… banning food trucks after 10 PM?
— Tom Tiffany (@TomTiffanyWI) May 8, 2026
Small business owners aren’t the problem. Criminals are.
Maybe instead of going after neighborhood workers, the Common Council should support police, lock up criminals, and stop making excuses for crime.
If you are downtown for an event, odds are that event doesn't end before 10 pm. This means food trucks lose business and consumers lose choices. All to "solve" a problem that isn't caused by the food trucks in the first place, but is caused by years of Democratic policies that don't take crime seriously.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
Help us fight back against the Democrats and Soros-backed DAs that refuse to enforce our laws to hold criminals accountable. Join Townhall VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member