It’s been a year since the city slashed licensing fees for Chicago food cart vendors from $350 to $100, but advocates say business owners are still struggling to make ends meet.

There are thousands of food carts on city streets according to advocates, but only 27 of them are actually licensed.

Christopher Lentino of the Illinois Policy Institute worked with vendors and city officials to legalize food carts in Chicago back in 2015. 

He says Chicago has one of the most “restrictive food cart environments” in the country.

Morning Shift checks in with Lentino and a Chicago food cart vendor on the state of the program today and what might be in store in the future.

GUESTS: Christopher Lentino, outreach director for the Illinois Policy Institute

Maria Mendez, owner of Yolis Tamales

LEARN MORE: Chicago street vendors get legal with new shared kitchen (Chicago Tribune 7/22/17)