Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#1

Post by fluxsauce » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:25 PM UTC

Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies
businessinsider.com

Re: Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#2

Post by grahamburger » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:35 PM UTC

A place that I worked (not in the bay area) had a cafeteria where employees could eat one meal for free per workday by using a meal ticket. They also cut deals with nearby restaurants so the meal tickets could be used as basically $5 vouchers at the restaurants. That seemed like an OK compromise. Not sure how it worked behind the scenes.

Re: Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#3

Post by optimusclimb » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:36 PM UTC

Man - California, specifically the Valley, is completely off its rocker when it comes to policy making.

I really hope Amazon's new HQ helps pave the way to start de-centralizing the tech industry from that one, overcrowded, and increasingly almost hostile spot.

Re: Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#4

Post by mnm1 » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:38 PM UTC

Talk about fascist capitalism. If I ran these companies I'd make everything cost one cent and have a giant barrel of pennies just sitting around with "take what you need" written in it. It's not free anymore. Problem solved.

Re: Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#5

Post by chatmasta » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:39 PM UTC

Can anyone comment on the legality of this? IANAL and it’s just a feeling, but it seems like this must be unconstitutional somehow?

Re: Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#6

Post by idbehold » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:40 PM UTC

mnm1 wrote: post #4

Talk about fascist capitalism. If I ran these companies I'd make everything cost one cent and have a giant barrel of pennies just sitting around with "take what you need" written in it. It's not free anymore. Problem solved.

That's taxable income then, no?

Re: Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#7

Post by ggg9990 » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:41 PM UTC

chatmasta wrote: post #5

Can anyone comment on the legality of this? IANAL and it’s just a feeling, but it seems like this must be unconstitutional somehow?

Nothing in the constitution says that a jurisdiction can’t ban free food.

Re: Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#8

Post by exabrial » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:43 PM UTC

"The restriction aims to increase business for local food retailers."

Wow. Incredibly corrupt. I'm guessing next lunch boxes are going to be banned?

Re: Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#9

Post by panzagl » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:44 PM UTC

This is how businesses get driven to the suburbs.

Re: Bay Area cities are cracking down on free food at tech companies

#10

Post by throwaway426079 » Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 6:45 PM UTC

idbehold wrote: post #6

mnm1 wrote: post #4

Talk about fascist capitalism. If I ran these companies I'd make everything cost one cent and have a giant barrel of pennies just sitting around with "take what you need" written in it. It's not free anymore. Problem solved.

That's taxable income then, no?

Even if it is, it's just a few pennies per day.