David Brown, owner of the luxury brand “Trumpucci,” known for its Trump-themed products, was arrested by Beverly Hills police for setting up a pop-up stand outside the Gucci store on Rodeo Drive, despite following state sidewalk vending regulations. His arrest has raised questions about Beverly Hills’ sidewalk vending ordinance, which seems to contradict California’s Safe Sidewalk Vending Act.
Locally referred to as the “Wolf of Rodeo Drive,” Brown has operated Trump-themed vending stands across Southern California since 2020. His latest venture, Trumpucci.com, features upscale political merchandise, including $125 T-shirts, designer jeans, and custom “rapper bling” chains, offering a satirical take on luxury branding.
After submitting a sidewalk vending permit application in 2022, Brown’s request was denied under dubious circumstances, which he asserts are part of the city’s ongoing efforts to hinder his legitimate business activities.
“Beverly Hills enacted an illegal sidewalk vending ordinance back in 2019 that doesn’t comply with the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act,” said Brown. “Now they are once again trying to flout the state law and criminally prosecute me for a purely civil matter.”
Brown also claims that Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman played a direct role in his arrest. He alleges that a police officer told him the mayor wanted him arrested and his Trumpucci stand confiscated, despite the state decriminalizing sidewalk vending.
Despite investing $10,000 to create a vending cart that meets the city’s regulations and attending several city council meetings, Brown asserts he has encountered persistent obstacles. He argues that the city’s ordinance imposes unreasonable restrictions, including incorrect measurements of his site plans, which resulted in the denial of his permit.
“I applied for a sidewalk vending permit two years ago. I spent a hefty sum to build a cart that conformed with the city ordinance. I complied with every aspect of their absurd 80+ sidewalk vending restrictions. After all that, they mismeasured my site plans in order to reject my application,” Brown explained. “The city’s ordinance directly conflicts with the state law in a myriad of ways.”
Brown expressed frustration over what he views as a violation of his civil rights and free speech, stating, “In Gavin Newsom’s California, memes are now considered crimes, and in my case, free speech is under direct attack.”
He compared his legal struggle to a personal fight for justice, referring to it as his “January 6th,” and contended that the city prioritizes corporate interests on Rodeo Drive over the rights of small businesses.
While California’s Safe Sidewalk Vending Act decriminalizes sidewalk vending and restricts enforcement to civil penalties, Brown now faces criminal charges, raising concerns about whether Beverly Hills is intentionally disregarding state law to suppress specific vendors.
