Within the previous 5 years, she amassed round 100 citations, she stated, and has paid a number of hundred {dollars} that she hopes shall be refunded as a part of the pending lawsuit.

Final 12 months, Mrs. Soto’s husband started getting weekly kidney dialysis, and Mrs. Soto took a little bit of day without work in March to recuperate from a hysterectomy. Whereas she and her husband couldn’t work, a bunch of distributors pooled their earnings and gave the couple $3,000 to assist them make ends meet.

Though she’s again at work, Mrs. Soto stated enterprise was missing.

“After the pandemic, every little thing modified,” she stated. “It’s not as straightforward because it was earlier than. It’s the economic system. Now it’s very sluggish. Persons are complaining about cash, in regards to the taxes they should pay. They don’t spend as a lot as earlier than.”

She hasn’t made $900 in per week since final summer time, Mrs. Soto stated, and through one week final month she introduced in solely $360 in 5 days. It’s troublesome to maintain up with the $2,000-a-month hire on their one-bedroom house, she stated.

Her 19-year-old son works at a close-by shoe retailer to assist cowl the prices, she stated, and she or he might quickly search for one other job she will be able to work within the mornings earlier than setting as much as promote sizzling canines.

“The scenario may be very, very unhealthy,” she stated.

As a thick marine layer descended over town, Mrs. Soto flipped on a light-weight over her cart and zipped up her hoodie. A four-wheel meals supply robotic — one in every of many who traverse this a part of Los Angeles — whizzed previous.

It was a comparatively quiet night time within the coronary heart of Hollywood and, after seven hours, Mrs. Soto was completed along with her shift.

Her whole for the day: $85. She hoped the subsequent day would go higher.