SHOPPING & COMMERCE: “Plain and simple: we need to level the playing field.” That’s what Justin Brannan, press secretary for Councilman Vincent Gentile, said to us when asked to comment on last week’s developments in the conflict between Bay Ridge’s food carts and brick-and-mortar restaurants. Councilman Gentile has often been reported as opposing food carts in the BID, and made comments on the issue at the Community Board 10 general meeting in April. We reached out to Brannan, wanting to know what specific proposals the Councilman was offering. All of this, plus a report from Community Board 10 chairperson Joanne Seminara, a statement from the attorney of halal food cart operator Sammy Kassen, and an excerpt from a 2011 Wall Street Journal article highlighting the black market for mobile food vending permits.