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Red Hook Ballfield Vendors Win Six Year Permit
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 11, 2008
Modified Mar 11, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 11, 2008
Modified Mar 11, 2008
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After widespread outrage that the city Parks Department might end more than three decades of Latin American cuisine dished out during weekend soccer games in Red Hook, it was announced yesterday that the longtime vendors have been granted a six year permit. In the end, they were the only group to apply. Last summer the Department of Health cracked down on the vendors for health violations, and it was feared that the vendors would be priced out of the park by new licensing fees.
A Parks Department spokesman says the vendors’ yearly fees, which were approximately $10,000 for the entire group, would rise by only about 5 percent each year. But the costs of upgrading to DoH standards are still burdensome because each vendor needs to purchase equipment estimated to cost $15,000 to $30,000. Vendor's Committee director Cesar Fuentes says two vendors dropped out early on because of the prohibitive costs.
In an email sent last night to thank everyone for their support, Fuentes stressed, “It is important to understand that while this is a tremendous victory for us, we are still facing tremendous challenges ahead before we can consider an official opening date this summer… Every vendor needs to be in full compliance with DOHMH standards & be able to afford costly equipment in order to operate legally."
The solution is obvious: David Byrne, who’s been known to bicycle out to the ballfields for a bite, needs to play some benefit concerts.
Photo: Listen Missy!
Tagged
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ball fields
david byrne
food
new york city
park
permits
red hook
vendors
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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