The rising cost of gas and food combined with the warmer weather had me looking forward to something - lunch in the park. I had started to develop a habit of walking through Congress Park once a week or so and grabbing a hot dog and soda for lunch, sometimes even a potato knish.
But I see in last Friday's edition of Saratoga Today that the hot dog man will no longer be able to sell hot dogs in the park. Truth be told, I had wondered how he, and only he, got such a sweet spot. It didn't seem completely kosher to me. Turns out, it wasn't. The King of the Knish was granted special permission by the Prince of the Park, former Commish Tommy McTygue. The city charter says food vendors can only operate in Congress Park on special occasions, however, and a lawsuit by another vendor pressed the issue. Ed Miller the hot dog man was given the boot.
It's the right thing to do - if it's prohibited, then it's prohibited. But frankly (pun intended) I think there are worse things than having a hot dog vendor in Congress Park or anywhere else on the streets of Saratoga. Set down some rules, make them conform to whatever codes they need to conform to to make sure that we aren't been served tainted food, but let them conduct their business. And if we're worried about being overrun by hot dog vendors, then limit the number of permits and have a lottery. Isn't that what they did for the t-shirt vendors over at the track?
I'll miss you, hot dog man.
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