This is a special edition of Hot Dog Cart News

HDCN has become a true community where readers are more than happy to help each other by sharing experiences and advise.  Thank you all for being here twice a week and sharing!!! Now it’s time to step up to the plate.

One of our own is getting HOSED in Yuba City, CA and we can help.

Paul “Fat Daddy” Kaiser is a hot dogger in Yuba City.  He just sent me an email describing his situation and asking for help..

Hey Steve,

I’ve been following your blog for about 4 months now…  GREAT STUFF!

I’m a hot dogger in the Nor-Cal Area and I have a story you may be interested in.

I “had” been granted a permit to operate in Yuba City Calif for over two months now and made a transition   to full time about a month ago.  During that time a local coffee shop expressed that they don’t want me down here and made every effort to have me removed.  We’ll they succeeded and the city revoked my permit stating they made a mistake???

It made front page news and we are now working on a petition and have community support and are going to be approaching City Council in the upcoming weeks.

Paul A. Kaiser, Owner/Operator
Fat Daddy’s Frankfurters
www.FatDaddysFranks.com

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Read the story which appeared on the front page of his local paper. I reprinted it below for your convenience.

2. Sign Paul’s online petition at the end of the story. You don’t need to enter your address, just your name. You’ll see a link to the petition at the end of the story.  Paul needs every signature he can get. Right now he has about 200. I know that we can easily push that to over 2000 in just ONE DAY… we have the numbers!

Some day you may be the one who needs help. Today it’s Paul.

**********************************************************

Wiener Salesman Kaiser Bites Back With Petition

Controversy is heating up over a Plumas Boulevard hot dog stand.

Until Monday, Paul Kaiser had sold a variety of hot dogs from Fat Daddy’s Frankfurters near the Town Center for about a month. But Yuba City revoked his permit after a series of complaints that led to the re-examination of city codes.

“What’s happening is archaic, that someone can call and stop free
enterprise,” Kaiser said.

The underlying issue is whether that type of use is appropriate in the
downtown, said Aaron Busch, director of community development. Fat Daddy’s
Frankfurters’ permit was issued in error because the use is not consistent
with the Central City Specific Plan. The plan, which was last updated in
1992 and is specific to the general downtown area, states that food
services are conditionally permitted and only within enclosed buildings.

But the vendors section of the Municipal Code gives an exception when a
permit is issued by the Police Department. That is how Kaiser obtained his
permit.

“Is that our fault?” Busch said. “Absolutely. We had an old ordinance in
place.”

One call to the city came from Willem Vonk, the owner of nearby Has Beans
coffeehouse. He, like others, inquired about the legality of Kaiser’s cart
when other vendors’ requests had been denied. Vonk also sees Fat Daddy’s
Frankfurters as unfair competition.

“I can’t compete with somebody that has no overhead but himself,” Vonk
said. “Nobody can compete with a vendor. My revenue dies as soon as he
shows up”.

HDCN editors note: This tired argument is often used in cases like this.
It is 100% B.S.  Someone who wants a deli sandwich is not going to buy a
hot dog. They’re going to get a sandwich and buy the hot dog a few days
later when they feel like a hot dog.  The “no overhead” argument is B.S.
too because our prices are competitive with those of other restaurants
serving similar products.  We don’t engage in price cutting, we just have
better margins. -Steve

Soon after setting up his cart and rainbow umbrellas on Plumas Boulevard,
Kaiser came to the coffe shop to introduce himself.

Vonk explained business would be easier if Fat Daddy’s Frankfurters was
not so close, but Kaiser was determined to keep his spot, Vonk said.

“So I said ‘I guess we’re gonna have a hot dog war, OK?’” Vonk said.

Now, Has Beans patrons can order an all-beef hot dog, polish dog or
variety of gourmet sausages for $3.25. For $1.75 more, customers can add
chips, a pickle spear and a 16-ounce iced tea.

Fat Daddy’s Frankfurters’ dogs, which include Chicago, New York and
Louisiana styles, mostly sell for $3.75, or $5.50 if customers add chips,
a drink and a cookie.

But even with Has Beans seating, air conditioning, free wireless Internet
and a larger menu options, the coffeehouse cannot compete, Vonk said.

“I can offer something to the nurses, but I cannot give it away,” he said.

And now, the controversy is hurting business further.

“The nurses are mad at us now because we are hammering on the little guy,”
Vonk said. “I am a little guy myself.”

Jan Kraus, who works in a neighboring medical office, is one former Has
Beans customer reconsidering her patronage.

“I don’t care for people who try to take my choice away,” she said. “And
people can’t eat hot dogs every day for god’s sake.”

Kraus would love to see a variety of vendors dotting the streets near
Plumas Boulevard.

“I think it makes it happier,” she said. “Vendors change the atmosphere.
The more the merrier I think.”

On Thursday, Kaiser and his bright rainbow umbrellas returned to his
Plumas Boulevard spot, but instead of hocking hot dogs, he was slinging
requests for signatures to petition the city to let him keep his business.

“It’s not my fault,” he said. “I should not be punished because the (city)
and their offices did not know what they were doing. I should be
grandfathered in.”

Amber Hinshaw and Stacy Luster stopped to add their names as they passed
by on their way to work in the nearby medical buildings.

“There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be here,” Hinshaw said. “That’s like
saying. ‘Oh, don’t get a job.’”

Kaiser said he has gone through the same procedure as any other business,
securing his permits and licenses and modifying his equipment.

“The only difference is I am not a brick and mortar,” he said. “If I had a
storefront here, there would be no argument.”

The revocation of Kaiser’s permit is permanent, but the city is
considering other options for Fat Daddy’s Frankfurters, such as operating
inside one of the buildings, Busch said.

Busch said he does not know why the discrepancy was not caught earlier.
Vendor location is clearly a zoning issue, not a traffic matter.

Plans to re-evaluate the city’s laws regarding cart vendors are under way,
including giving the Planning Department jurisdiction for those kinds of
approvals, he said.

Kaiser does not know if his family will survive the financial strain of
not being able to operate his business.

“I left my job to do this. I’m gonna lose my house, and everything because
of a good-faith agreement.”

June 18, 2009 12:01:00 AM By Ashley Gebb/Appeal-Democrat

**************************************************************

There are over 140 comments on this story, all of them overwhelmingly in favor of Mr. Kaiser. In fact many folks have stated that they will no longer patronize the coffee shop. WOOT!

Now it’s time to head on over and sign Paul’s online petition. Just put in your name, the other fields are not required.  Click Here to Save Fat Daddy’s Franks!

Thanks all!

-Steve