Red Hook ball fields - approved?

[fat_hot]

I just heard on WNYC that the Red Hook food vendors have had their permit approved by the Parks Department, but I haven't found any other confirmation online. Has anybody heard this confirmed anywhere else?

James

[yaahmee]

yah...i heard the same thing on WNYC.

[JonL]

AP is reporting that they've been given approval to operate for 6 years.

[fat_hot]

Here's the Parks Department press release:

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsro...

I am SO happy...

James

[jinx]

Ohh that is GREAT news!! I can't wait till it opens...

[chowmeow]

Happy Day! Thanks for sharing the press release.

[bobjbkln]

While we are rejoicing, let us also hope that the Health Department will act reasonably, now that they have been officially brought into the picture.

[MShapiro]

Does anyone know what the vendors need to do in order to be in compliance with the Dept. of Health? Is it different because they're acting as a committee, whatever the legal def. of a committee is, rather then as individual food stands?

[bobjbkln]

All the vendors must meet the DOH and Parks Department standards. According to the NYT article, it may cost some of them up to $30,000 to do so.

[MShapiro]

Is that an initial fee, a fee paid annually, every two years? That’s $30K, which divided evenly (or unevenly depending how this committee is set-up) is not chump change and will be eventually passed down to you and I. Like yourself, I’m not doing The Hat Dance just yet.

[bobjbkln]

The $30K is a one time capital cost per vendor (many would be less). It is the cost of extra equipment (plumbing, etc.) for the carts to have them conform with with DOH/DPR standards. There may be additional maintenance costs as well for the new equipment.