PM Update I: More Trouble for the Red Hook Vendors?

Are the Red Hook vendors newly threatened by yet another situation? Could be. Porkchop Express reports on a new "situation" at the Red Hook Ball Fields involving the Health Department. Here's the detail:

Last Friday at approximately 4:30 pm, Food Committee Executive Director Cesar Fuentes discovered that the Department of Health was going to institute a flash, somewhat surreptitious inspection of the Soccer Field Food Stands at noon on Saturday. The implication: if things were not up to snuff, the fields would be shut down.

Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez was alerted. She immediately called the Mayor's office, and arrived to monitor the inspection in-person. In so doing, she defused a potentially big bomb. Rather than threatening closure, the DOH simply offered a list of “suggestions.”

Foremost amongst these: no running water at the fields. So today (Tuesday) at 5:15 pm, Cesar was contacted about a “big” meeting Wednesday with the Deputy Commissioner of Health. Pressure has intensified, City Officials are again flexing muscle, and the implied bottom-line is rough. Worst-case scenario, the Vendors will have to shut down operations stat to comply with DOH mandates. But we wont know anything until tomorrow afternoon...

No running water at outdoor food stands at ball fields. It doesn't end.