Many people know my father—Dan Rossi—as The New York Hot Dog King. Some may recognize him from the Netflix series Street Food USA, but most people know him as the hot dog guy in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). My father is a disabled 73-year-old Vietnam veteran and has been bullied by city officials for decades; not for health violations, but just because they can. 

Unlike many vendors on 5th avenue, my father has the legal permits required to operate a food cart. Because the health department has failed to enforce their own laws regarding illegal vending, my dad has been sleeping in his van for the last 11 years in order to protect his vending spot.

After being told he could occupy his vending space in front of the MET, the health department backtracked on their statement. They’re now forcing him to work in his pushcart 24/7 or else, he would lose his spot. No other food cart owner is required to do this. This is unfair!

My father started his food cart business in the 1980s and leased hundreds of carts to vendors across the city. In the ‘90s, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and other New York elites lobbied the state to pass a law that would remove disabled veterans from selling goods in midtown Manhattan, the site of the new Trump Tower. When the law passed, my father lost everything overnight including our home. Since then, he has been running his hot dog cart alongside my sister, who is also a disabled veteran.

No one should have to tolerate this level of harassment unprovoked, especially not a 73-year old war hero. Please add your name to urge Mayor Eric Adams and Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan to enforce their health codes fairly across the board.Support the Hot Dog King!