City government turns phatuous By K. D. Seefeld News-Chronicle How many licenses, permits, regulations, ordinances, fees and taxes does it take to sell a hot dog? Eventually, we may find out. Reading about the rigmarole Phat Dogs and other street vendors are having to go through in order to sell their food makes one wonder what the elected and nonelected officials in charge (?) would do if they had a real issue to resolve. This fiasco involves the usual suspects, assistant city attorney Lanny Schimmel, the coppers, the Protection (from hot dogs) and Welfare Committee (PWC), and the Green Bay City Council. Antientrepreneur Lanny is taking this maverick hot dog business very seriously. I would ask why, but... Anyhoo, Lanny is checking into other cities' ordinances to see how they coerce street vendors. Never mind that this is Green Bay, not Madison or Milwaukee. One would think Green Bay would have its own unique concerns, but evidently, he is more concerned with hot dogs in other towns. The great idea to stifle business by having the vendors close at 1:30 a.m. was the coppers'. Reason: Because of "their inability to move people out of the area after closing time because the carts were an excuse for patrons to stay in the area." This is stupid. Patrons patronize. They want those Phat Dogs. What right do the cops have to deprive a bunch of drunks their right to stuff weenies down their gizzards after a few cold ones? Heck, some might even avoid getting picked up for drunken driving by getting that junk food in their tummies. It is beginning to look like the coppers have three duties to perform. Rent motel rooms to set up stings to bust escorts, bust speeders using the Mason Street Bridge, and harass Phat Dog patrons. And hey! Is it illegal to be downtown after 2 a.m.? Did somebody pass that law and not tell anyone? What started this whole joke were a few complaints to the PWC about litter and dangerous Phat Dogs unleashed in front of competing food businesses. The nanny PWC could have warned the vendors to pick up the garbage, or else. They could have told the competing businesses that compete means rivalry, as in contest; may the best dog win. Naw, that would be too easy and the weenies wouldn't get to waste taxpayer money, or control when, where, and how those dogs are sold. In the end, the Green Bay City Council will make up another stupid ordinance, require additional costly permits, and, limit and regulate the street vendors' businesses. It is not the nature of government to simply let folks provide a service, make some money and be left alone. No, the council, like all government, will make it more difficult and expensive for them to succeed. If the price of your Phat dog, taco, or BBQ increases, you'll know why. Seefeld is a Green Bay resident. His comments appear here every other Monday. Supplementary and opposing viewpoints are welcome.