Citing Terrorist Threat, Cops Make Schnitzel Truck Leave

Photograph by Dan Dickinson

First, the cops were removing bikes along the President's motorcade path...now they're kicking out the Schnitzel & Things truck from a spot at East 54th Street and Lexington Avenue because of...a terrorist threat? Schnitzel & Things Tweeted, "Dear all, we've been kicked out by cops because of complaints from citicorp. The reason they gave = 'we are a terrorist threat' Lol WTF????"

We spoke to Schnitzel & Things' Gene Voss who said that when the police first told him to move the truck, he showed that he was legally parked and permitted. The police also looked at his and his employees vending permits. The police left but returned saying that since the Citigroup Building is such a high-profile building (and possible terrorist target), the Citigroup could make a complaint citing a terrorist threat and cops were essentially empowered to make him leave. When asked if he's been forced to move from other spots, Voss said that when he was parked outside the News Corp. building at 6th Avenue and 48th Street, News Corp. apparently complained to cops—but in that instance, the cops said he was allowed to stay.

We've asked NYPD to enlighten us about when street vendors can or can't stay outside of buildings. In the meantime, the Schnitzel & Things truck is back in Red Hook, Tweeting about the injustice of it all: "Citicorp building shame on you for calling the cops on us! We're feeding your employees!! And we're a 'terrorist threat'? this is insanity!!" While there are supportive Tweets (example: "That's because your Schnitzel is exploding with flava ;)"), some suggest this is comeuppance for abandoning Brooklyn: "@schnitzeltruck see, you should have come to DUMBO today!!!"

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By Jen Chung in Food on April 23, 2010 3:26 PM

Comments [rss]

Jesse

Only conclusion I came up with is that a Schnitzel terrorized someones colon at Citi.

Dwayne Hoover

Contact the ACLU/NYCLU and sue. That sounds like a blatant case of making a false report.

babyfishmouth

If you see schnitzel, say schnitzel.

ribaldry

NO PUSHCARTS, VENDORS, ARTISTS, MUSICIANS ALLOWED ANYMORE. CORPORATIONS/BLOOMERG DONT HAVE THE TIME OF DAY FOR CULTURE. MOST OF THE MONEY THEY EARN DOESN'T BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY-- IT LEAVES THE COMMUNITY. UP TO CONNECTICUT WHERE ALL THE MONEY WHORES LIVE. FUCK YOU VERY MUCH

meechybee

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck got the boot too!!!

The NYPD apparently hates ice cream, bicycles, and schnitzel!

Cannibal

Schnitzel & Things be droppin bombs.. TOILET BOMBS!!! AYYYYY!!!!

horseplay

Probably like everything else going on in nyc, this cuisine is not a tourist's favorite so why keep it around?

mocanlagunas

This country is going down the drain... sadly but to all of you who think "we're No. 1", think again...

CR

What sort of moron sees a country as "No. 1"? What does being "No. 1" mean exactly? Can it be quantified? Do I get a prize for living in the "No. 1" country in the.... World? Hemisphere? Continent? Universe? Who's on the jury who decides that? Is it Simon from Idol? (If it Simon we're screwed because that guy lives in the "No. 2" country and he's got it in for us!) Since you say we're going "down the drain" I guess that means we must be below "No. 1" now? How do we regain the spot. Whatever it is - I'll do it. Do I have to sleep with someone? Pay someone off? Pick up trash on the side of the highway. Let me know PLEASE!

Guest

wait! i've seen trucks like this one in *movies, armed with high-tech computers, surveillance radars, missile guidance systems, swat teams, etc, etc, etc.

*often highly fictional

westernqueensland

German "cuisine" is/

Not very good, however,/

Not "Terrostic"/

#haiku

@wqueens7

ozik

What do they think this is? 1940?

Kojak

Its abuse to invoke threats of terrorism to override the laws on the books. They should sue.

But the Citigroup Building is more vulnerable than most given the location of the mega column by the streetside, even if there are barriers in place now.

Citibank moved their Headquarters across the street anyway.

SonofTheSniper

Please NYPD, PLEASE keep us safe!!!

What would we do without you guys?

(*note dripping sarcasm*)

When we will abandon the excuse

"ANYTHING TO KEEP US SAFE"

Meanwhile, maybe employees should also remove their shoes before entering the CitiBuilding?