Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Fairfax tells hot dog seller to move from courthouse Date: Sat, 21 Nov 92 17:35:41 EST Message-ID: \SE A;METROPOLITAN \HD Fairfax tells hot dog seller to move from courthouse \BY Maria Koklanaris \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Fairfax County's one and only hot dog street vendor has been ordered to move off county property. Clara Elizabeth Adams, who set up her cart peddling hot dogs, half-smokes, burgers and chips outside the Fairfax County Courthouse about a month ago, was ordered to leave by Fred Kramer, director of the county's Office of General Services. Mrs. Adams, who calls herself Liz, has a permit to operate her cart from the county Department of Consumer Affairs. She has a license from the state. And she has permission from Chief Judge Richard J. Jamborsky to be on courthouse grounds. But the county - which has no licensed hot dog vendors other than Mrs. Adams - has found a reason to evict her from the spot where she has been drawing lines of hungry courthouse employees. Seems she's in violation of state code section 15.1-512.1., according to a letter she received from Mr. Kramer yesterday. The code addresses "Use of Certain Public Property Without Consent or Franchise." "We apologize for the confusion in using the Jennings building for your concession," Mr. Kramer wrote in the letter. "It is hoped that you will be able to find another location in the vicinity to maintain your clientele." Mr. Kramer did not return phone calls yesterday, and a county spokeswoman said she had no information beyond his letter. Mrs. Adams, a 17-year county resident and mother of five, says she's confused, considering she has already received consent from at least three different parties. "I pay taxes, and I should be able to sit on Fairfax County property as long as I have permission," Mrs. Adams said. "They just don't want me to sit here." When she first set up shop, she said the only folks who objected to her presence were the managers of the cafeteria in the courthouse. They asked to see her license and told her Service America Corp. has an exclusive contract with the county to sell food at the courthouse. Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas M. Davis III promised to "look into" Mrs. Adams' situation, said John Hishta, his chief of staff. "He wants to get the answers from both sides." Mrs. Adams may not have state code 15.1-512.1 on her side, but she has gained a lot of friends among courthouse regulars, including Mark Yeager, a defense lawyer who is taking her case for free. He will be with her Monday morning in case county officials show up to try to force her from the property. "I just got my retainer," he said. "Two hot dogs and a Coke." Many of her patrons expressed disgust at the county's action. "I think it stinks," said Harold Bowen, a title examiner, as he waited for Mrs. Adams to serve him yesterday. "Because the food in the cafeteria isn't worth a [darn] and it's overpriced." Actually, the cafeteria and Mrs. Adams charge about the same price for grill items. But many court employees - particularly the deputy sheriffs - have supported Mrs. Adams because she offered an alternative. "We all said it was just a matter of time" before the county found a reason to evict Mrs. Adams, one deputy said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM