She would love to sell bacon-wrapped hot dogs — trust her — but a trip
last year to the women's county jail, a trip she says officials
orchestrated to "make an example" of her, finally pushed her to give up
the bacon and illegal grilling device she used for so long. Instead,
she prepares dogs the only way the county Environmental Health
Department currently allows, by boiling or steaming. Not grilling. And
grilling is the only way to make a classic L.A. bacon-wrapped hot dog.
"Honestly, I can tell you, I've been a working person all my life,
I've worked since I was 9 years old," Palacios says. "I don't like
being bothered, I don't like being arrested. Never in my life had I
been to jail, and they threw me in jail for violating the laws of the
health department."
She's not the only one. Ask any Fashion District hot-dog vendor and
he or she is sure to have at least one story of being cited, arrested
or even jailed for grilling bacon-wrapped hot dogs on the sidewalk.
Whew! Close one.
( Balko )