HELADO BUST COLD AS ICE
City yanks cart from E. Harlem fixture
To hell with your helado! The city on Thursday seized the cart of a flavored-ices vendor who has been a fixture in East Harlem for more than four decades, sparking outrage among local residents who were planning to cool off with one of his frozen treats.
Juan Santos, 78, has been hawking the sorbet-like delights in the area for 43 years.
But on Thursday, inspectors from the Department of Health and Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation showed up with NYPD officers and abruptly took away Santos’ pushcart, according to witnesses.
“I buy from him all the time, especially on hot days like today,” said Ronnie Fantauzzi, 37, an East Harlem resident who works near East 116th Street and Pleasant Avenue, where Santos was confronted by authorities and slapped with a citation for operating without a permit sticker — a crime that carries a maximum fine of $1,000.
The frozen-dessert dealer told The Post that the cart cost him $500, but will now cost $900 to replace. Add in the product and equipment — as well as the fine — and restoring his business will cost well over $2,000, he said.
“I have for 43 years worked in the business. That cart, 13 years,” Santos seethed. “I am friends with the police, so I never charge them, I always give them [ helado] for free. I’ve given them free [ helado] for or five times. In addition, I gave the cops who ticketed me free [ helado].” But cops showed no sympathy. “He’s breaking the law and then complaining when it’s enforced? He should feel lucky he’s made it this long without getting busted,” a police source said.
After losing his cart, Santos was left with just a stool, an umbrella and a plastic shopping bag holding his paper cups and ice scoop.
“Why would they come out of nowhere after all the years he’s been in that one corner?” Fantauzzi wonderered. “He’s always there with his chair and umbrella. He don’t bother no one.”
Edwin Diaz, 32, a Harlem resident who usually buys helado for his 5-year-old son, Gabrielle, said he didn’t see the need to take away Santos’ livelihood.
“They should have just left him alone, or giving him a summons. There’s no reason to put his cart in a sanitation truck,” Diaz said.
“He’s an old-timer, a really nice guy. You see all the kids who come out of the school here always buy ices from him . . . You would think they would have something better to do — go bust drug dealers in the projects, and leave this guy alone.”
The Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment.