The denizens of Missouri’s first capital can rest easy tonight, knowing that the effort to subject them to hot dog vendors within the city has been defeated. The Suburban Journals has the story. 

The city council, in its debate of a proposal to allow a hot dog stand, seemed to have a disproportionate amount of concern for something so simple (emphasis added):

Several members of the council expressed concerns that approving a permit for Daily could lead to many more people hoping to set up carts on city property.

Others were worried a late-night hotdog stand would lead to more people loitering after bars close.

It would clearly be a disaster for St. Charles if all of a sudden more people tried to sell food out of a cart to loiterers. Next thing you know, St. Charles will be like Las Vegas and they’ll do away with laws altogether! (Note: Sorry, but I can’t find the Onion article I just referenced.)

In all fairness, at least one councilman is going to keep trying to allow hot dog vendors. I give him credit for staying at it. Regulating and taxing street vendors is better than an outright ban, I guess. Why is it so difficult for someone to sell a hot dog to people who might want to buy one? Oh, yeah, because the government gets involved. (”But David, it’s for your own safety!” ”I guess I forgot that for a moment.”)