Hot dogs & hot tempers lead to fight

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A controversy over a hot dog cart in downtown Springfield turned messy Thursday night and now one city official is pointing the finger at the Mayor.

John Verducci has been serving hot dogs to the bar crowd in the Entertainment District in Springfield for over 15 years now. But everyone’s favorite hot dog guy will not be in his usual spot anymore, because the city has decided to enforce an old parking ordinance from the 1930's.

Verducci says he’s being forced to close up shop because one of owners of the new Izzo's Restaurant across the street is a cousin of Mayor Domenic Sarno.

Verducci told 22News on Thursday night one of the partner’s of Izzo’s restaurant allegedly confronted him at his hot dog stand.

“[He] came over and pushed all the mustard and ketchup on the ground and said ‘I’m going to get you! This isn't the end of it’,” Verducci said.

Chris Lavalla also witnessed the confrontation and spoke to 22News about it.

“He started to get really animated and took all of this and wiped everything across and threw it off,” he said.

Springfield State Representative Cheryl Coakley Rivera agrees with Verducci. She told 22News the only reason the hot dog stand is an issue is because of family ties and favors.

“The owner [of Izzo’s] is acting like a spoiled child. Not only does he go to his cousin and cry that there’s a hot dog cart, but he goes to the Parking Commission,” Rep. Coakley-Rivera said.

The Mayor, who refused comment to 22News, claims Verducci invites after hours loitering and is therefore a threat to public safety.

“If this is a public safety issue, which it is clearly not, he would act similarly to other businesses that had criminal activity in them,” Rep. Coakley-Rivera said.

Izzo's Restaurant also had no comment.