Trail of Lights Worker Says 'Andale' To Austin Hot Dog Vendor. Then He Bumps His Stand

BY NINA HERNANDEZ

An Austin Trail of Lights security contractor is out of work after being caught on camera abusing a Latino hot dog vendor by using racialized language and bumping the vendor’s stand with his golf cart.

TikTok creator Jasmine Hart (@jasmine27x) caught the incident on camera and posted it recently. It went viral this week. The video shows a hot dog vendor serving customers outside of Zilker Park, where the annual Austin Trail of Lights takes place every Christmas season.

The video quickly turns when a voice can be heard berating the vendor and his potential customers by saying that it’s a “gross” operation because the vendor doesn’t have a sink. He can also be heard asking passersby if they want an “illegal cartel hotdog.”

“Asi, andale,” says the voice, which belongs to a Trail of Lights employee in a golf cart. The man, who is presumably event security, bumps into another vendor and his cart. “Mom, you don’t want to eat that, I promise,” he says to the couple filming. “You don’t know how many days ago they cooked that.” Hart’s husband replies, “It’s a Mexican thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

Austin Trail of Lights Contractor Caught on Camera Disparaging Hot Dog Vendor Fired

In a statement released to Fox 7 on Monday evening, Austin Trail of Lights Foundation clarified that the man caught on video was a seasonal employee employed by one of its contractors and not directly employed by the foundation.

According to the statement, the man was immediately fired and the foundation reinforced its expectations and values with its contractors and discussed de-escalation protocols to be used going forward.

The statement, which Austin Trail of Lights sent Patch, states, “The behavior in question was not representative of the values of our organization or our city, and is not tolerated. We have taken immediate and lasting action to ensure it doesn’t happen again. The Trail of Lights is a cherished Austin tradition that welcomes the entire community, and we expect those entrusted with its legacy to perform their duties in line with the values of our city.”

Hart reacted to the Fox 7 report in a follow-up video posted last night. “The employee was fired,” she wrote in the caption. Thank you to everyone who shared the video and got the nice hot dog guy his justice.”

Viewers React To the Incident, Firing

In the comments section of both videos, viewers reacted with shock and outrage at the series of events and applauded the Austin Trail of Lights Foundation’s response.

“This makes me so sad,” one person wrote. “My favorite part when coming out of concerts or festivals are these hot dogs. I literally have spent my last $7 on these hot dogs. Please don’t stop!”

“Yes, those hot dog vendors are generally unpermitted, but there’s no reason to speak to these people that way. How horrible of the Trail of Lights security. That’s not right.”

Others argued that the man’s underlying point about the dangers of unlicensed food vendors is sound. “Serious question. Does Austin not require permits for these types of things?” asked one person. Another person replied, “It’s his approach. Most of his comments were unnecessary.”

Anyone interested in working as a mobile food vendor in Austin is asked to obtain a mobile food vendor permit through the Austin Public Health department. That includes food trailers, pushcarts, and kiosks. Although many municipalities do caution against eating food at these unlicensed vendors, criminalizing the practice (not to mention accosting the individuals doing it) disproportionately impacts lower-income and immigrant communities.

In response to the firing, one viewer said, “Good news. Thank you for posting the original viewer. Or else they would have never known. These are the consequences.”

Patch contacted Hart via TikTok comment and direct message for comment.

@jasmine27x

Nina Hernandez is a writer, journalist, music critic, and culture commentator based in Austin, Texas. Her work has appeared in Motor1, All Hip-Hop, the Daily Dot, Rolling Stone, the A.V. Club, Eater Austin, CultureMap San Antonio, and the Austin Chronicle. You can email her at: ninahernandezjournalism@gmail.com