Talks to Watch

NYC DOESN'T KNOW ITS OWN LAWS!

459K views · Apr 26, 2021 · 16:21 · 0 HN recommenders · 4 mentions · discussed 2021–2026

Louis Rossmann recounts calling NYC's Department of Consumer Affairs after his repair business was fined, only to find the agency staff could not explain what the law required. The call starts around 3:14.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN cites it as a concrete example of bureaucrats not knowing the rules they enforce on small businesses.

“Louis Rossmann did a pretty good job demonstrating a similar issue with New York”HN comment, 2023

What Hacker News said 4

Cites itemmelaichJul 2021

Rossmann's earlier NYC licensing run-ins

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The author's pinned comment: To answer some common questions: a) I have already emailed & called, and I patiently await a reply... b) You can't re-renew with a 13 month old PIN if you already renewed. c) You can't show up in person without an appointment. d) Appointments are only granted by means of contact that don't reply. e) Yes I have two other licenses that AREN'T expired, but those are useless, they are for selling laptops, not fixing laptops, which I don't do anymore anyway after the city was unable to give me a straight answer on how to do so without being fined: this video - I need this license in the video to be able to actually do repairs. f) Just listen to this. this video This is what I am dealing with. After 15+ minutes and being transferred to two people, they can't answer a basic question about a rule they fined me for breaking that they can't even explain. They never emailed or called me back, which has been the behavior I have come to expect over the past nine years. I am serious, if you work for the city and have any way of applying my 13 month old payment to this license renewal, you have the gratitude of myself & 14 of my employees who will get to continue paying their rents, mortgages, & food bill for their kids. In spite of what people think, I am not a millionaire. If I'm forced to close - I can't afford to pay these people. I do not want that to happen. I am not meming, I never get responses to DCA emails - not 3 months ago, not for NINE YEARS, and I don't

in “My business might have 32 days before it's shut down by NYC [video]” · view on HN
Cites itdt3ftJul 2021

Quoted author comment on NYC licensing

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Here is a summary from the Louis Rossmann YT comment: To answer some common questions: a) I have already emailed & called, and I patiently await a reply... b) You can't re-renew with a 13 month old PIN if you already renewed. c) You can't show up in person without an appointment. d) Appointments are only granted by means of contact that don't reply. e) Yes I have two other licenses that AREN'T expired, but those are useless, they are for selling laptops, not fixing laptops, which I don't do anymore anyway after the city was unable to give me a straight answer on how to do so without being fined: this video - I need this license in the video to be able to actually do repairs. f) Just listen to this. this video This is what I am dealing with. After 15+ minutes and being transferred to two people, they can't answer a basic question about a rule they fined me for breaking that they can't even explain. They never emailed or called me back, which has been the behavior I have come to expect over the past nine years. I am serious, if you work for the city and have any way of applying my 13 month old payment to this license renewal, you have the gratitude of myself & 14 of my employees who will get to continue paying their rents, mortgages, & food bill for their kids. In spite of what people think, I am not a millionaire. If I'm forced to close - I can't afford to pay these people. I do not want that to happen. I am not meming, I never get responses to DCA emails - not 3 months ago, not for

in “My business might have 32 days before it's shut down by NYC [video]” · view on HN
Cites itfoxyvMay 2023

“Louis Rossmann did a pretty good job demonstrating a similar issue with New York”

Rossmann demonstrates officials not knowing the laws

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I think the most frustrating aspect of California is the capricious interpretation of laws. There isn't a clear way to ensure compliance. Louis Rossmann did a pretty good job demonstrating a similar issue with New York and the LeadsOnline reporting requirements. Often the people responsible for enforcing the laws, don't even know what the laws are and will often err on the side of fining people. this video

in “Controlled burns help prevent wildfires. Regulations make them nearly impossible” · view on HN
Cites itthedanbobJan 2026

“Considering Louis Rossmann's videos on his adventures with NYC bureaucracy”

Rossmann's NYC bureaucracy experiences

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> Why did NYC release it in the first place? Did they not QA it? Considering Louis Rossmann's videos on his adventures with NYC bureaucracy (e.g. [0]), the QAers might not have known the laws any better than the chat bot. [0] this video

in “Mamdani to kill the NYC AI chatbot caught telling businesses to break the law” · view on HN