NYC DOESN'T KNOW ITS OWN LAWS!
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN cites it as a concrete example of bureaucrats not knowing the rules they enforce on small businesses.
What it is
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.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2021 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Cites emmelaich · 2021-07 · on “My business might have 32 days before it's shut down by NYC [video]”
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
Cites dt3ft · 2021-07 · on “My business might have 32 days before it's shut down by NYC [video]”
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 t
Cites foxyv · 2023-05 · on “Controlled burns help prevent wildfires. Regulations make them nearly impossible”
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]
Cites thedanbob · 2026-01 · on “Mamdani to kill the NYC AI chatbot caught telling businesses to break the law”
> 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]