Today Paul Ferguson better known to the public as Chicken Dread was back in court again. This time though, it was Municipal Court on two counts of selling fry chicken and fries on Albert Street without a trade license. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and his case was adjourned until the 31st of January. Today 7news caught up with him as he was leaving Municipal Court. He told us what his next step is going to be:..
Paul Ferguson - Fry Chicken vendor
"I went to court for the two charges that Mr. Butler brought against me for selling fry chicken on the sidewalk. The status right now is that they adjourn it until the 31st January."
Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"From the last time you spoke with the Mayor, is there anything different because I think you were told that it was okay for you to be out there. What are you being charged for and what is the next step from here?"
Paul Ferguson - Fry Chicken vendor
"We will continue going to court, I am not going to back down. I am still going to sell my fry chicken - that's the only means I can get money to pay my bills. We will fight them - it is something that is petty as I have said before. They want me to get a trade license, I am on my way to the City Council right now to see if I can get a peddlers license - which I know they will deny me because of the ongoing battle in court. I am not going to back down. If they don't give me a peddler license, we will see how we can acquire a peddler license from through my mom or my sister or somebody else. I am not going to back down, I am still going to sell my fry chicken - If I go to jail, that's what's going to happen because this is something I am doing for years. If they want me to get a trade license - everybody on Albert Street got to get a trade license. As you all can see it's something real petty - we are going to fight."
Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"Are you hoping to sell where you originally were or are you satisfied to be on the sidewalk in front of the Battlefield Park?"
Paul Ferguson - Fry Chicken vendor
"I don't have a problem moving to the Battlefield Park. It's a good location, my location was much better because when people come off the bridge they can see me but we are going to create a problem in the park because you have people that sell hotdog in the park and when their business drop its going to be a problem, so I am trying not to create a problem for other people."
Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"You would agree that a lot of "chiney man" selling chicken on the same spot - its competition, so they would just have to deal with it."
Paul Ferguson - Fry Chicken vendor
"To be honest my chicken is good and I have a strong customer base, so they are not a threat to me. The chicken speaks for itself - the taste speaks for itself."
Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"Do you think that those hotdog people have their trade licenses?"
Paul Ferguson - Fry Chicken vendor
"I am sure several of them don't even have trade license - they don't even have food handler's permit. They are not going to target them - they are going to target me. Some of them can't even speak English, I am not trying to be racist but the facts are the facts - it's the truth."
In the weeks to come Ferguson will be applying for a Peddler's License.
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