The following piece and photos were submitted by a reader who is a long-term Hoboken resident and friend of the Mr. Softee vendor she's profiled.
Now who doesn't like Mr. Softee?
Well... there were a few cranky parents some years back who were upset about the truck's presence at Church Square Park, something about exhaust fumes polluting the air.
Oh, like their kids (or mine) were breathing fresh air in the first place?
I have news for the Mr. Softee- Jihadists out there: New Jersey is a filthy, polluted state with one of the highest cancer rates in the U.S. - we live downwind from the petroleum refineries of Elizabeth.... and those carcinogens in every breath of air enter our bloodstream through the tiny aveoli in our lungs slipping into the hemoglobin of our red blood cells... then POW! So, you're raising your kid in this state, then complaining about a Mr. Softee truck? If you want your kid to breathe better air, your best bet is Maryland or even Ohio. Heck, I'll bet Canada has better air. Or does it? Can one of my Canadian friends check in, please?
Check out New Jersey on this map from the National Cancer Institute. What did I tell you?
Now , my family tree is riddled with cancer- it's rotten from top to bottom. My mother is a breast cancer-survivor. But I LOVE this town, its filthy air and Mr. Softee!
Which reminds me... our reader submission:
Tony Santomauro, a.k.a. "Mr. Softee"
Like the rites of Spring, the musical Mr. Softee truck pulls up under the blossoms in Church Square Park to sell ice cream to children and their families. Tony Santomauro, the official “Mr. Softee Ice Cream Man” has been parking his soft serve ice cream truck in Hoboken for 27 years.
Tony is licensed by a franchise – Mr. Softee – which commands high standards to sell quality ice cream. He has a fixed route – Tony’s truck route starts west from Sinatra Drive over to Park Avenue, from Observer Highway to 16th Street. The interior of his truck is immaculate. Tony always looks trim, clean and is smartly dressed in a collard shirt. His soft-serve ice cream is consistently appealing and delectable.
He has competition from independent ice cream vendors. When they spot his truck, they frequently park directly behind him, undercutting his business. They’re usually multi-colored trucks with a myriad of ice cream stickers. He doesn’t mind the competition so much as their poor compliance to safety regulations. The independent trucks frequently neglect to use their safety flashers and stop signs. Tony is concerned for children running from all directions toward the trucks. Tony is required by the Mr. Softee franchise to have $2 million in liability insurance before he can park his truck to serve ice cream. Another requirement is mandated by the State – he has to keep his red flashers on in the rear of the truck as well as the front for safety. He also has a protruding Stop sign with flashing lights on the driver’s side. Not many children run toward a truck when it comes down the street – except if it’s an ice cream truck!
Meanwhile, Tony, a dependable, friendly face of Hoboken is out there selling his treats. Stop by and have a cone, or a cup, a shake, a malted, an ice cream soda, or just say hello.
Mmmm... I'll have a fresh-dipped cherry bonnet, please.
Now who doesn't like Mr. Softee?
Well... there were a few cranky parents some years back who were upset about the truck's presence at Church Square Park, something about exhaust fumes polluting the air.
Oh, like their kids (or mine) were breathing fresh air in the first place?
I have news for the Mr. Softee- Jihadists out there: New Jersey is a filthy, polluted state with one of the highest cancer rates in the U.S. - we live downwind from the petroleum refineries of Elizabeth.... and those carcinogens in every breath of air enter our bloodstream through the tiny aveoli in our lungs slipping into the hemoglobin of our red blood cells... then POW! So, you're raising your kid in this state, then complaining about a Mr. Softee truck? If you want your kid to breathe better air, your best bet is Maryland or even Ohio. Heck, I'll bet Canada has better air. Or does it? Can one of my Canadian friends check in, please?
Check out New Jersey on this map from the National Cancer Institute. What did I tell you?
Now , my family tree is riddled with cancer- it's rotten from top to bottom. My mother is a breast cancer-survivor. But I LOVE this town, its filthy air and Mr. Softee!
Which reminds me... our reader submission:
Mr. Softee
Tony Santomauro, a.k.a. "Mr. Softee"Tony is licensed by a franchise – Mr. Softee – which commands high standards to sell quality ice cream. He has a fixed route – Tony’s truck route starts west from Sinatra Drive over to Park Avenue, from Observer Highway to 16th Street. The interior of his truck is immaculate. Tony always looks trim, clean and is smartly dressed in a collard shirt. His soft-serve ice cream is consistently appealing and delectable.
He has competition from independent ice cream vendors. When they spot his truck, they frequently park directly behind him, undercutting his business. They’re usually multi-colored trucks with a myriad of ice cream stickers. He doesn’t mind the competition so much as their poor compliance to safety regulations. The independent trucks frequently neglect to use their safety flashers and stop signs. Tony is concerned for children running from all directions toward the trucks. Tony is required by the Mr. Softee franchise to have $2 million in liability insurance before he can park his truck to serve ice cream. Another requirement is mandated by the State – he has to keep his red flashers on in the rear of the truck as well as the front for safety. He also has a protruding Stop sign with flashing lights on the driver’s side. Not many children run toward a truck when it comes down the street – except if it’s an ice cream truck!
Meanwhile, Tony, a dependable, friendly face of Hoboken is out there selling his treats. Stop by and have a cone, or a cup, a shake, a malted, an ice cream soda, or just say hello.
Mmmm... I'll have a fresh-dipped cherry bonnet, please.
Tony's dedication and professionalism is unshakeable, and now some good press - his just desserts!
ReplyDeleteWho honestly believes these posts are real? No normal person talks about an ice cream vendors professionalism. It's weird. These posts are so obviously posted by Tony or his friends, or paid for by Tony.
DeleteI mean, seriously, think critically about this. Who in their right mind would even know about the ongoing problems with Tony's trucks, other than the people complaining or Tony's friends?
We LOVE Tony and he's basically seen my little hullabloo grow-up! I don't know how he does it but he remembers everyone by name.
ReplyDeleteMy bet is that the real problem is some parents don't like to be the "bad guy" and say "no" to their kids. If Mr. Softie was not there, no issue.
ReplyDeleteMy 20 month old learned the words Ice Cream because of Mr. Softie. I hate to have to say no, but I suck it up an say no and she cries until I distract her with something else.
Then there was the day that I said she could have ice cream and we couldn't find a truck anywhere... I heard them but they were on the move.