IRS Attorney Sells Hot Dogs During Government Shutdown

Creative Side Hustle During Shutdown

• 💡 An IRS attorney, Isaac Stein, has started selling hot dogs on the streets of Washington, D.C. during the government shutdown.
• 🎯 His hot dog stand is named "Shysters Dogs," with a slogan calling it “the only honest ripoff in D.C.”
• 👔 Stein wears a suit and tie, the same attire he wears for his government job, while serving customers.

Origins of "Shysters Dogs"

• 🧠 Stein's entrepreneurial spirit dates back to seventh grade when he enjoyed working at a concession stand.
• 🛠️ He had been considering the idea for a couple of years before deciding to pursue it.
• 📜 The process involved obtaining a cart and navigating specific DC regulations and permitting requirements.

Transition from Law to Food Vending

• ⚖️ Stein works for the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, representing the IRS and writing tax regulations.
• 🗓️ He began selling hot dogs in September and transitioned to doing it full-time when the government shutdown began on October 8th.

Contrasting Work Environments

• 🤝 As a junior attorney, Stein valued the intellectual generosity and willingness of colleagues to answer questions.
• 💖 On the street, he experiences a different kind of generosity, with strangers helping him when components of the hot dog cart blow away in the wind.
• 💬 He notes that people frequently ask him why he's in a suit and if he can provide legal advice, which he politely declines due to potential conflicts of interest.