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Park Slope Parents Want Ice Cream Trucks Banned To Avoid Testy Tantrums From Tots

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Who doesn't like the ice cream truck? Apparently some parents in Park Slope.

Dozens of recent comments on a Park Slope parents message blog said ice cream vendors need to leave the area, especially places around the playgrounds and parks, to help avoid afternoon meltdowns and temper tantrums from children craving frozen treats.

"Go somewhere else, go on another corner because...it does make it too tempting for them," Debbie Markovic said Monday as her lactose-intolerant daughter begged for ice cream.

CBS 2's Emily Smith found ice cream trucks on nearly every corner, including a Mister Softee truck, several Icee carts and a few frozen yogurt mobiles.

Though a sentiment exists among some to move the ice cream trucks, some frozen treat fanatics said banning a staple like Mister Softee is simply un-American.

"A little extreme, a little treat is a good thing," one woman said.

"They're walking down the street and my kid wants everything, every toy they see. Does that mean we should ban every toy store?" another woman said.

A city agency said banning ice cream trucks would have to be done legislatively citywide or statewide. They said to ban the trucks just in Park Slope would be impossible.

One parent jokingly said not until celery trucks go around playing fun music should the community consider banning the ice cream trucks.

Community Board 7 said it gets complaints about noisy music from the ice cream trucks or even safety issues regarding parking. However, an all-out ban for health reasons is unrealistic because the trucks are run by private vendors and parents have the option to say "no."

Where do you stand on the issue?  Do you think ice cream trucks should be banned in Park Slope?  Share your thoughts below...

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