Old Fisherman’s Wharf vendors upset over discussions of new sidewalk ordinances coming from City of Monterey
Madison Wilber
MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Street vendors in Monterey are pushing back against proposed ordinances that bring tighter restrictions to their trade.
The proposed changes impact vendor spacing, display height, operating hours and vending area dimensions; limiting the amount of merchandise they can display.
“All of a sudden they’re going to cut my booth. You can look at the length of my booth, and they’ve never complained about my length, and they want to cut it down,” said Jesse Chisler, a vendor at the market. “How in the world is anybody going to be able to pay their bills in Monterey County with one table of merchandise?”
The city of Monterey said in their latest agenda that they are considering amendments to the sidewalk vending ordinance to align with state legislature and address local concerns, like citing safety and congestion.
“These new regulations will create a better spacing between vendors as well as define the space they can use for vending. These are new regulations which help the City to better enforce safe distances from the populated trails,” City Manager Hans Uslar said in a statement to KION News. “We have enforced our existing rules. These additional rules will be improving the overall sidewalk vending in this particular place.”
The vendors say they are confused because they claim there have never been any cited issues before now and disagrees with the city that they are enforcing the restrictions that are already in place.
‘Last summer was out of control in the summertime and they’ve never moderated, not you know, they come twice a year, the code enforcement guy,” Scott Powning, another vendor, said. “We need more involvement from the city then twice a year.”
James Burns, a vendor that has spoken up at multiple city council meetings, said there the city has no proof that the vendors have done anything wrong.
“We have not had any injuries. No insurance claims, no police action, no ticketing and no blocking of any emergency vehicle,” Burns said. “There is no reason for the city to they have no proof that we have caused any problems being here.”
What brings these vendors together is their desire to stay within the community and stay connected to their customers.
Daniel Arnendariz, a vendor that sells rocks and handmade jewelry said he has people from across the country make it a point to come to his stand once a year.
“People that come here, they like to visit with me. A lot of people know me by name,” Arnendariz said.
Phillip Lindsey, another vendor, echoed Arnendariz and confirmed that the community makes a big difference,
“Locals that we know that come back all the time. They want it,” Lindsey said. “Someone will stand here for 45 minutes to an hour and just talk.”