There are problems at hand with the vendors at the Michael Finnegan Market again. This time the complaints are from those on the sidewalks- the street vendors.
They called us to say that yesterday two special constables attached to the City Council told them to move off the sidewalks around the bus terminal on West Collet Canal.
But yesterday the street vendors said that they stood their ground and refused to be moved and so today they were back again selling on the sidewalks but they are concerned:
Iris Gonzalez, Street Vendor
"Now I come on my own and decide to make a business to suffice my child and I to pay my rent and whatever and now they come and tell us that we got to move. I want to know what they are going to do with us. Yes they say this is an offence to sell on the sidewalk, but why now it's an offence, all those years we are he_re."
Andrea Polanco
"So who come and inform you that you all have to move?"
Iris Gonzalez, Street Vendor
"Well two special constables and a guy from City Council come yesterday but they didn't tell me their names. So I didn't further it. They just came yesterday and the lady says that I have to move and i told her no it's not like that, you suppose to inform us and tell us where you are going to put us."
Andrea Polanco
"Yesterday you ask then where they will relocate you to. What did they say?"
Iris Gonzalez, Street Vendor
"They didn't answer us when we ask. They didn't answer us."
Andrea Polanco
"So they say that they are going to return today?"
Iris Gonzalez, Street Vendor
"They say they are going to return today and they say they will arrest and charge us. I don't think this is right because what happens to the people that's selling outside of the market? A lot of people are out here. They supposed to have spaces in there to put everybody. According to what I hear it was supposed to be a upstairs and downstairs market. They say that I am paying for a peddling license for bicycle cart, but when I was paying them they don't tell us that. it's our here they come to collect. So why now we need a bicycle cart, while they came to collect all those years they should have told us that we need a bicycle cart. I am here for 6 years, but before that I was out here, before I got a job, so I want to know what the problem is now. Why they keep on collecting from us? Every month I pay my fees. I have my receipts. Every month they come and make sure we pay. Now they come and tell us that we got to move and they will move us with force. I want to know where they are going to put us. I want to know is Zenaida is going to pay my bills and take care of my 4 children, that's what I want to know."
Oswaldo Zetina, Street Vendor's Husband
"I ask them why they come to collect their money and then they come to move you? If they don't want you to sell out here then why do they collect their money every month? If you don't pay them they will move you anyway. My wife pays every month."
Andrea Polanco
"They don't say why they want to move you all?"
Oswaldo Zetina, Street Vendor's Husband
"They just say that we are obstructing the walk path, but when it rains or when it is hot like now the people and students stand right here under the shade, so they even used out tent for shade from the sun. We are trying to make an honest living, I have my job but for my wife this is her job."
Andrea Polanco
"They tell her that they will come back today."
Oswaldo Zetina, Street Vendor's Husband
"They tell her if they come out here today they will arrest her and take her to court, so we come out because every else come out to sell."
Most of the vendors said they have been paying the City Council between 15 and twenty five dollars a month to sell in that area.
