L.A. Reinstates Ban On Vending In Public Parks And Beaches
A ban on unpermitted vending in Los Angeles’ public parks and beaches went back into effect on Tuesday.
The LA City Council voted to reinstate the ban on vending in July, but it didn’t go into effect until this week.
The ban makes it so that if a vendor is caught selling foods, goods, or services without a permit, they could face escalating fines or even misdemeanor charges.
Councilman Mitch O’Farrell told the L.A. Times in July that without this ban, “It’s anything goes, essentially, in our parks.”
Just outside of MacArthur Park, vendor Oscar Rogel feels differently.
“It’s very wrong because that’s the only way [vendors] can survive. Most of them are people who don’t have legal papers, so the only way they can survive is by vending like that in the street,” Rogel said.
.jpg "Vendor Oscar Rogel stands under an umbrella. (Scott Cook / Annenberg Media)")
Another vendor, Ivan Law, has been able to rebound from homelessness thanks to vending in MacArthur Park.
“If it hadn’t been for my ability to come here and sell my stuff, I would be homeless,” Law recounts.
“Instead of begging for change, being a drug dealer, being a robber or a mugger, I decided I’d buy me some inventory and buy and sell. I started out real small, I grew, and I’m no longer homeless,” Law said.
Success stories like Law’s make it difficult to justify the ban. However, lawmakers agree the ban could help small businesses in the areas surrounding local parks and beaches, by promoting consumers to buy from them instead of street vendors.
Christina Rodarte is the manager of ‘More 4 Less’ bargain store located across the street from MacArthur Park. The top sellers at Rodarte’s store are small electronic devices and toiletries, two of the most commonly vended items in MacArthur Park.
When asked if she thinks business will be driven up as a result of the vending ban, Rodarte said no, because her store usually sells items at a lower cost than park vendors.
Across LA, authorities will be cracking down on all vendors that don’t have proper permits.
Janet Favela of the East LA Community Corporation told NBC LA, “[Vendors] could be warned. They could possibly be ticketed. And depending on how many times they’ve been cited, they could end up in jail.”
