S treet vendors from all over Los Angeles took action Tuesday morning in front of city hall to once again demand from the county, city, and state to put a stop to the continued criminalization and displacement of street vendors. Among them were vendors from Avenue 26, Bonnie Brae, Hollywood, and sidewalk vendors who operate outside of the Los Angeles Community College Swap Meet, also known as LACC Swap, who are currently facing threats of displacement.

The vendors outside the swap meet have an uphill battle as they fight to stay at their current location on Vermont Avenue and Monroe Street. A strip outside of LACC that is lined with merchandise and food vendors twice a week. The sidewalk is a location that many vendors turned to during the pandemic when the swap meet closed its doors for the first time in two decades. But since the reopening of the swap meet, what has troubled vendors the most has been what they described as ongoing harassment and lack of understanding from Phillip Dane, the new owner of LACC Swap, his team, and the LACC Foundation who oversees the swap meet. 

“No trabajamos en paz,” “We don’t work in peace,” said street vendor Erika Ruiz. “He has done so many things to try and intimidate us, the sprinklers are turned on when they see us arrive, the portable bathrooms inside (the swap meet) which before were emptied when the swap meet would close are now being emptied during peak business hours and the smell alone drives customers away.”

Ruiz, who began selling her merchandise outside of the swap meet last year after she lost her job due to the pandemic, said Dane himself has not attempted to talk to vendors. “There’s no communication between us, it’s either we move inside, or we move from the sidewalk,” she said.  

Most vendors cannot afford the fees or permit the swap meet requires to vend inside. Each booth can cost up to $50 per day. Although competitive bidding on stalls that often raises the cost way beyond $50 is not currently being done, Dane stated in an interview with The Eastsider that he’s thinking of bringing back the bidding later. 

And although the pandemic has proven to have negatively impacted many businesses financially due to closures, the previous owner, Newport Diversified, and LACC Foundation officials blame the 75% to 80% drop in revenue since the reopening on the increase of vending outside of the swap meet. But the reality for many vendors who sell on the sidewalk rather than inside is that they too have had a significant loss.

“Estamos aquí por necesidad,” “We are here out of necessity,” said Ruiz. “During the pandemic, we all lost money, and we are trying to recover. We have nothing against the vendors inside because they were out here with us when this place was closed. We just want to continue to work.”

Other vendors like Arely Tafolla Garcia, 28, who sells aguas frescas outside the swap meet, said she was hit hard by the pandemic. She not only lost income but was in and out of hospitals for about a month after testing positive for covid-19 in March. To make matters worse, after recovering from COVID, she was informed that she was left with damage to her heart.

Because of this, Garcia had surgery just 22 days ago to have a pacemaker installed in her heart and has been put on a waiting list for a heart transplant. The idea that she may need to look for a new place to sell worries her. 

“This is my only job. I’m here working porque (because) healthy or not, a mi no me perdonan mi renta (no one is going to forgive my rent),” she said in Español. “The owner has every right to defend his swap meet, but we aren’t doing anything that harms him. I really wish he would just come and ask us why we’re here. Maybe then he would understand our need.” 

The 28-year-old vendor works alongside her mother and sister, who sell in a puesto (stand) next to her, selling steamy pozole, menudo, tacos, quesadillas, and guisados. She said if it weren’t because of street vending, they would not have survived the pandemic. As food vendors, they both face even stricter demands like acquiring a health department-issued permit. A permit that has proven to be challenging to attain, as only 165 out of 10,000 street vendors currently operate with the permit. 

Garcia said recent tactics by the owner have only made things worse and have made working there more difficult, but like many vendors, she said moving is not an option. 

This past weekend Garcia and other vendors in the area who often arrive as early as 5 AM were met with signs that read “No Parking SAT-SUN 6 AM TO 6 PM,” which are continually operating hours for both the swap meet and the vendors outside. The new parking signs put on by the swap meet affect not only sidewalk vendors who use the parking to unload their gear but also residents. Residents like Jonathan Arrebolo recently moved across the street from LACC. 

“Parking in Los Angeles is hard enough as it is, but I’m not trying to wake up at 5:30 in the morning to move my car every day during the weekend just not to be ticketed or have my car towed away,” he said. Cleaning porta-potties during vending hours. Parking signs went up recently. Vendors and nearby neighbors allege creates more problems for them.

Tickets for parking during no parking hours can run up to $78 according to vendors who’ve been ticketed, almost $200 for two days, half of what a vendor makes a day. 

Lawrence, a former professor at LACC who would prefer to go by his first name, has personally seen the changes going on since the re-opening of the swap meet. He usually helps his friends set up their stand every weekend and occasionally helps them sell when they can. He is also one of many who have helped vendors communicate with Dane via email.

“In an email he sent, he expressed his intentions to drive the people away, I’ve known these people for about ten years, and they’re good people they live off of these sales, they aren’t all of sudden going to give up their own source of income because he says so,” said Lawrance. 

“They are trying to push us out. We see it. It’s hard not to notice,” said Sandra Escalante, one of the first three vendors who sold inside the swap meet 20 years ago and is now selling outside the gates. 

According to vendors, they have also been told by the swap meets security that if they were seen parking on the side or inside the free public parking structure for the swap meet, they would have a tow truck called on them. L.A. TACO did reach out to LACC Swap and LACC Foundation for comment on the vendor’s claims, but they have yet to respond. 

There are a little over 50 street vendors who operate outside the swap meet, and about a dozen of them said other attempts have been made by the LACC Foundation and Dane that plan on having the sidewalk go through a “beautification process” that will include adding 20 trees and two-foot shrubs throughout the perimeter. 

The vendor’s concerns about this possible beautification are valid considering in many cases. Similar coded wording has been used right before removing street vendors from their communities, like with Avenue 26 and Patata St. They were displaced due to claims of sanitation concerns, lack of permits, and in some cases, alleged beautification efforts. While in other cases, like in the Melrose corridor, a report by LAPD and StreetsLA that places the blame on the rise of crimes in the area to street vending is being used to make Melrose a no vending zone potentially. 

“They are trying to push us out. We see it. It’s hard not to notice,” said Sandra Escalante, one of the first three vendors who sold inside the swap meet 20 years ago and is now selling outside the gates. 

She said that’s why vendors from the swap meet joined other L.A. street vendors on Tuesday to bring awareness to the many obstacles vendors have been facing not just in the past but recently. 

“This isn’t just about us we’re raising our voices for all street vendors, porque nosotros también valemos (because we matter too), we are out here selling to provide something better for our families, it isn’t a crime, we shouldn’t be targets,” said Escalante.

AUMENTAN LAS TENSIONES ENTRE LOS VENDEDORES FUERA DE LACC SWAP MEET Y EL NUEVO PROPIETARIO DEL MERCADO AL AIRE LIBRE

Vendedores ambulantes de todo Los Ángeles tomaron medidas el martes por la mañana frente al ayuntamiento de Los Ángeles para exigir una vez más al condado, la ciudad y el estado que detenga la criminalización y el desplazamiento continuo de los vendedores ambulantes. Entre ellos se encontraban vendedores de Avenue 26, Bonnie Brae, Hollywood y vendedores ambulantes que operan fuera del Los Angeles Community College Swap Meet, también conocido como LACC Swap, que actualmente enfrentan amenazas de desplazamiento.

Los vendedores fuera del swap meet tienen una batalla cuesta arriba mientras luchan por permanecer en su ubicación en Vermont Avenue y Monroe Street. Una franja en las afueras de LACC que está llena de vendedores de alimentos y mercancía dos veces por semana. La banqueta es un lugar al que acudieron muchos vendedores durante la pandemia cuando el swap meet cerró sus puertas por primera vez en dos décadas. Pero desde la reapertura del swap meet, lo que más ha preocupado a los proveedores ha sido lo que describieron como acoso continuo y falta de comprensión por parte de Phillip Dane, el nuevo propietario de LACC Swap, su equipo y la Fundación LACC que supervisa el swap meet.

“No trabajamos en paz,” dijo la vendedora ambulante Erika Ruiz. “Ha hecho tantas cosas para tratar de intimidarnos, los rociadores (sprinklers) están encendidos cuando nos ven llegar, los baños portátiles adentro (del swap meet) que antes se vaciaban cuando cerraba el swap meet ahora se vacían durante las horas mas ocupadas, y el olor aleja a los clientes.”

Ruiz, quien comenzó a vender su mercancía fuera del swap meet el año pasado después de que perdió su trabajo debido a la pandemia, dijo que el propio Dane no ha intentado hablar con los vendedores. “No hay comunicación entre nosotros, o nos movemos hacia adentro o nos movemos desde la acera,” dijo ella.

La mayoría de los proveedores no pueden pagar las tarifas o los permisos que el swap meet requiere para poder vender adentro. Cada puesto puede costar hasta $50 por día. Y aunque actualmente no se están realizando ofertas competitivas en puestos que a menudo aumentan el costo más allá de los $50, Dane declaró en una entrevista con The Eastsider que está pensando en recuperar la oferta más adelante.

Y aunque se ha demostrado que la pandemia ha afectado negativamente a muchas empresas financieramente debido a los cierres, el propietario anterior, Newport Diversified, y los funcionarios de la Fundación LACC culpan de la caída del 75% al ​​80% en los ingresos desde la reapertura al aumento de las ventas fuera del swap meet. Pero la realidad para muchos vendedores que venden en la acera en lugar de adentro es que ellos también han tenido una pérdida significativa.

“Estamos aquí por necesidad,” dijo Ruiz. “Durante la pandemia, todos perdimos dinero y estamos tratando de recuperarnos. No tenemos nada en contra de los vendedores adentro porque estaban aquí con nosotros cuando este lugar estaba cerrado. Solo queremos seguir trabajando.”

Otros vendedores como Arely Tafolla García, de 28 años, que vende aguas frescas fuera del swap meet, dijo que la pandemia la dejo con un gran golpe. No solo perdió ingresos, sino que estuvo entrando y saliendo de hospitales durante aproximadamente un mes después de dar positivo por covid-19 en marzo. Para empeorar las cosas, después de recuperarse de COVID, se le informó que se quedó con daños en el corazón.

Debido a esto, García se sometió a una cirugía hace solo 22 días para que le instalaran un marcapasos en el corazón y ha sido incluida en una lista de espera para un trasplante de corazón. La idea de que deba buscar un nuevo lugar para vender le preocupa.

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“Este es mi único trabajo. Estoy aquí trabajando porque sana o no, a mi no me perdonan mi renta,” Garcia dijo. “El propietario tiene todo el derecho a defender su swap meet, pero no estamos haciendo nada que lo perjudique. Realmente desearía que viniera y nos preguntara por qué estamos aquí. Quizás entonces él entendería nuestra necesidad.”

La vendedora de 28 años trabaja junto a su madre y su hermana, quienes venden en un puesto junto a ella, vendiendo pozole, menudo, tacos, quesadillas y guisados. Dijo que si no fuera por la venta ambulante, no habrían sobrevivido la pandemia. Como vendedoras de alimentos, ambas enfrentan demandas aún más estrictas, como la obtención de un permiso emitido por el departamento de salud. Un permiso que ha demostrado ser un desafío, ya que solo 165 de cada 10,000 vendedores ambulantes operan actualmente con el permiso.

García dijo que las tácticas recientes del propietario solo han empeorado las cosas y han hecho que trabajar allí sea más difícil, pero como muchos proveedores, dijo que moverse no es una opción.

El fin de semana pasado, García y otros proveedores en el área llegarron a las 5 a.m. y se encontraron con letreros que decían “No estacionarse SAB-DOM DE 6 AM A 6 PM”, que son horas de funcionamiento continuo tanto para el swap meet como para los vendedores afuera. Las nuevas señales de estacionamiento colocadas por el swap meet afectan no solo a los vendedores ambulantes que usan el estacionamiento para descargar su equipo, sino también a los residentes. Residentes como Jonathan Arrebolo que se mudo recientemente al otro lado de la calle de LACC.

“Estacionarse en Los Ángeles ya es bastante difícil, pero no estoy tratando de despertarme a las 5:30 de la mañana para mover mi automóvil todos los días durante el fin de semana, simplemente para no recibir una multa o que me remolquen el automóvil,” dijo él.

Las multas por estacionarse durante las horas en las que no hay estacionamiento pueden costar hasta $78 según los proveedores que han recibido multas, casi $200 por dos días, la mitad de lo que gana un proveedor en un día.

Lawrence, un ex profesor de LACC que preferiría usar solo su primer nombre, ha visto personalmente los cambios desde la reapertura del swap meet. Por lo general, ayuda a sus amigos a montar su puesto todos los fines de semana y, de vez en cuando, les ayuda a vender cuando pueden. También es uno de los muchos que han ayudado a los proveedores a comunicarse con Dane por correo electrónico.

“En un correo electrónico que envió, expresó sus intenciones de alejar a la gente, conozco a estas personas desde hace unos diez años, y son buenas personas que viven de estas ventas, no van a renunciar a su propia fuente de ingresos porque él lo dice,” dijo Lawrance.

Según los proveedores, la seguridad del swap meet también les ha dicho que si los veían estacionarse al costado o dentro de la estructura de estacionamiento público gratuito para el swap meet, se les llamaría con una grúa. L.A. TACO se comunicó con LACC Swap y LACC Foundation para comentar sobre las afirmaciones del los vendedores, pero aún no han respondido.

Hay un poco más de 50 vendedores ambulantes que operan fuera del swap meet, y alrededor de una docena de ellos dijeron que la Fundación LACC y Dane han hecho otros intentos que planean que la acera pase por un “proceso de embellecimiento” que incluirá agregar 20 árboles y arbustos de dos pies en todo el perímetro.

Las preocupaciones de los vendedores sobre este posible embellecimiento son válidas considerando que en muchos casos se ha usado una redacción codificada similar justo antes de sacar a los vendedores ambulantes de sus comunidades, como en Avenue 26 y Patata St. Fueron desplazados debido a reclamos por problemas de saneamiento, falta de permisos y, en algunos casos, supuestos esfuerzos de embellecimiento. Mientras que en otros casos, como en el corredor de Melrose, se está utilizando un informe de LAPD y StreetsLA que culpa al aumento de los delitos en el área a la venta ambulante para hacer de Melrose una zona potencialmente prohibida.

“Están tratando de expulsarnos. Lo vemos. Es difícil no darse cuenta,” dijo Sandra Escalante, una de las tres primeras vendedoras que vendió dentro del swap meet hace 20 años y ahora vende fuera de las puertas.

Ella dijo que es por eso que los vendedores fuera del swap meet se unieron a otros vendedores ambulantes de Los Ángeles el martes para crear conciencia sobre los muchos obstáculos que los vendedores han enfrentado no solo en el pasado sino también recientemente.

“No se trata solo de nosotros, estamos alzando la voz por todos los vendedores ambulantes, porque nosotros también valemos, estamos aquí vendiendo para brindar algo mejor a nuestras familias, no es un crimen, no deberíamos ser ostigados,” dijo Escalante.

This story was translated by Janette Villafana.

Update on 10/15/21: Phillip Dane has responded to the initial email sent by L.A. TACO on 10/07/21. His statement is below.

“I’ve stayed away from the market and let my bilingual staff work the communication between the vendors and everybody. I’m not harassing them, I’m begging them to come on in and ten of the vendors outside have, so why is it so hard for everyone to do the same?… As for the sprinklers, there are no sprinklers outside anymore…We did the street closure because the illegal street vendors outside have taken over the parking, so I had the idea of creating these no parking times so we have some type of control and give priority to vendors inside…I am not the bad guy…if things continue the way they are with vendors outside my wife and I will have no other option but to close the swapmeet, and no one else is going to come to save it.”

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Perhaps you should have interviewed me instead of just writing false information. We have communicated to Street Vendors and explained we are not opposed at all to legal vending but if you did your research, you would have known that street vending is prohibited within 500 feet of a school. Furthermore, we have made several attempts to discuss options with the vendors who are illegally selling and taking business from legitimate vendors within the swap meet. The swap meet generates over $500,000 in revenue paid to the LACC Foundation and helps over 17,000 students. The illegal selling within 500 feet jeopordises the future of the swap meet and would displace over 160 vendors forcing them to also move to the street. Is that the goal? We are not the bad guys and your one sided article is sadly inaccurate.

All swap meets and flea markets have vendors outside the gates. That is par for the course. If your swap is having problems, it’s not because of the handful of vendors outside. Those people you are harassing are potential future “inside” vendors with a little support. Maybe you are bad at your job. Have you considered a profession that you might be better suited for? LACC extension has a lot of good stuff in their schedule.

Your interpretation of the street vendor ordinance is completely wrong. Even a simpleton would notice that the 500 feet rule you mention doesn’t apply to a COLLEGE, let alone on a weekend. Perhaps you should take an English course at LACC to help with your reading skills. Also, your dog whistle comments about someone having an “illegal” status is despicable and you should be ashamed of yourself.

Come on, Phillip. You started the Melrose Flea at Fairfax High and one in DTLA. This area is gentrifying. It’s not hard to see that is transpiring. Raise the cost to rent a booth, push out the working class, and turn the flea into a macrame, hipster, vintage hellscape. Your greed is more transparent than your weak argument and unsavory tactics.

You are completely wrong Phillip. The ordinance clearly states that its 500 feet from a K-12 school. This doesn’t apply to community colleges. I hate to say this but the way you and your associates have been treating the vendors definitely makes you a bad guy, and dog whistle comments about “illegal” vendors make you kind of racist. I suggest you learn to work with people rather than take a combative approach.

Perhaps you should have done some research into how your permits would affect the residents of those in the swapmeet’s immediate surrounding areas. Your tactic to eliminate parking in order to prevent street vending is one of the least thought out ideas I have seen enacted. Not only did you restrict parking for the immediate residents, like myself, you actually cost people money. You swooped in and had your no parking signs erected all over Monroe St and Marathon St. You did not consult with the residents or even give us an explanation of why these signs went up. YOU BOUGHT PUBLIC STREETS IN ORDER TO FINANCIALLY BENEFIT FROM THESE RESTRICTIONS.

Then, to top if off, you didn’t even have the gall or give us the courtesy to be present this weekend for discussion. Once I started seeing cars getting ticketed and towed, I went to the swapmeet to have a discussion with you to understand your train of thought. Instead, I was greeted by your manager, wearing army fatigues and a bullet proof vest. Did you know you would have kick back and wanted to intimidate us into accepting what you’ve done? BULLET PROOF VESTS? You could learn one thing from the previous management team. They would do door to door campaigns and ask us, the people who live here, about their concerns with the swapmeet. These conversations happened at least every quarter.

As a resident, I don’t think you are good for my community. I believe that you have taken over this swapmeet with a long term plan to further gentrify my neighborhood. You and your wife run Odd Market, which runs the Los Feliz Flea and Odd Nights at The Autry and a handful of other swaps. I see you taking away our street parking, then slowly pushing out the local vendors in order to bring in more antique, trendy flea vendors.

Maybe stop gentrifying LA and getting your panties in a twist when people are just trying to make money and can’t afford the booth prices smfh. Get off your high horse.

Hi Phillip, I did reach out to you and your team twice as stated in the article also to LACC Foundation to hear your side of the story or to include some type of comment regarding what vendors said but never heard back until this comment. This is why I referenced your previous interviews with two other publications. I am open to jumping on a call with you if you’d like to comment on the situation and update the article with your comment. Feel free to email me [email protected]

The reality is that the Lord has never been kind enough to answer any mail or talk to sellers, he is an intractable person who only sees his benefits if looking at who is going to harm him, he believes that calling the police will not intimidate us as illegals. He harasses are major words, the situation we live there has been sent an email and none have answered yet I feel that the Lord will retaliate when he sees my answer but I am a person who gives support As his children I earn the money honestly working every weekend without hurting anyone, I just want to work

Yes keep doing 👏 your job. You are not doing nothing wrong. It’s envy that want yes us Mexican people not to progress and succeed too bad we been here and aren’t aren’t going anywhere they kick us out we find a wY to keep providing food and pay bills the honestly way not lay at home collecting checks now that is a crime. All no Hispanic no Latin either Mexican American or Mexican. We work all the jobs yes white,black etc .can not and will not work as hard we do and we are here forever

Yes keep doing 👏 your job. You are not doing nothing wrong. It’s envy that want yes us Mexican people not to progress and succeed too bad we been here and aren’t aren’t going anywhere they kick us out we find a wY to keep providing food and pay bills the honestly way not lay at home collecting checks now that is a crime. All no Hispanic no Latin either Mexican American or Mexican. We work all the jobs yes white,black etc .can not and will not work as hard we do and we are here forever

So why don’t you complain when yes it’s deep all facts. All Asian most take advantage they pay so little for labor they hire any Mexican cuase they know the magnificent results and we complete what we finish see we don’t yell cry we do with actions. So now food vendors come on you are bully yes a big bully .they make amazing 👏 food so why not let us be you already know we don’t give up and will never quit and very proud of are culture every thing we love about are RAZA…take a closer look yes you don’t like it hey nature will take its course gosh do I feel bad for people harming hard working families abuse discrimination against successfulness .we don’t put are heads down we never have…you guys get respect you sime don’t give it back then when it comes. Down oh know your sorry now you want the police stop provoking us please…..

today Mr. Philip came threatening the people outside the swap mee he is a rude arrogant intractable person and I only talk to some of the outsiders as you can see people like the inhuman he starts to scream he does not let himself speak How it hurts him that a mother a housewife struggles to feed him As his children do not understand how people like him apollen foundations I do not understand that he only profits from the weakness of stupid people girls words of this disgusting being

That is a slightly view. So much no need to waste more time we know what we’re capable of good bad in between…. so why would you tease a lion …were not violent we protect are selfs and family. Go after criminals not possible trying to work or what you want them to become criminals no not all of us…were doing great and getting better, stronger, united, organized so 👍 💪 😉 😀 👏 like I said we can’t not stop you see build as many walls were well some jump over the next day Always a way….

As a resident of this street, I have to say this is a very one sided article. The vendors who “don’t want to be bothered to set up at 5:30” are the same vendors who have absolutely ZERO respect for the neighborhood and it’s residents. I am pro street vending, but an entire pop up flea market outside of your house with vendors who have no regard for the community they’re vending in is a different story. They have hit both me and my fiancé’s cars and not left a note in front of our eyes (over 3k in damage) TWICE, they leave their cars in our very precious few spots (2/3 buildings on the marathon block do not have parking) for literal weeks at a time – moving from side to side to avoids tickets, they park their cars 6 feet apart so they can put their merch between it, I can’t open a passenger door EVER, they put chairs and tent legs in the street to save spots in the street and then scream at me (literally, 4 times now) when we ask them to move so we can park at our literal house, they leave SO much trash – they actually TOOK OUT THE SPRINKLERS mentioned in the article out of the ground. Again, I’m pro street vendor but this is so far beyond that. A lot of these people commenting just see an attack on vendors, but don’t live on the street or see what it’s like from the other side so they’re quick to cry foul without knowing all sides.

Katie you cannot say that you’re pro street vending while simultaneously accusing and nagging about what they may have done we live very close to the swap meet and don’t have any trouble with them because they are literally minding their business and I suggest you should do the same.

you can’t say that you’re pro street vendor and then accuse and nag about what they may have done. As someone who lives very close to the swap meet as well as knows people who participate we have never had a problem. They are truly just minding their business and I strongly suggest that you do the same.

I’ve got to chime in as a LASwap Meet seller for over a decade. Some of the comments here even by residents nearby are wacky. I live on Marathon and when I come home Friday and Saturday evenings guess what? I can’t park on my street every single weekend for the past 2 years because it’s full. Luckily once I park blocks away on Friday night I don’t have to worry about finding more parking until the next evening after I’m done selling. The tents that go up (pr the frames) on the street all have trucks and vans taking up all the spots on one side of the street. These are not local sellers they drive here from far away. I know many of them. So when those tow away signs went up there was finally parking. As a resident and seller at the swap meet I spoke to the manager and it wasn’t the security person they have there every week. It was the actual manager. I didn’t get towed or get a ticket. They have to have security. There’s a ATM on site. And they are helping keep the sellers safe. The new owner never put sprinklers on. That was the old owner who installed them and turned them on and then sellers on the street broke them. I watched it happen it was in April 2021. These stories are crazy. The price to sell, so you all can see are a quarter of what they were in July of this year. So prices didn’t increase. I was having to arrive in the dark and bid for my space every single weekend which was hundreds of dollars. I don’t have to do that anymore. And now I can make more money at the end of the day, except sellers who were once inside got stingy and will sell outside until 500 feet law is enforced which it will be eventually. There’s not even a admission change anymore. Someone mentioned the old owner would go around the neighborhood every quarter and get feedback. But the new owner hasn’t even been running the market for a quarter. It’s been since August. Again another easy google search. I hope all the sellers outside (50 of them if this article is right, which it’s lacking any reality) are happy when this swap meet closes and all 200 of us inside no longer can feed ourselves, our kids, or pay our rent. Call the College which is pretty easy or the city and confirm like I did that the 500 feet restriction is for Higher Learning Education which is COLLEGE. 🤣and the COLLEGE is open on Saturday. I’ve seen what goes on here every Saturday and Sunday and what’s happening is that there are greedy vendors outside not willing to pay 50.00 to go back into the Swap Meet because they saw they didn’t need to when it was Closed. So now they all sell outside for a fraction of what I sell the same stuff for and take my business away. Good Looking Out for your fellow Vendors. And then everyone will wonder why this turns into something other than a Swap Meet. Good Luck. I’m disturbed by all the fake stories. I can make up stories too. Will they get published or will it not be news worthy enough.

first of all why should street vendors have to pay on stolen land in the first place 🧐

second of all you literally just sound bitter about the fact that you have to pay for a spot like you can just go outside and join them but honestly the way you talk about them you should just stay there and suffer

third of all either you didn’t read the article at all or you’re really just an a-hole because how are you not going to feel any sympathy for any of the vendors outside??? you’re not special everyone is going through something difficult.

In the end I don’t think you should even be selling there if that’s how you really feel about them Patrick get off your high horse and honestly just shut up.

These arguments aren’t valid what so ever. It seems like everyone on here including all vendors, are generating miss information and a racial issue. Opportunities have been open to those who sell inside and outside of the campus. Saying that your life income is being miss placed by someone who is putting time and effort to get those who are willing to get passed Covid 19 and there business affairs, is obsurd. You have all been open to the opportunity to those wish to come back to LACC swap meet. It seems as if the outside vendors only see one picture and that’s the well being of their income. We all were hit hard Covid 19 and it’s taking alot of effort to establish a well community within the swap meet for those who ARE following legal ordinance. Expecting 15,000 people a day there is bound to be traffic, and unavailable parking and a constant need to have sanitation come in and keep everyone in the community safe. I see the LACC Swap meet has also made an effort to provide stability for those who are enrolled in college, those who are the minorities, students and staff. So what’s the issue? I’ve seen many outside vendors come in and still use the resources provide by LACC Swap meet, and it’s private investor, who is also pitching in to keep everyone safe. Any thing beyond the swap meet is an issue for the county of Los Angeles to take action, not to be addressed by a particular person or person’s. I’ve seen how crowded these events may get and I’ve seen how dangerous things can get. So in reality why risk being in the front line of unfortunate events when you have a gated and established area where the amenities are free to you where there is even protection from outside sources. Why provoc your fellow community, your neighbors, to fall down with you, when you have the resources to get you back to your feet? Is 50$ really the issue here? Or is it the safety precautions that are taking place and or good change?

Ese señor no tiene respeto y educación no entiende razón se cree todo poderoso haciendo de menos ala gente no deja hablar. Solo el se cree importante

Yo fui una de las que vendía en ese swapmeet por mas 10 años.. y ahora fuimos bloqueadas para comprar espacio. Que ahora doy gracias a mi Dios que po algo pasan las cosas. Pero se me hizo injusto trate de explicarle el asunto porque el me llamo. Pero no a mi tel. Si no que al de mi hijo la cuál el es menor de edad y no tiene nada que hacer mi hijo alli y no entendí porque ese señor le llamo a mi hijo y quien le dio el numero de tel de mi hijo. Y le dijo muchas barbaridades y no dejó hablar no tiene educación y respeto. porque el tenía que comunicarse con migo o con mi esposo pues éramos los únicos del negocio y el tenía mi información. Y eso es algo que ami no me gustó que incluyo a mi hijo sin tener el nada que ver en nuestros asuntos

Katie you cannot say that you’re pro street vending while simultaneously accusing and nagging about what they may have done we live very close to the swap meet and don’t have any trouble with them because they are literally minding their business and I suggest you should do the same.

As a resident of this neighborhood I have never had an issue with the street vendors. They’re just trying to make a living and $50 can be a lot of money to a lot of people, especially in LA and especially when people like Phillip are driving up the rent with their “beautification” projects which is just a shiny word for gentrification. If you can seriously see parking as a bigger issue then residents who need this money ESPECIALLY AFTER A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THE END OF UNEMPLOYMENT, then you seriously need a reality check and a moral compass adjustment. Touch some grass. The vendors also have nothing to do with higher crime rates and making that reach is honestly very racist and disgusting. Ive seen and met so many of these people and they’re just regular folks trying to survive in this city. Its sad to see that so many people here have no empathy for others, especially after everything thats happened these past few years.

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