Photo: Jacqueline García/Real America News / Impremedia
Mrs. Tomasa Chávez has sold food in the Salvadoran Corridor on Vermont Street, between 11 Y 12, for the past 12 years. At his 60 years old, he assured that this is their only livelihood and they are afraid of losing it since they are being prohibited from selling in that area.
Some 50 street vendors, including Chavez, have been for many years selling across from Two Guys Plaza shopping center in 1133 S. Vermont, but about six months ago the city of Los Angeles banned them from selling on the sidewalk because they were obstructing the pedestrian path and leaving a lot of trash.
Two Guys Plaza offered them spaces to rent by turning the parking lot into an open-air market. However, on May 7, the Plaza received a letter from the city indicating that after an inspection it was verified that it was breaking the law.
“They gave us a piece of paper that says that parking is not authorized for us to sell here,” said Chávez, who did not knows where she is going to go if she is evicted from that place.
Silvia Orozco is another food vendor, she said that for about six months they have been selling inside the parking lot which does not benefit them. She assured that sales have dropped by up to 22% since people do not want to go into the parking lot to buy and there is no parking on the street. Meanwhile they must pay $1, 432 monthly rent for each space from 10× feet. She rents three spaces.
Change to benefit the community
The sudden change is due to a project that has been in plans for several months led by Area Representative Councilman Gil Cedillo, area residents, and various supporters who advocate for a better quality of life for Pico-Union residents, businesses, and vendors.
Councilman Cedillo’s office indicated that deferred maintenance is being performed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by making the streets accessible for wheelchairs, walkers and other people with disabilities. disabilities.
The change is also intended to restore public safety and the residents of the area will no longer have to deal with the bad smell that remains due to food and oil as well as excess garbage.
Ambar Ferman, employee of a c street food, said that she has seen some vendors who go overboard by covering the sidewalk with their belongings but it is only a matter of organizing without having to be displaced.
“That they put us in a place that they consider more suitable”, said Ferman.
Meanwhile Gerardo Zavaleta, who has sold in the Salvadoran Corridor for eight years, indicated that the beauty of the corridor is that people come because they like the traditional and it reminds them of their country.
“Leaving the highway 10 There is a sign pointing this way that says it is the Salvadoran Corridor and if they take us away, what is the use of that? sign then?” questioned.
The Los Angeles Department of Sanitation (LASAN) and the Office of Highway Services began their evaluation of the street this week indicating that have become an unhealthy and unsafe place that requires improvements and maintenance.
LASAN clean water transportation division manager, Kwasi Berko , said in a statement that LASAN will carry out a routine cleaning of the sewage and storm drainage systems.
“We will access the sewer lines in the middle of the street between 11th, 12th, Vermont Ave. and New Hampshire Ave. for the cleanup of sewer,” he explained. “We will also protect the catch basins during the electrical cleaning of the sidewalks to prevent runoff from entering the storm drainage system.”
The Neighborhood Council of Pico Union and the Berendo Neighborhood Association are among the area residential groups that have joined together to help restore quality of life and safety along the Vermont Corridor and its residential streets.
“For many years, the community has lived with sidewalks and streets covered with grease and debris that have contaminated storm drains and generated a bad smell that permeated the neighborhood”, the Pico Union neighborhood council said in a statement. “We hope that our residents and seniors will be able to walk safely every day in the clean and safe environment that will be provided by this neighborhood improvement project.”
Councilman Cedillo said that families and elderly people, mainly low-income immigrants, who live in one of the densest areas of Los Angeles deserve safe, clean streets and sidewalks that are ADA compliant. Likewise, vendors deserve to prosper, earn a living, and be protected from gang intimidation and extortion.
To help both of them, he said he allocated $500,000 for new sales carts and permits that will be given to vendors.
The Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF) will be in charge of helping vendors receive permits and educational material to know your rights and various regulations.
“I am grateful for the positive collaboration with all the entities and I look forward to the completion of this great project,” said Cedillo.
Additionally, he filed a motion on 11 of May directing the Department of Economic and Workforce Development to issue a request for proposals to implement the sidewalk vending cart program and report back to the city council with the proposed contractor to lead the effort.
Motion was referred to Committee of Employment and Economic Development.
The street workers said they will protest constantly until they are heard and helped to have a safe and accessible place to sell their products.