by WILL JARRETT FEBRUARY 12, 2024, 1:00 PM (MissionLocal.org)
Welcome back to our “Meet the candidates” series, in which District 9 supervisorial hopefuls respond to a question in 100 words or fewer.
The question for week five: Do you support the vending ban on Mission Street?
Julian Bermudez
No, I do not support it. I’ve walked around the area since the ban at different times of the day. It’s easy to see all that was done was to prevent illegal vendors from selling in the day. Yes, it’s cleaner and there’s visible enforcement. But when will the permitted vendors return?
I want to push making 24th and 16th BART locations part-farmers market, part-community center. Creating a symbiotic relationship between the community and vendors. The event brings in foot traffic, hence vendors are able to sell more.
h brown
Campers,
I am opposed to a vending ban on Mission Street.
I would lift the ban and add Police Kobans at the BART stops manned 24/7/365.
The street needs energy, not oppression.
And I’d add live music and poetry also.
Trevor Chandler
The illegal vending ban has shown a tangible improvement in the quality of life for Mission residents and small businesses; efforts to support and improve conditions for legal vendors should continue as this program is extended.
That it took so long for City Hall to respond shows the disconnect between District 9 residents and our elected leaders. We should engage in positive and proactive responses to our problems, not wait until they get out of control to address them. That’s why I’ve also put out a plan to reinvigorate our 16th and 24th Street BART Plazas at www.trevor4sf.com.
Jackie Fielder
It’s vital that we think beyond a ban on street vendors towards a solution that gives us safe, clean and accessible BART plazas, while ensuring that the economic well-being of legitimate street vendors is secured.
I will make it a priority to create a pathway for street vendors from being on the street to being small-business owners. And I will convene a community process for transforming the BART Plazas from the drab, gray, transitory spaces for people coming and going that they are today, into lively, activated, and welcoming town centers for longtime Mission vendors, tourists and community members.
Jaime Gutierrez
There are concerns with vending on Mission Street that involve the best use of public space.
The first issue is trash. Street vending generates trash that is not managed by street vendors.
Another issue is the space for presentation. Some people do not want to be required to step over or go around a vendor.
Considering these issues, I support the ban on Mission street. However, if Mission Street vending were moved to Osage and Lilac Alleys, with the DPW cleaning the trash daily, along with ambassadors and police oversight, I would support lifting the ban on Mission Street vending.
Roberto Hernandez
I’ve spent decades working with District 9 small businesses and street vendors to get the support they need from City Hall.
Street vending works if the right resources are in place, as we see in Latin America and countries around the world. Permitted vendors selling their wares make the Mission bright and vibrant, but unlicensed sales are clearly a problem. Proper vendor permitting and monitoring is essential to a long-term solution.
As Supervisor, I’ll meet with vendors, small businesses, residents and neighbors to evaluate the effectiveness of approaches initiated to date to develop and implement a community-based street vending plan.
Michael Petrelis
What I support is limited vending on Mission Street at the 16th and 24th Street BART Plazas, because they add vibrancy, while also opposing street merchants congesting near bus shelters, making it difficult to board or off-load the buses.
Consideration of retail stores, bars and restaurants on Mission Street and their business needs must be integral to a workable plan for sidewalk and plaza vending.
I want more vendors in many of the empty storefronts and to attract customers. Let’s have musicians, comedians and magicians perform inside, with a tip jar prominently displayed so they can collect money.
Stephen Torres
I understand this has been a very difficult situation for our vendors, neighbors and community leaders. And I appreciate that Supervisor Hillary Ronen has had to overcome major challenges in attempting to resolve it.
I do worry, however, about the ongoing impacts of this ban on our community vendors, who are already struggling to keep afloat. We cannot dismiss the impact this has had on their livelihood and cultural importance. I believe we need to create sanctioned tianguis at the plazas and other public spaces, while maintaining safe and clear access to businesses and transportation.
Note: Nine candidates have officially declared their candidacy for the District 9 race. However, Rafael Gutierrez told Mission Local that he is withdrawing from the race, so he is not included in these questions.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at will@missionlocal.com.
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
READ MORE CANDIDATE ANSWERS
Meet the candidates: All 2024 District 9 supervisor answers
by WILL JARRETT JANUARY 15, 2024, 5:00 AM
WILL JARRETT
DATA REPORTER. Will was born in the UK and studied English at Oxford University. After a few years in publishing, he absconded to the USA where he studied data journalism in New York. Will has strong views on healthcare, the environment, and the Oxford comma.More by Will Jarrett
