Street Vending in Hollywood? Selling Popsicles and Common Sense

The Chair's Message by Beth Marlis

As many of us are enjoying the longer days and activities of summer like outdoor dining, the beach, perhaps a vacation; I’m reminded of what has made travels to other cities so memorable.

Granted, some of the world’s most beloved attractions and destinations get very crowded during peak travel season. Some might have street vendors hawking their wares, like the Great Wall of China, Sacré-Cœur in Paris, Charles Bridge in Prague, temples in Kyoto, or on the streets of Manhattan. Not to mention the myriad of street performers in subways, and plazas all around the world.

I’ve often enjoyed the tastes of street food, culture and small items I might find in these places. However, whether I’m bringing my passport along, (or not) the last thing I want to experience as a visitor is to be overwhelmed by noise and massive crowds, hassled by street vendors, and heckled to purchase trinkets or tours. There are some places that I’ll never visit again because of this problem.

Turning my tourist’s viewfinder to Hollywood, I imagine the potential scene of one of the world’s most famous sidewalks on an August afternoon (or night) populated by tens of thousands of visitors, and dozens of street vendors. But, it’s an impossible scene. Hollywood Boulevard’s tourist crowds on an already jam-packed sidewalk with unregulated costumed characters, “fly-by night” tour operators, illegal CD “vendors”, plus multiple sidewalk vendors on the Walk of Fame?! It’s a recipe for chaos.

Even more concerning, is how sidewalk vendors impact the existing brick and mortar retail stores and restaurants in Hollywood (paying rent, business taxes, health care for workers, minimum wage, utilities, etc.) already catering to our tourists, visitors and residents. Shouldn’t these established businesses be protected from being suddenly undercut and undersold by those who set-up shop on the sidewalk, without paying overhead?

We’ve now arrived at a fork in the road, as (after four recent community hearings) the City Council is poised to consider implementing a sidewalk-vending program in the city of Los Angeles. I’m supportive of those who are interested in making a living for an honest day’s work, attaining a business license, following the health code, and selling their wares according to a fair and (hopefully) enforceable system.

We all know that LA is not a monolithic, “one-size fits all” city; it’s very diverse, with unique neighborhoods and business districts. But, not every part of LA can (or should) support street vending. Certain areas of the city need a “carve-out” or an exemption from the street-vending ordinance. To some extent, the LA city council agrees that not all locations can support vending, because in June, they approved an ordinance that states sidewalk vendors cannot sell in parks and on beaches. They’re considered to be “urban sanctuaries”. That’s a great first step.

The Hollywood Chamber supports that LA’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) be allowed to determine if sidewalk vending makes sense for their district or not, by allowing for an opt-out clause in the ordinance.

The kiosk vendors on Olvera Street are a beloved LA institution, the street performers on Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade, food trucks at LACMA, vendors on the Venice Boardwalk are great, and an ice cream cart on a street corner is a welcome sight on a hot day. When street vending “works”, it works beautifully.

Hollywood’s tourists are arriving in ever-greater numbers seeking a world-class tourist destination. Businesses invest and relocate here because the future of Hollywood is bright and exciting.

21st century Hollywood is enjoying a period of great transformation, and a prosperous and strong local economy. Let’s continue this momentum by supporting both our local businesses and our millions of visitors (who converge, inform and support one another), and allow our BIDs to have the option to exempt themselves (or not) from local sidewalk vendors.

Have a happy summer!
 
About the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce – www.hollywoodchamber.net
For more than 94 years, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has provided leadership, business development resources, networking, and government affairs programs and services to keep the Hollywood business and residential communities safe, relevant and economically vital. Beth Marlis is the incoming Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2015-16 and Leron Gubler is the President/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.