>> ANOTHER SETBACK FOR STREET VENDORS IN SAN FRANCISCO'S MISSION DISTRICT. BUT IS THE BIG PICTURE BUILDING A BETTER BAY AREA? GOOD EVENING. >> I'M DIONNE LIM, AND I'M DAN ASHLEY. THANKS FOR JOINING US. SAN FRANCISCO'S MISSION STREET HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES AS THE CITY TRIES TO CRACK DOWN ON BUYING AND SELLING STOLEN GOODS. JUST AFTER THANKSGIVING LAST YEAR, THE CITY BANNED ALL STREET VENDING ON MISSION STREET FROM 14TH TO CESAR CHAVEZ. THEY SAID THE BAN WOULD LAST 90 DAYS. VENDORS WERE ASKED TO MOVE OR SELL AT DESIGNATED SPACES, PAID FOR BY THE CITY. >> WITHIN DAYS, VENDORS VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT A LACK OF SALES. THE CITY OFFERED FINANCIAL HELP $1,000 TO EACH VENDOR IF THEY APPLIED, AND QUALIFIED. A CITY SURVEY DONE IN JANUARY FOUND MOST BUSINESS OWNERS SAID MISSION STREET WAS BETTER, CLEANER AND SAFER JUST BEFORE THE BAN WAS SET TO EXPIRE IN FEBRUARY, THE CITY EXTENDED IT FOR AN ADDITIONAL 180 DAYS. >> SIX MORE MONTHS UNTIL AUGUST AND NOW IN APRIL, VENDORS ARE LOSING ONE STOREFRONT. THE CITY HAS BEEN RENTING FOR THEM. >> ABC SEVEN NEWS REPORTER LUZ PENA HAS FOLLOWED THE BAND'S IMPACT FOR MONTHS NOW. SINCE THE BEGINNING, REALLY, AND JOINS US LIVE FROM THE NEWSROOM WITH REACTION, LUZ THAT'S RIGHT. >> DION. AFTER THE INITIAL STREET BAN, THE CITY RENTED TWO LOCATIONS, GIVING STREET VENDORS OPTIONS TO SELL ON MISSION STREET AWAY FROM THE SIDEWALKS. ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS IS CALLED LA PLACITA, WHICH IS TECHNICALLY A PARKING LOT ON 24TH STREET. THE SECOND LOCATION IS AN ACTUAL STOREFRONT CALLED EL TIANGGE. THAT'S THE ONE THE CITY WILL CLOSE THIS MONTH. ANOTHER FOR CHANGE FOR THE STREET VENDORS ON MISSION STREET. THIS TIME, THE CITY HAS DECIDED TO CLOSE DOWN THE TIANGUIS STORE, WHERE AT LEAST SEVEN OF THEM SET UP SHOP EVERY DAY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE SURPRISES BECAUSE WE GO THROUGH A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT NOW. >> IT'S JUST ANOTHER STEP. >> THE CITY RENTED THE STOREFRONT LAST YEAR TO OFFER VENDORS A PLACE TO SELL INDOORS. DURING THE FIRST STREET BAN THIS YEAR, THE CITY EXTENDED THE BAN AND THE LEASE. >> THE FIRST ALLOCATION WAS AROUND $100,000 FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS. THAT INCLUDED OPERATION COSTS, RENT, ANYTHING AND STAFFING. ON A GIVEN DAY, YOU SEE 5 TO 10 VENDORS IN THERE . THE PLACE HAS A CAPACITY FOR 45 UH. THEY CONTINUE TO SAY THAT SALES ARE SLOW, BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE PRESIDENT, OF THE STREET VENDORS ASSOCIATION SAID THE SITE SIMPLY DIDN'T WORK. >> SO THE CHANGE WAS NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH. >> EXACTLY. THERE WAS NO THE RIGHT THING FOR US, THE CITY TRIED. THEY TRIED TO DO IT MARKETING. THEY TRIED TO DO THE BEST DOING MARKETING, ANNOUNCED AND EVERYWHERE. AND IT DOESN'T WORK. >> ONE OF THOSE VENDORS, MANUEL SOLTERO, WAS NOT SURPRISED BY THE CITY'S DECISION. >> WELL, FOR ME, IT'S THE SAME. CLOSER. NO, CLOSE. BECAUSE I NOT SELL NOTHING. >> TITO LEDESMA IS NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OTHER LOCATION. HE SAID. THE CITY IS NOW PUTTING MORE LIMITATIONS ON THEM. >> DOMINGO NUNEZ SUNDAY AND MONDAY YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SELL OVER THERE. >> ALL THE VENDORS ARE BEING ASKED TO MOVE TO THE OUTDOOR LOCATION ON 24TH STREET. AFTER APRIL 21ST, BUT EVEN THE VENDORS THERE SAY BUSINESS IS STILL BAD. PERO 300FT FROM THE MISSION. BUT PEOPLE DON'T COME HERE. THEY'RE HOPING FOR THE CITY TO INTERVENE, MANY SAYING THEY STILL HAVE THE PERMITS TO SELL LEGALLY ON MISSION STREET. SANTIAGO LERMA, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONFIRMED THE CITY IS LOOKING INTO LAWS THAT COULD CHANGE TO ALLOW FOR LOCAL ENFORCEMENT TO TACKLE ILLEGAL FENCING AND LET PERMITTED VENDORS SELL ON MISSION AGAIN. WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY IS THAT VENDORS ARE LOOKING INTO POTENTIALLY WORKING WITH THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND SELL AGAIN ON MISSION STREET. >> YES, THAT IS WHAT THEY'VE DESIRED. THEY'VE MADE THAT CLEAR TO US THAT THEY'RE PRIORITY IS TO RETURN TO MISSION STREET. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO REVIEW ANY POSSIBILITIES OR HOW THAT WOULD WORK. >> THE LATEST STREET VENDING BAN IS SET TO EXPIRE IN AUGUST, BUT AS WE HEARD, THE CITY IS WORKING WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WOULD TACKLE ILLEGAL FENCING THAT STILL HAPPENING AT NIGHT AND ALLOW PERMANENT VENDORS TO DO BUSINESS ON MISSION IN THE NEWS
