Street Vendors Win Some Concessions in Anaheim

Street vendors who hawk ice cream and produce in Anaheim won concessions, including permission to play music at sales stops, Tuesday from the City Council, which is working on a new law to regulate them.

But Salvador Sarmiento, an attorney who represents the vendors, said that the compromises are insufficient and that vendors are displeased. Sarmiento said he hopes to work with the city staff to revise those issues still in dispute before next Tuesday, when the council is scheduled to vote on the new law.

Still, Sarmiento said, “this is the first time that I feel some support from some of the City Council members.”

Under the proposal, vendors could use non-amplified music or noise to attract customers in residential areas only when their vehicles were not moving. The vendors want to be allowed to play music as they drive, to attract the customers. They said they are willing to use non-amplified sounds.

City Councilwoman Miriam Kaywood said music is the primary problem for residents who have complained about the vendors. “The noise is driving people crazy,” Kaywood said.

Sarmiento attributed the compromises to a pending lawsuit he brought against Anaheim on Sept. 24.

At the time, the city was barring the vendors from apartment neighborhoods, their most lucrative sales locations. But last month, City Atty. Jack White said a change in state law may prevent the city from banning the street vendors.

In other revisions to the proposed law, the council has agreed to increase the maximum length of each vending stop from 15 to 30 minutes.

Bay and some of the council candidates have criticized Talley for his managerial performance. Among other things, they called him a “stumbling block” in negotiations with the California Angels over a $100-million lawsuit filed by the club against the city in a dispute over the Anaheim Stadium parking lot.

In response to the criticism, Kaywood said “This city is run like a tight corporation, and anybody who knows business will tell you that. Excellence is cheaper than mediocrity in the long run.