Rewrite Plaza sales rules

Rewrite Plaza sales rules



Staff
Publication Date: 07/19/09


City officials are again tackling the use of the Plaza de la Constitucion as a marketplace.

Since 2006, different groups of commissioners have acted to ban some sales and allow others. Now a recent federal court order has allowed artists back but commercial has returned, too, because of a county judge's order that the city system was unconstitutional.

The vision of an everyday outlet for handcrafted visual art only is still shared by most of the community, if it is done right.

But, what's right to some may be wrong to others. What's wrong to some, almost always ends up in court and the court writes the rules as has happened recently.

Last week, the commission by consensus called for a rewrite of the Plaza's rules. City Attorney Ron Brown said the commission can come up with rules similar to other cities that have won in federal court. He said San Antonio, Texas, famed for the Alamo, the river walk through the downtown and array of public parks, and Los Angeles, famous for almost anything we can think of, have met federal court tests.

San Antonio charges $750 for a permit and restricts the number of permits. Los Angeles allows sales of articles created by the vendor. Los Angeles also specifically identifies what can't be sold, namely housewaraes, auto parts, jewelry, toys and mass-manufactured products.

Imagine the new business the Plaza would create and the people mover it could become with a marketplace of selected visual art. The city has tried for years with limited success to move people from St. George Street to south of the Plaza either to the artsy and commercial Aviles Street and other south side shops and historic attractions.

We like the track the commission is on. But will it eradicate the homeless camp atmosphere that still exists? Since we first wrote about shutting down "Plaza Campimento" two years ago, the city has replaced the comfortable park benches with shorter, backless ones of stone, shut down the Plaza, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and stepped up police patrols, 24/7. Good moves. But until there's a homeless center in the community, officials say they cannot move transients out unless they have committed a crime. Being homeless is not a crime nor is sleeping in the Plaza during the day.

Here's what we suggest. Write the rules as specifically as Los Angeles, restrict the number of permits as San Antonio does and charge a user fee that covers more than permit management and related services. Set aside part of the fee to help build a homeless center, 24/7. Local governments have, at times, assisted the overburdened St. Francis House shelter. It has a potential site but needs money to make it a full-service homeless center. The city's contribution would help.

The Plaza as a marketplace for visual artists' work shouldn't have to share space with a transient day camp.


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