Street vending on Eastsound corners?
Nov 12 2008
As a community member and small business owner, I would like to present both my own views and those of my peers regarding the proposed moratorium on street vending in Eastsound, and offer what we feel is a more copacetic solution.
The experience of living in San Juan county is rich and diverse, with many vibrant contributing factors. Perhaps the most important is the pervading sense of pride in the word “local.” People here value highly the fact that our businesses are small, the owner is often behind the counter, and when we buy the things we need, we’re not just shopping; we are actively supporting our local economy.
When this local flair spills out onto the street, the delight of islanders and visitors alike is tangible. We love buying fresh, local, organic produce from the same person who rose at 5 a.m. to harvest it. Not only is direct farmer/community interface enjoyable, it is crucial to the success of local farms.
As Rhonda Barbiari of La Campasina Project states, “It is critical to have direct access to our market and local community. Direct marketing through self-distribution, farmers markets, and roadside stands is vital to local farmers and producers, locally based economies, and to San Juan County.”
Justine Pope, of Maple Rock Farm, agrees: “Not only is {street vending} an opportunity for us to augment our meager cash flow, it is also a way for locals and tourists alike to see, talk with, and hopefully buy from local farmers.”
There is a certain sense of empowerment inherent in setting up a table and umbrella on the sidewalk. A feeling of “I can” that is an intrinsic part of the island attitude. And in these uncertain economic times, knowing that we are free to share our goods, support each other’s efforts, and weather this financial storm together offers invaluable hope to our community.
A problem arises when integrity is not exercised and the value of local goods diminishes when folks who bring in produce from other counties are not upfront and honest about the source of their goods. Even if they do not claim forthright that they are selling local goods, they are donning the guise of island farmers and artisans, and taking unfair advantage of the grassroots economy that our community has worked so hard to build. When this happens, people assume they’re supporting a local, yet their dollars are on the next ferry to the mainland.
In order to protect and fortify our precious local economy, I propose that the county encourage the continuation of street vending, so long as the goods being sold are sourced within the San Juan Islands.
By welcoming island residents to offer their contributions to the community and in turn be supported by their fellow islanders, we have a unique opportunity not only to nourish our local economy and strengthen the connection between islands, but also, and perhaps most important, to set an example for other counties. Rather than limit our local economy to permanent storefronts, we can open up opportunites for islanders to generate an income for their families while celebrating the richness of resources posessed by San Juan County. If we are free to do so, I believe that we will flourish through these challenging times.
Holly Dennis is the producer and owner of Chai Teas and a landscaping company.
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