Many who commute to and from the city are familiar with the quarter mile stretch between Travellers Bar and Brodies where fresh coconut water can be bought from a bevy of vendors. But, they sell right on the side of the road, which is a traffic hazard, so recently the City council began enforcing a 10 feet off the road requirement for all coconut water vendors.
We note that there were over a dozen of them along the quarter mile stretch before the new regulations began to be enforced; now we are told there are only about 7 or 8 of them currently operating. It was a necessary improvement some of those who stayed told us. But at the same time others say that all the shifting around has caused them to lose quite a lot of their cliental. Viviana Menjivar is one of them. She has had her stall for about 8 months now and claims that business has never been slower since they moved her business across the road.
Viviana Menjivar, Coconut Vendor
"City Council moved us like 4 times already."
Emanuel Pech
"Since you've been in the business."
Viviana Menjivar, Coconut Vendor
"Since we open the business yes."
Emanuel Pech
"Where did you start?"
Viviana Menjivar, Coconut Vendor
"We started on the other side of the street. From there they move us to this side and then they told us that we can't stay there. They have us up and down. We are not harassing nobody. We have everything they ask for, but they still moved us anyhow. Right here the business is slow. It's not like before when we use to sell a lot. We lose lots of customers already."
Emanuel Pech
"Why did you lose customers?"
Viviana Menjivar, Coconut Vendor
"Because we could sell more on the other side of the street. Because all the vehicles leaving at 5pm to go home, they would buy water. But on this side we don't have lot of sale."
Emanuel Pech
"Talk to me in terms of money you have loss since they move you here?"
Viviana Menjivar, Coconut Vendor
"Before we use to sell like $700 per day. On this side we sell like $175-$200 the most."
Emanuel Pech
"Have you complained to them that you are losing a lot of money?"
Viviana Menjivar, Coconut Vendor
"Yes, we went to them many times. But they don't care. Because there are people who sells like us, who pays them. We don't do that. We want to do our business legally."
Emanuel Pech
"What about the 10 feet requirement? Because they I heard there was a 10 feet requirement that you had to be away from the street."
Viviana Menjivar, Coconut Vendor
"We did that. We built a bridge on the other side. Then after a while, they told us we need to move it. I ask why are they doing that. We need to work."
We tried calling the City's Public Relations officer for a comment on the matter but we could not get through.
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