Many thought it would probably happen. Many have been hoping it would happen. And now it has happened.
The San Diego City Council is cracking down on sidewalk vendors in downtown and other vendors in some park and beach areas.
The council this week unanimously voted to take action aimed at helping to restore the look and feel of many popular tourist spots around the city that are flooded with vendors in recent years.
The new law changes the city’s 2022 street vendor law and makes it easier to impound the carts of rule-breaking vendors and limiting where free-speech vendors can operate.
That means vendors can set up to disseminate political material and can sell art a person made themselves, do fortune telling, face painting or make balloon sculptures. Singing and street performing is okay under the free speech protections.
But what will be gone will be selling food, selling clothing, jewelry, soaps, oils and creams, etc.
The changes should help reduce the vendor clutter that has made some areas downtown, in Balboa Park and along the boardwalks look more like as drive-in swap meets. Bad for tourism and bad for citizens.
City leaders are now hoping it works the way they want it to.
(Photo reporting partner 10News)