A reader sends in the following pic and info:"Another sign of Spring (via cell phone camera).....shopping carts over stuffed with white crew socks and other goodies (as well as a little group having a party).
As seen today at about 4pm at Broadway and Wilson.
UU Note: If you are looking for a cheap, knockoff purse be sure to stop under the L tracks on Wilson. There has been a "vendor" there selling for the past couple days (hint, hint CPD).
Gee, I wonder why we can't get any decent retail in that area?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to "borrow" a shopping cart from the Jewel in Lakeview, and start selling tube socks and hotel soaps at Broadway and Addison.
ReplyDeleteHow do you guys think that will go over?
That's nothing...you should see the drive thru market at 87th & the Dan Ryan!
ReplyDeleteI called up the office of Shiller as I did last year telling who ever answered the phone to take a look out her window and see the way your office allows these people to really slum up our streets. It is actions like this that make our area look so unsafe and unhealthy. The answer was they have the proper vendor permits to sell and there is no law that says they cannot sell goods on the street where they want to sell them. City hall told me that you cannot set up and sell on city sidewalks so why does she allow it right in her view knowing they not only make our area look like crap but are breaking city laws also. City hall told me when I see them to call the CPD and make a complaint and the cops will make them move and can write them tickets. Next time I drive by and see them I will call 911 and see what happens. Others should too.
ReplyDeleteThe 46th Ward office is about 30 feet south of this corner. Can we expect stolen shopping carts filled with
ReplyDeleteFish Food in the future?
Why does this corner have to look like a plane crash, in the warmer months?
I don't think this is 'commerce' for the underprivileged, I think this is blight. And probably against the law?
I applaud anyone who wants to work to make a a better living but they don't have to do it in a way that disrespects their neighbors and community. The problem isn't that they are street vending, it is that they refuse to follow the city's street vendor rules that say they must keep their stuff in their carts, not on the sidewalks and fences, and they must move around, not stay in one place continuously with makeshift milk crate chairs for them and their friends.
ReplyDeleteI personally like the elote man and his corn cups. I laughed when I saw that someone posted his cart in the yelp food reviews and gave him a 5 star rating
http://www.yelp.com/biz/elote-cart-chicago#hrid:Z6sVBh3TR0n_2JumHZam8A
It looks like the best deal we're going to get is to wait until they can get their hands on some of those brand new fancy red Target carts... that should help since we know Helen isn't going to do anything to make this change.
ReplyDeleteWarning ! Small Business Owners
ReplyDeleteI had to appear at a city of Chicago municipal violation hearing today for a ticket I received in the mail for an "illegal" sign in front of my business . This is a sign I have had for 25 years , it is a a-frame or sandwiche sign just like the thousands you see all over the city. When I contacted the city , they told me these signs are illegal and there are no permits for them. At my hearing I was fined $200 for the sign, and an additional $40 court costs .It is really irritating to see all the small business owners appearing for these hearings for violations like this and being fined hundreds of dollars. It is especially irritating for me as I work in the criminal justice field and am in courtrooms at least once a week., where the majority of cases are dropped . I guess it is better to be a drug dealer in Chicago today, you don't need a permit or license , and if you're caught , your case is usually dropped with no cost to you .
Not to be critical, but if you really are in the market for a knock off purse, head on over to Clark St between Montrose and Leland. Be sure to come on Saturday(retail day). The merchants there are very good neighbors and great part of our community.
ReplyDeleteThis always makes me laugh. Who is walking down the streeet, see's someone selling tube sox out of a shopping cart, and thinks you know what, I could really use a pair of those. There is obviously a market for them, because if there wasn't, they wouldn't be selling them. Ridiculous, but funny in a weird way.
ReplyDelete"There is obviously a market for them, because if there wasn't, they wouldn't be selling them. Ridiculous, but funny in a weird way."
ReplyDeleteWhat else is this person going to do get a real job? Hes going to be sitting around anyways. This person has no business overhead its not like he is going to go out of business if he doesn't sell any. I am sure he pays taxes on this.
Before you guys start buying knock-off purses, please read this article. It illustrates the relationship between human trafficking and knock-offs. Buying knock-offs is NOT a victimless crime!!
ReplyDeletehttp://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28571321/
Katrina,
ReplyDeleteIf you are referring to what we put in the original post, please note that vendor is in "."
We encourage our readers to call 911 and report any illegal vending they see.
There's an idiot in my building who's trying to sell me shampoo and razors, like I couldn't go to the store and get them?
ReplyDeleteI guess a question would be, does a shopping cart constitute a push cart, or a basket?
ReplyDeleteBoth are specifically mentioned in the peddling law (as is wagon); but shopping cart is not and therefore up to interpretation.
Also per the law (if you can follow the directions since I have yet to find a map via the city), West Wilson, east of Western, is an open zone for peddlers.
It was in response to WindyCityEagle's comment, or just anyone who might be buying knock-off goods in general. Thanks for encouraging that readers report this!!
ReplyDeleteNo a shopping cart is not a cart that meets the city ordinance standards, but hey, even I agree that we can cut vendors a little slack on technicalities.
ReplyDeleteCalling 911 is always an iffy proposition in the 23rd District. Police up here still believe that they have police discretion to blow off calls or show up and choose not to enforce the law, if they personally, don't believe in that law (or are kissing ass to our alderman, or are too lazy to stop and write up ANOV's on public nuisance violations.)
But wait! There is an Area 3 Deputy Chief of Patrol whose job it is to make sure our patrolmen follow their command. If they don't do their job just bypass the Commander and write a complaint to our Deputy Chief, Bruce Rottner, located at Belmont and Western. Here is his number:
312-744-4936.
But wait! Peddling requires a license. You can remove yourself for the cesspool of Uptown politics and go direct to the Administrative agency that issues the license and has their own inspectors that write violations and confiscate carts and sales inventories. Have 311 send your complaint to the city department, not the police. Or email a photo and your complaint to the city administrator in charge. That would be Ron Calicchio at rcalicchio@cityofchicago.org
But wait! You can go on everyblock.com and search for names or persons with peddler licenses by ward. Then you can tell if the vendor has a current license (which he is supposed to wear while vending.)
Now do you feel a little more empowered?
Yo, I have a question...do you think these shopping carts are purchased by the so called "vendor"?
ReplyDeleteStolen carts are just another reason we all pay more for everything we buy! Can the police make arrests for stolen property?
do you think these shopping carts are purchased by the so called "vendor"?
ReplyDeleteI would be considerably surprised if they were.
Well, they're pretty darn hard to steal - especially in Chicago where just about every big parking lot has those gizmos on the gate that cause cart wheels to "lock" when they approach the sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteGosh Eve, it's too bad that each of those street vendors spent hundreds of dollars on a grocery cart (wink wink). Too bad it's still against city ordinance to use a grocery cart.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if we can get the Alderman's office to admit in writing: A. That they don't understand the law. B. That they would rather let the main artery of the neighborhood descend into chaos, rather than help the TAX PAYING, JOB PROVIDING, small business owners that have to deal with this nonsense. TOTAL FAILURE.
ReplyDeleteYou can't presume that the vendors stole their shopping carts.
ReplyDeleteThere is a whole underground market in shopping carts in this area. The junk truck operators pick them up and deliver them to shelters all the time. Who initially stole them is anyone's guess.
Truthbearer "There is a whole underground market in shopping carts in this area. The junk truck operators pick them up and deliver them to shelters all the time. Who initially stole them is anyone's guess."
ReplyDeleteGreat, so if I buy a TV or car from this same "underground" I should just tell the police that I didn't do it and it is all good? It is also considered theft if you knowingly possess stolen property even if you did not steal it!
I saw an idiot walking in the street trying to sell cd's. C'mon, who pays for music anymore?
ReplyDelete