Posted on 06/29/2005 6:45:41 AM PDT by 2banana
Black vendors outraged over Live 8 merchandising fees
The city wants concession merchants to pay $750 to $1,500. Protesters said that price was too high.
By Anthony S. Twyman
Inquirer Staff Writer
About 40 African American men blocked traffic around City Hall for an hour yesterday to protest what they say is the Street administration's refusal to reduce the fees the city is charging vendors to sell incense, shirts and other wares at the Live 8 benefit concert for Africa on Saturday.
It was the third protest this month in which the African-American Chamber of Commerce and affiliated groups have criticized the Street administration for what they call its lackluster effort to create opportunities for black business owners.
Officials for Mayor Street, however, said yesterday that the administration is working diligently to increase opportunities for black businesses.
"It's absolutely one of the top priorities of this mayor and this administration," said Joseph Grace, a spokesman for the mayor.
Grace said the city expects to have at least 30 percent minority vendor participation at Live 8 and 50 percent participation by Philadelphia-based vendors.
Regardless of participation, protesters said they are most concerned about the Street administration's decision to charge Live 8 vendors $750 to $1,500 each for the right to sell related merchandise.
Anthony Fullard, the chamber's economic development director, said the groups want the city to charge black vendors $100 each and to allow about 40 black vendors to set up at JFK Plaza at 15th Street and JFK Boulevard for 75 days, starting this weekend.
City officials say the Live 8 vendor fees are fair. "We don't think this is really an unreasonable fee," Grace said.
The city, Grace added, also does not plan to allow the vendors to set up at JFK Plaza because it needs that space for crowd control during Live 8, which is expected to draw up to 1 million people to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Along with Live 8 criticism, the protesters said they were also disheartened at what they described as the administration's poor record in awarding city contracts for construction, demolition, security, and other services to African American firms.
But Grace said the administration's commitment has been evident from its decision to revamp the Minority Business Enterprise Council, the city agency that oversees minority contracting, and the mayor's signing of a minority contracting executive order earlier this year.
The protesters vowed to return to the streets for more demonstrations throughout the busy holiday weekend. "This is to send the mayor a message," said Fred Golden, a protester.
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Contact staff writer Anthony S. Twyman at 215-854-2664 or atwyman@phillynews.com.
If you don't let me do this you are a racist!
I sure would be shocked to see a riot break out at this thing. Shocked and disappointed.
And they complain about the affirmative action bake sales at colleges where they get similar discounts on cookies.
So if you are a WHITE or LATINO vendor you will have to pay the full fee?
Lawsuit.
seems like it's time for me to change careers :)
There should be no such organization in the United States of America.
...and affiliated groups have criticized the Street administration for what they call its lackluster effort to create opportunities for black business owners.
What about Latino business owners? What about Italian business owners? What about midget business owners? What about albino business owners?
It's the year 2005, and the most racist people in the country are African Americans.
Now, before we get all worked up about them. Let's encourage them along this line of thinking. Instead of asking for handouts, they asking for lower government fees so that they can do their work.
Most of the people here don't have a problem with complaining about government fees. What we have to do is direct their energy so that the fee reduction applies not just to blacks, but to everyone.
If we belly-ache about HOW the government fees and pie are split up, the socialists have practically won the battle.
Frankly, I think those fees ARE outrageous. Heck, let's get the regular Chamber of Commerce to march with them and demand a reduction for EVERYBODY!
Bump your wise post!
As a proud unhyphenated American of American heritage, I protest !
I'm of Asian ascent, Don't I get a discount at all?...........I'll SUE!!!!!!!!!.........and I don't even live there.............or sell stuff.......
>>>Frankly, I think those fees ARE outrageous. Heck, let's get the regular Chamber of Commerce to march with them and demand a reduction for EVERYBODY!>>>
The problem is that they aren't outraged at the fees themselves, only that BLACK merchants have to pay them. That's racist.
I'd like to see the same administration prosecute the unlicensed vendors who will be all over the place selling bootlegged shirts, hats, etc... the same ones who are outside of every concert, sporting event, and large gathering in the city.
A dollar or two a day for a summer long location? I'll take all 40 spots at that price and sub-lease them.
I make my living at craft shows and the occasional festival, and the fees sound right on target to me. From what I've seen of advertising and pre-event hype, $750 - $1500 is about what I'd expect to pay for a vendor space at Live 8. (If I wanted to show there, which I emphatically don't.) Most of the shows I do will charge one price for people selling crafts or other objects, and double that price for food vendors.
Demanding massive discounts because of your color, on the other hand, is outrageous.
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