[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish Council OKs temporary street vendors hawking Saints items

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish Council OKs temporary street vendors hawking Saints items
By Chris Kirkham, The Times-Picayune 
February 03, 2010, 5:31PM
In a break with tradition, the St. Bernard Parish Council has chosen to
temporarily allow street vendors to sell New Orleans Saints-related
merchandise in the parish.

Since 2006, the parish has virtually outlawed street vendors after a bevy of
outside merchants showed up after Hurricane Katrina selling everything from
tools to tacos. The Parish Council at the time tried to protect local
businesses trying to rebuild, requiring special council permission for any
further permits.

This year's Saints post-season is the first time the issue has come up since
then. There was a healthy discussion at Tuesday's council meeting about
setting a precedent for future vendors, but so far it's unclear if anyone
will actually be selling official Saints merchandise.

Three vendors sought temporary licenses: Gioia Investments of Meraux, Clyde
Delise and Jimmy Toups. They'll be operating out of parking lots in the Park
Plaza Shopping Center on Paris Road in Chalmette, in front of Extreme
Fitness on West Judge Perez Drive and outside Tony's Po-Boy Restaurant on
East Judge Perez Drive.

The council approved the measure 5-2, with Councilmen Frank Auderer and Ray
Lauga voting no. Jessica Dauterive DeFraites, who owns the Ladybug's Garden
and Gifts in Chalmette, said she was "disheartened" by the message the
council is sending to small business owners who had reinvested in the
parish.

"How are we supposed to grow economically as a community if we allow
individuals to operate so-called businesses without an (occupational)
license and without contributing their fair share to our tax base?" she
asked.

Councilman Wayne Landry said the goal was to allow temporary sales because
of the Saints hype. The permits last for 60 days, and require written
permission from the business owners near where they will operate.

The council also added a provision that would prevent any vendors from
trying to set up shop on vacant lots.

"Certainly I don't want somebody putting up something in a lot just so they
can cash in when these (other) businesses are doing the right thing,"
Councilman Mike Ginart said.

Lauga said he didn't think the parish should be getting into the game of
officially sanctioning such vendors.

As it is now, the business owners at Extreme Fitness and Tony's Po-Boy
Restaurant said they had agreed to let the vendors sell but hadn't seen them
outside yet.

Lou Gioia, who is setting up on the shopping center off Paris Road, said
she'll simply be selling black and gold yard signs and fleur-de-lis crafts
that she has been making with her grand-daughter - not official Saints
merchandise.

Because the council has not permitted such activity since late 2006, the
parish administration still has to decide on how much each permit will cost.