Thread: Police crack down on illegal vendors

I'm convinced there isn't a law illegals don't break.


http://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/articl ... endors.txt

Police crack down on illegal vendors

By ALEJANDRO CANO



In an effort to improve the image of the city and to protect residents from diseases, city staff (in conjunction with San Bernardino County Code Enforcement and the Fontana Police Department M.E.T. Unit) conducted a sweep that targeted illegal street food vendors on June 29.

Thirty-one citations were given to those who were caught selling food and home-prepared drinks during the one-day operation. In addition, a total of 12 carts used to carry the merchandise and two bicycles were confiscated.

According to Ted Porlas, code compliance manager for the city, illegal vendors put residents at risk of disease and affect businesses that are operating in a legal manner.

"Illegal vendors pose a threat to residents because they don't properly handle food. They don't have a clean place to prepare food. They don't even have a place to wash their hands," said Porlas. "They also affect businesses who went through the process to obtain their permits. It's not fair for them."

Porlas also argued that most of those people who were cited will not show up in court.

"Nine out of ten people will not go to court. Some have been already cited before and some even have warrants for their arrests," said Porlas. "Most of these people have no IDs, they use false names and have broken the law before."


ILLEGAL street vending is, at least for Martin Gutierrez, the only way to bring home enough money to feed a family of three. Although Gutierrez, a Mexican immigrant from the state of Oaxaca, wasn't cited, he argued that what the city is doing is wrong because it is targeting those who have no means of protection.

"Instead of going after us, they (code enforcement officers) should be arresting those who sell drugs. They do more damage to the city than us," said Gutierrez. "We are trying to make a living. We don't even make that much money. Those who beg make more money than us. It's not fair."

Julian Contreras, 34 and an illegal vendor, agrees with Gutierrez and added the sweeps are a waste of money and time because the activity will never stop as long as there are clients.

"They (city staff) are saying we don't wash our hands; we are selling fruit, people can wash them at home anyway. They also say we don't use proper sanitary conditions, but you know what, people don't care," said Contreras. "People buy whatever we sell because it's cheaper and because it's there. It doesn't matter how many people they arrest, there will always be vendors because that's what people like. Instead of spending time citing vendors, they should spend it making plans to arrest drug dealers."

Alfredo Estay, a longtime Fontana resident, said that street vending "is part of the Hispanic culture" and added that all illegal street vendors are doing is trying to make a decent living. While Estay agrees with city regulations, he urged city staff to also understand the situation that illegal immigrants face.

"Do you think they (vendors) like to be selling fruit on the corners? Do you think they like to work under the sun for a few bucks? They don't, but they have no choice. These people can't find work, no one hires them," said Estay. "It's easy to say that what they are doing is wrong, but put yourself in their shoes and you will find out that what they are doing is decent. The city has to understand that street vending is, for most of those people, the only means of bringing food to their houses. They are residents too, you know. Give them a break."

NEVERTHELESS, the city has clearly stated that illegal street vending will not be tolerated within the city's jurisdiction. County officials have also said the activity will not be accepted in the unincorporated county areas.

"We had a sweep about six months ago and it yielded good results. We'll continue to have these sweeps to protect our residents," said Porlas. "If illegal vendors are found giving false names and they are found with warrants, they will be arrested. Illegal vending is simply not allowed in Fontana."

While Estay agrees with city regulations, he urged city staff to also understand the situation that illegal immigrants face.

Whining cry-baby!

Ever notice how these illegals always want to whine about what most of us do as habit and as a matter of respect as law-abiding citizens - abide by the law!

Hey Estay, if you hadn't already broken the law once by sneaking into the country, you wouldn't have this to whine about, now would you?

What part of "abiding by the law" don't you understand?

Screw the stupid citations and deport them! I live in North Hollywood and these venders go up and down my block a few times a day honking their horns and ringing bells. So annoying. They sell corn cobs from buckets of dirty warm water.

Originally Posted by TheWatchdog

Screw the stupid citations and deport them! I live in North Hollywood and these venders go up and down my block a few times a day honking their horns and ringing bells. So annoying. They sell corn cobs from buckets of dirty warm water.

Yuck! Does anyone actually buy the corn?

Yeah, other illegals buy it, eat it, and then leave the husks lying around on the ground. I hate picking up corn cobs that someone else has chewed on. They sell other things too; shaved ice with colored suger water is popular. The corn is the thing that shocks me though. Pretty soon they'll be walking down the street with goats to sell fresh goat milk.

Originally Posted by TheWatchdog

Pretty soon they'll be walking down the street with goats to sell fresh goat milk.

Wouldn't surprise me one bit!

When they invade, they don't know how to live and certainly don't "blend" in with the culture or even attempt to assimilate.

Like this example. Some idiot has attached his satellite dish to the utility pole. Didn't anyone explain to him that he should attach it to his private property? That's what roofs and eaves are for.

Oh, I forgot one important thing. Illegals don't obey the law anyway anyhow.

They do this in their native countries so when they get here many of them do the same thing. Selll on the streets. Flowers, gum, cigarretes, CDs (pirated?) ec In Latin America however you will find 5 year old boys willing to wash your windshield for 10 cents at any busy intersection in Bogota, Mexico City, Guatemala etc....It is really sad...they are so poor......BUT that does not mean the parents have a right to do it HERE!

It is called public health risk!

Originally Posted by MopheadBlue

Originally Posted by TheWatchdog

Screw the stupid citations and deport them! I live in North Hollywood and these venders go up and down my block a few times a day honking their horns and ringing bells. So annoying. They sell corn cobs from buckets of dirty warm water.

Yuck! Does anyone actually buy the corn?

CORN IN BUCKETS OF DIRTY WARM WATER? YUMMY. WHO WOULD EVEN BUY SUCH A THING???? AND, ARE YOU SURE IT'S JUST WATER?

Pretty soon they'll be walking down the street with goats to sell fresh goat milk.

You'll probably have to get out yourself.

Originally Posted by butterbean

Originally Posted by MopheadBlue

Originally Posted by TheWatchdog

Screw the stupid citations and deport them! I live in North Hollywood and these venders go up and down my block a few times a day honking their horns and ringing bells. So annoying. They sell corn cobs from buckets of dirty warm water.

Yuck! Does anyone actually buy the corn?

CORN IN BUCKETS OF DIRTY WARM WATER? YUMMY. WHO WOULD EVEN BUY SUCH A THING???? AND, ARE YOU SURE IT'S JUST WATER?

The same people who buy bathtub cheese. Maybe we should just let the illegals kill themselves off with the tainted food if that's what they want to eat. Unfortunately many of them will end up in emergency rooms running up big bills that will cause more ER's to go bankrupt. Looks like we can't win either way.