2010-856- Transient Vendors in Jacksonville

[JC]

Where are all the capitalists arguing against this proposed legislation?   Seriously, why restrict competition? 

[Overstreet]

Next they'll be banning street performers on St George street in St Augustine because some shop keeper thinks the people came to see them and the performers are keeping them from coming in the store and buying something. ...............they really didn't come to see or buy anyway.

Oh....wait.....they already did that.

[BigGuy219]

I suspect the issue may have something to do with tax revenues. At a Gate you pay a sales tax on that hot dog, and that money goes to the people behind this act. As for the hot dog vendor, do you think he declares every sale? Doubtful.
Follow the money.

[JC]

I suspect the issue may have something to do with tax revenues. At a Gate you pay a sales tax on that hot dog, and that money goes to the people behind this act. As for the hot dog vendor, do you think he declares every sale? Doubtful.
Follow the money.

Prevent a crime before its happened?  Slippery slope...

[BigGuy219]

I suspect the issue may have something to do with tax revenues. At a Gate you pay a sales tax on that hot dog, and that money goes to the people behind this act. As for the hot dog vendor, do you think he declares every sale? Doubtful.
Follow the money.

Prevent a crime before its happened?  Slippery slope...

I'm not saying it has to do with crime prevention. It has to do with them enacting policy that favor businesses that strictly pay sales taxes to increase tax revenue.

[Ernest Street]

I think this legislation is stupid.  If a taco truck beats out your Mexican restaurant, you're doing something wrong.  Same thing for hot dog carts.  No restaurateur should feel threatened by a street vendor if they believe in their product. 

How true!  maybe these threatened people should instead tell the Sysco truck driver to unload all the dinner in 5 gallon buckets in back,instead of in front.it sends a message to a LOT of us about what you serve.

[strider]

The street vendors still pay "rent" in some form or another.  They still pay operating expenses.  They are still as accountable for things like sales tax as any other cash based business.  Are their expenses lower than the fixed based operators' are?  Probably, but then as a society are we going to pass laws that penalize every other business person who finds a way to save a buck over their competition?

Restaurants, whether they be fast food or sit down require a commitment.  Street vendors can be impulse buying.  In fact, I suspect a large percentage of their sales are impulse. It doesn't matter if they are selling hot dogs or jeans actually. So it doesn't seem like they ultimately hurt the fixed based operators much in reality.  However, the fixed based operators are afraid the street vendors have taken their business when in fact, it is the economy. Or the fixed based vendors poor marketing or products.  But we must always have someone else to blame and here we are.

[JC]

I suspect the issue may have something to do with tax revenues. At a Gate you pay a sales tax on that hot dog, and that money goes to the people behind this act. As for the hot dog vendor, do you think he declares every sale? Doubtful.
Follow the money.

Prevent a crime before its happened?  Slippery slope...

I'm not saying it has to do with crime prevention. It has to do with them enacting policy that favor businesses that strictly pay sales taxes to increase tax revenue.

So you are assuming that street vendor does not pay sales tax and a brick and mortar store does?  I would say any small business that does and dollar of cash business is likely hiding some from the IRS.  I think that brick and mortar store owners have more opportunity to put political pressure on the necessary people to enact such bogus legislation.   

If anything these street vendors help attract more people simply because they are additional human beings on the street!  At least they are not trying to molest you or take your groceries or whatever.

[urbanlibertarian]

Many economists refer to this (established businesses seeking to eliminate competition by getting the government to create regulations that stifle it) as "rent seeking".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_seeking

I think it also qualifies as "crony capitalism".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crony_capitalism

[Dog Walker]

+1 Urban, you beat me to it.

Beauty salons have been trying for years to get hair braiders put out of business by requiring them to have cosmetology licenses.  Current holders of alcohol sales licenses fight like crazy to keep any more licenses being issued.  Taxi medallions are limited in number for the same reasons.

Prop 19, the legalization of marijuana in California, was defeated by millions of dollars worth of advertising from two groups;  the liquor industry, and the medical marijuana outlets.  Really high moral ground there!  (Pun intended)

[Bativac]

Only in Jacksonville. Home to ass backwards legislation and the good ol' boy network.

I was in NYC a couple weeks ago and had better food from the street vendors than from any sit-down joint we ate at.

[Keith-N-Jax]

My first trip to NYC I made sure I stopped by one of the hot dog vendors. I mean you see it all the time in the movies right Couldnt leave the Big Apple with out doing that right? Here in Jax I guess you better find a Sonic.

[CS Foltz]

Roberts Eatery on 8th and Ionia, Weds to Fri from 8 to 4ish has just that! Anyone who utters the phrase "CS Foltz said to stop" gets a free meal! Typical street vendor fare and we need more business persons willing to make the effort! Noone your on the list!

[Dog Walker]

Where are all the capitalists arguing against this proposed legislation?   Seriously, why restrict competition? 

JC, so called capitalists believe in the free market only so long as they do not have competition.  Then they do their best to enlist government power to prevent any new competitors from entering their market.  Trade associations are formed for the same purposes for the trades.

A lot of "consumer protection" laws are for the purposes of limiting entrants into markets more than they are for protecting the consumer.

[CS Foltz]

+1.75! Too true Dog Walker.............competion my left ham hock! Protecting their monoplies plain and simple!