Anyone who has ever been to a Braves, Falcons, or Hawks game
is familiar with traversing the maze of vendors outside the games in order to
attend. Stalls jammed the sidewalks to the point that use of them was nearly
impossible unless single file. The vendors constantly pushing their wares and
trying to out compete their neighbors. Sometimes the tactics used to persuade
purchasing was not the nicest around. It was a lively hood for many though. And
Atlanta has not only restricted this commerce but it has given control of all
policies on vending to a single company.
Atlanta, in the heart of conservative state with very lax
marriage laws, boasts one of the most restrictive sets of laws regarding
vending in the country. This type of economic chokehold not only hurts the
vendors but the city as well. Atlanta is growing and attracting many companies
to set up shop but it is the small businesses and the local entrepreneurs that
really determine how well economically a city is doing. They are the backbone
of commerce and this restrictive climate extends not only to vendors but anyone
trying to do mobile food trucks as well. The city of Atlanta has made it
illegal to vend on any public property. The Atlanta Street Food Coalition
(ASFC) as well as the Atlanta Vendors Association (AVA) are continuously
fighting for new legislation to alleviate such rigid measures against free
commerce.
The question is what kind of message does Atlanta really
want to send to the world. Most Fortune 500 companies were incorporated in
Delaware because of their lax code on incorporation yet Atlanta says they want
to attract this type of commerce while restricting its own people and its own
sources of tax revenue. This economic hodgepodge of rules gives very mixed
messages and could scare away potential companies from moving to Atlanta. Then
a little over a year ago Atlanta gained a monopoly on public property vending
which is sure to halt this commerce. And just in time for the Final Four and
Braves Opening Weekend, that company made a huge push to eradicate vendors in
front of Braves Stadium and the Georgia Dome. The vendors are in an uproar and
rightfully should be as many of the vendors have been doing this for 20+ years,
putting kids through college on the income from their operations.
Does Atlanta want to attract business or discourage it? Many
of their practices say yes but the climate they are creating around these types
of small businesses speaks volumes on their true intentions.
I think that this a classic case of "having your cake and eating it too" for the powers that be here in Atlanta. As you mentioned earlier officials want the city to flourish by being attractive to potential companies but are trying to monopolize the vending markets. In doing so I agree that they are hurting the small business entrepreneurs that helped help feed the economy for decades.
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