Building owners say no to street vendors

Building owners say no to street vendors

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration's plan to relocate street vendors operating along Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman faces a new hurdle because building owners along the two major thoroughfares refuse to accommodate them in their complexes.

Head of the small-scale business improvement project, Aris Djazuli, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the relocation program, which was initially scheduled to be implemented as of this weekend, will unlikely be realized.

"I don't think the program can be continued because many building owners have expressed their rejection to allow the street vendors onto their parking areas," Aris said.

Owners of a number of buildings, which have ample space in their parking lots, have handed over the plots they promised to traders from other areas, he said.

While others, who have not yet set aside an area for vendors, refused to do so on the grounds that they have limited space for parking, Aris said.

He explained that he cannot force the building owners to accommodate the vendors on their complexes even though they had once agreed to do so.

There are 48 buildings along Jl. Jend. Sudirman and 31 along Jl. MH Thamrin.

The city administration previously planned to relocate 98 street vendors operating along the two major roads to help improve cleanliness and security in the city.

These vendors mostly sell food and beverages, as well as magazines, on sidewalks and bus shelters or other public facilities along the streets.

The project is one of a number of various programs launched by the city administration to improve small-scale businesses.

Even with this refusal, Aris explained, city administration is determined to continue to clear the vendors from the two streets.

"We have to prevent them from operating there, in line with city administration's program to improve cleanliness along major streets throughout the capital," he said.

Councilor Helmy AR. Syihab, who is also chairman of the City Council's Commission C, which is in charge of financial affairs, expressed concern over the refusal of the building owners to accommodate the vendors.

Actually they should participate in the program, so as to help improve the street vendors' welfare as well as to beautify the city, he said.

"It is time for building managements to participate in implementing the program," Helmy said. (yns)