'Why no special place for vendors?'

'Why no special place for vendors?'

The city cooperatives and small and medium enterprises agency
recently admitted its failure in accommodating around 147,000
registered street vendors due to financial constraints to procure
land for them. The agency also has to tolerate the presence of
unregistered street vendors. The Jakarta Post talked to come
residents on the issue.

Rima, 32, works for a private company in Central Jakarta. She
lives in Tangerang with her husband and two children:

Honestly, the presence of street vendors, particularly those
selling food, really is convenient for most working people like
me, because we can have a quick affordable meal. I'd go broke if
I had to spend lots of money to buy lunch in malls or
restaurants.

I also like to see vendors selling items for children like
toys, socks or other clothes. Although the quality of the items
are not as good as those sold at department stores, they are OK
for daily use as kids grow up really fast.

But sometimes I find the vendors annoying because they occupy
the road and we cannot even walk on the city's sidewalks. Why
can't the city administration provide special places for the
vendors like those in Blok S (South Jakarta)?

Kusno, 34, works in an insurance company in West Jakarta. He
lives with his wife and two sons in Bojong Gede, Bogor:

As an employee with a meager salary like me, and my wife is
not working, the presence of street vendors really helps me to
buy things at a relatively cheap price.

I think it's unfair to see them evicted by public order
officers. It's really saddening if their carts and merchandise
are seized by the officers. They only try to make some money,
right?

I really hope that the vendors can have special places in
parts of the city so that they can continue their business and
people like me can find cheap goods easily.

-- The Jakarta Post