Govt continues its war against small/local businesses

Two vendors, with 60 years of experience selling souvenirs outside of Atlanta Braves’ baseball stadiums, have filed a lawsuit in Fulton County Superior Court against the city of Atlanta in objection to new vending laws.

Larry Miller and Stanley Hambrick, who sell snacks and baseball-related items outside Turner Field during Braves games, claim the city is driving them out of business by forcing them to rent kiosks and pay from $6,000 to $20,000 in rent.

“My business is run by my family,” Miller said. “Now they want to come and take away my limited source of income.”

At issue is the city being on the verge of entering the second phase of a program designed to regulate Atlanta's outside vending. In 2009, the city entered into a contract with a private company, General Growth, to manage the kiosk program.

For years, downtown residents and business owners complained that the vending stands -- usually tables spilling with merchandise -- were eyesores. General Growth opened 20 metal vending kiosks, mainly around Woodruff Park, to establish vending rules, as well as define its look.

Those vendors were charged between $500 and $1,600 a month to sell their wares. Many went out of business. Miller and Hambrick pay $250 a year to vend outside of Turner Field for the 81 home games. Miller said in a good season, he can earn $30,000 selling hats and t-shirts.

link
How does the govt ever except us to leave this `recession` if it consistently displays this anti-entrepreneurial type attitude? Govt should be trying to make businesses feel welcome, not chasing them away.

I'd be willing to wager that the city is getting a portion of the rent revenues.

All levels of government are in financial trouble. The elected officials seem to be very short sighted and only worry about paying for tomorrow and not long term.

Some other examples I'm aware of: In Arizona they have sold government buildings and are leasing them back... great for this year, but long term?

Oregon significantly raised property and corporate tax rates pushing even more manufacturers to China. They have managed to take a larger slice of a smaller pie leaving less revenue for their citizens to spend or invest.

Chicago raised their sales tax rates significantly which will have the effect of pushing shoppers to nearby municipalities. Again, a larger slice of a smaller pie while they starve out the merchants in their jurisdiction.

We have a great discussion going on in another thread, which is the same subject;

Senate inquiry finds big companies taking small business contracts

This is not good trend, and for the senate to take notice and investigate means they will take for ever in resolving the issue, because many of them are probably on the take.

reply to post by ADVISOR

This is not good trend, and for the senate to take notice and investigate means they will take for ever in resolving the issue, because many of them are probably on the take.

I wouldn't put any faith in the govt to fix the problems it has created.

Your missing the point that the people of the city wanted something done about this and not the government. They have as much right as the vendors do you know.

Originally posted by kro32
Your missing the point that the people of the city wanted something done about this and not the government. They have as much right as the vendors do you know.

What gave them that right? Did they own the property?

Originally posted by Rockdisjoint

Originally posted by kro32
Your missing the point that the people of the city wanted something done about this and not the government. They have as much right as the vendors do you know.

What gave them that right? Did they own the property?

edit on 28-7-2011 by Rockdisjoint because: (no reason given)

The right they have is that they can petition their local government that they voted for to respond to requests like this. This is actually good news because it shows the local government listening to the will of their constituents and taking action on their behalf.

Sorry if some vendors lose out but somebody is going to lose. The people of the city won by having their representatives take action on an issue they felt was important.

reply to post by kro32

What gives the govt the right to step in though? The govt has no legitimate claim to the property, so the vendors have every right to use that property as they see fit.

Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem.

Reagan