Street Market Report - August 4, 2013

The day started cloudy, and then cleared up. It was never too hot, and not cold either. The weather was good, and the mood at the market was good all day. We had a few stories that I will relay to you.

In the morning, an illicit drinker started having seizures and Constable Bradshaw called him an ambulance. He was taken away and seemed to be doing OK.

We had a few goods seizures, but none that worried the volunteers or vendors. One vendor was selling flairs that looked exactly like shotgun shells. Another vendor was selling chocolate bars that were from the dollar store. The one with the chocolate bars admitted taking them from the dollar store to the police.

The incident that sticks in my head today was one that happened briefly before we opened up the road to traffic at 5pm. I was walking up and down the street warning the vendors that the road was going to open, and a vendor asked me "why do we need to open the road at 5pm?". I said that it was because of our permits, and we needed to try and stick to a schedule so as to be friendly with our neighbours. He said "I guess if they let us, we would stay here all night.". I said "yes". He then said, "I guess we are lucky that they let us do this at all.". It struck me at that moment what the market really meant to him, and it almost makes me weep now thinking of it. His statement of "we" and "they" as such a stark summary of the battle that is taking place in the neighbourhood, and the simplicity of his acceptance that the "they" had all the power. The market for him probably meant the difference between living with a little dignity or being forced into the degrading food lines, or shelters, or sleeping in the street. The market for "they" means a little bustle outside their door once a week, a little noise on a Sunday, and being forced to view the majority inhabitance of the neighbourhood engaging in a productive activity. Why should the "they" determine anything about this market, when the "we" have the numbers and the overwhelming argument of benefit for it to remain exactly where it is.

15 tents were set up. 7 in the park, and 4 on the north side of Carrall St., and 4 one the south side of Carrall St.

Financial Report
1) 50/50 Draw: $88.75
2) Table/Tent Rental: $104.50
3) Coffee/Juice Sales: $129.00

Total revenue = $322.25
Total spending = $434.76 (mostly from 10 new costco plastic tables to replace our old broken wooden ones)
Petty cash now = $1,140.54

Vendor Count: 188 @ noon