Call for BAMBD Vendors Association

 

Monday, January 21, 2019

Call for Black Arts Movement Business District Street Vendors Association

Black Arts Movement and Black Arts Movement Business District Co-founder Marvin X at his Academy of da Corner, 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland BAMBD District.

photo Adam Turner

On January 19, 2016, the Oakland City Council passed a resolution establishing the Black Arts Movement Business District along the 14th Street corridor, from the lower bottom to Lake Merritt. On January 1, 2019, the State of California enacted SB946, allowing vendors to sell on the streets of all California cities. Vendors may require permits but are not to be harassed by police under the color of law. They are not to have their goods confiscated or cited. 

In light of the above, we call upon Pan African vendors to claim the BAMBD District as our vending space. We call upon the City Council to establish that BAMBD Vendors must not be harassed by the OPD. Further, as per equity, we demand a minimum fee requirement for vendors in the BAMBD, if not a five year moratorium on permit fees,City taxes and State Franchise taxes. Gov. Brown suggested the moratorium on State Franchise taxes for certified cultural districts.

We should meet ASAP to organize the BAMBD Vendors Association. If you are down to get up, let me know. Our occupation of Lake Merritt was a good expression of Pan African entrepreneurship but let us get organized as part of the Downtown Oakland Plan for the next 25 to 50 Years. 

SB 946 passed because the 30,000 Latino vendors on the streets of Los Angeles got organized. Let us do the same. 

Marvin X

BAMBD Co-founder

510-575-7148

jmarvinx@yahoo.com