Insecurity and excessive fees for selling on the street are the accusations of street vendors at the “Los Arbolitos” market in the Loma Bella neighborhood, after the execution of a man, allegedly linked to said charges. In addition, they anonymously expressed their discontent with the installation of businesses dedicated to the irregular sale of alcohol.
This Sunday the place was observed with little affluence and without any street business dedicated to the sale of micheladas. The vendors ask that the authorities take action on the matter.
Last November, “Roy Calavera” was shot to death in his business that was located in the area
The merchants who have been in the place for several decades, expressed their discontent, not only for this type of business in which the irregular sale of alcohol is allowed, but also for the excessive fee that is required to be able to sell on the street, which went from 30 pesos to 160 per day.
During a tour of the place, neighbors told El Sol de Puebla that the street stand selling micheladas where the murder took place has been installed for three years on the corner of 7 Sur and General Miguel Negrete streets, on the border with the Popular Coatepec neighborhood.
Every day it was set up for the sale of alcohol, however, this was not the case on January 5, since apparently the 16-year-old girl who was shot in the abdomen is the daughter of the owner of said business.
Subjects on a motorcycle committed the crime
Witnesses reported that on the day of the events, the now deceased, approximately 35 years old, was sitting at the aforementioned street stand where he drank alcoholic beverages. Two subjects on a motorcycle arrived at the site, one of them got off the vehicle, while the other stayed on it with the engine running.
The man who got off the two-wheeled vehicle pulled out a firearm and fired about nine shots, three of which hit the alleged extortionist, who was wearing a black jacket, pants, and tennis shoes, as well as a black belt bag in front.
Another of the bullets wounded a 16-year-old girl, daughter of the owner of the michelada business, in the abdomen. Another male who was there was also injured and both were taken to a hospital.
When municipal police arrived at the site, they ordered all the merchants to close their stalls or stores, who, out of fear, as reported to this media, stayed locked in for several minutes until they were able to open and leave the place.
Low attendance at the place after the murder
Twenty-four hours after the events, the crime scene only has two white candles and pieces of the yellow tape that the authorities placed to cordon off the area.
The rest of the market was filled with various open shops and stalls selling fruit, vegetables, clothes, toys and other products.
Despite this, according to the vendors themselves, the presence of buyers or customers was much lower than other days. They believe that it is all due to the shooting that occurred, as they indicated, “surely people are scared and are afraid that another similar event will occur.”
They added that it is not surprising since, they admitted, they too as merchants are afraid that another shooting will occur where even innocent people are affected.
Therefore, they took the opportunity to show their discontent at the permissiveness of the municipal authorities for the installation of michelada businesses, not only in this place, but in several tianguis in the city.
“I do not understand why they allow this line of business. What are street stalls selling micheladas doing in markets where there are children, women, elderly people?”
“The sale of beer is not something that should exist in markets; “People go to the market for chicken, tomatoes, clothes, onions, and other things, but not for beer, and those kinds of products cause problems, it’s the equivalent of selling drugs. Sooner or later you’re going to have problems,” said one vendor anonymously.
High fees imposed on merchants
Other merchants, without mentioning names, revealed that since the arrival of a new organization, the cost of permits to sell on the street went from 30 to 160 pesos per day, an amount they considered high.
In addition, they pointed out that these charges should be made by the City Council and not by organizations or other types of people. However, given the need to sell their products to bring sustenance to the home, they give in to these payments and not get into trouble. The case is still under investigation by the Puebla Prosecutor’s Office, which is investigating whether everything really arose from a dispute between subjects over the collection of fees from street vendors.
For their part, residents stressed that this is not the first time that a homicide and shooting has occurred in a michelada establishment installed in the area.
On November 9, Rogelio N, better known as “Roy Calavera,” a wrestler from the rudos gang, was shot dead in his michelada selling business in the Popular Coatepec neighborhood, in front of the Neto store, whose space appears unoccupied, with a metal cross and another made of reeds, as well as candles and a floral arrangement, allegedly for refusing to pay a floor fee.
The store where the deceased allegedly took refuge is closed and secured with FGE seals.
Neighbors recalled that a while ago a couple was stabbed in the area during an alleged assault, and in a fight an intoxicated man was also wounded with a knife.
Although they did not admit that a floor fee exists, the merchants accepted that a problem in the area is the presence of many homeless and drunk people.
Source: oem
