Although local authorities have evicted the street vendors, they reoccupy them the following day. Currently, an increased presence of street vendors is observed on the streets, sidewalks, and markets of San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Meanwhile, formal establishments, which pay their fees year after year to the federal, state, and municipal treasuries, report that in recent months the presence of informal businesses has increased, obstructing sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and the main entrances of businesses. They also indicate that the majority of these vendors are Indigenous people from various communities and municipalities in the Altos de Chiapas region. Therefore, they are calling on Municipal Public Services to clean up the area, as their businesses are being affected.
Walking through the streets, avenues, and supply centers of San Cristóbal de las Casas, one notices an exaggerated presence of street vendors, who set up shop daily, selling handicrafts, clothing, food, sweets, and other products. One of the most affected streets during the day is the Santo Domingo avenue (20 de Noviembre Street); at night, street vendors occupy the El Carmen avenue, while the Guadalupano avenue is less crowded, as business owners have been protesting and prohibiting vendors from setting up shop in front of their businesses.
“To avoid problems with the indigenous people, I have personally been greatly affected because they block the sidewalks and the signs. Although the authorities say the presence of street vendors has decreased, that is false, because they set up every day and pedestrians have to step off the sidewalk, which can cause accidents. For example, the Santo Domingo pedestrian walkway is full of street vendors every day. As formal merchants, if we say anything to them, they gather around and verbally attack us. We have reported this, but no one pays attention. Yes, it has harmed us quite a bit. Many people want to visit us, but the sidewalks are blocked. That is why we respectfully and urgently ask the relevant authorities to try to regularize their situation or find a decent place for them,” said one of the merchants on the Santo Domingo pedestrian walkway.
Meanwhile, street vendors continue to be present on sidewalks and streets in the markets, despite the authorities having evicted them more than a month ago. However, they return the next day and set up their stalls again. This situation has been going on for more than 20 years and has caused annoyance among citizens, as they have nowhere to park their vehicles when traveling to markets, forcing them to look for public parking.
Therefore, they call on the relevant authorities to regulate informal street vending.
“Indigenous people have their organizations, and they practically rule because they pay a fee, and any problem that arises with the authorities, the leaders intervene, and the next day they are back on the streets and sidewalks of San Cristóbal. We are not against their installation, but we must do so in an orderly manner. The Municipal Public Services authorities must address this to address the constant presence of street vendors.”
Source: oem
