I’m sure you’ve seen them when you were out at the Cliff House. They’re the group of artisans that sell their wares from small booths and tables along the sidewalk near the Cliff House.
The Examiner reported last week that what looks like a quiet colony of vendors is anything but. Apparently there’s a daily turf war between vendors as they vy for the three spots that are legally allowed on the sidewalk for sellers.
The SF Art Commission recently formalized the process for securing vending spots, but the new regulations only apply to Fisherman’s Wharf and downtown, leaving the Cliff House vendors out in the cold.
Usually it’s the same group of six vendors that compete for the three spaces at the Cliff House. Amanda Nordquist, who has been selling jewelry at the Cliff House for about a year, told the Examiner, “We call it the wild, wild west out there. You won’t believe how crazy it gets, and there’s absolutely no supervision.”
Nordquist even had to file a complaint with the Street Artists Committee, providing evidence via a recorded sound clip of another vendor saying obscene things to her. The offending vendor was told to apologize.
Another vendor who sells stained sand dollars and sea glass concurs: “It’s gnarly out there.”
Read the full story at SFExaminer.com
Sarah B.
How ’bout revoking all 3 permitted spots? That’ll end the bickering.
1 rotten apple spoils the pot
Why not include the Cliff House in the permitting process that applies to the other locations?
The Cliff House is federal land, part of the GGNRA. The City of San Francisco has no jurisdiction over it, or the road in front it.
Its laws are set by the US Congress, and California state law applies as federal statue. No city law can be enforced there.
It’s not even SFPD’s responsibility (although they are well within their right to enforce CA/Federal law there) — the USPP handle it.
So the city can’t do a lottery system there, or issue permits, or anything of the sort.
The Cliff House may be on Federal Land, but is the sidewalk? For example, right down the hill, The City controls up to the beach wall and the Feds only beyond that.