Watsonville Resident Launches Petition as Strict Zoning Enforcement Squeezes Local Street Vendors
A petition launched by resident Samantha Solis is gaining momentum in Watsonville, drawing sharp attention to how zoning enforcement rules may be affecting small vendors who operate in the city. Solis, who has been vocal about the challenges faced by independent food and merchandise sellers, argues that interpretations of city code have created barriers that disproportionately hurt low-income entrepreneurs.
At the center of the dispute is the city’s Municipal Code Section 14-14.01, which restricts vendors to a maximum of ten minutes in any single location. Solis urges the 7 members of the Watsonville City Council to welcome a change to the code that will embrace the community's entrepreneurs.
Solis states in the petition, “Cities around the nation have embraced street vendors as key players in their local economies, providing diversity in food and goods, creating job opportunities, and playing a role in reducing urban unemployment. Why should Watsonville be any different? We already pay a business license for Watsonville. Instead of restricting us, the city should foster growth by allowing vendors the freedom to operate without unnecessary constraints, and simply requiring a reasonable permit fee to ensure compliance and security for all involved.”
Solis’s petition does not challenge the city’s right to enforce zoning laws; instead, it calls for clearer guidance, better communication, and a more supportive pathway for small vendors to operate within legal boundaries. Solis stated firmly, “We urge the city council of Watsonville to reevaluate and amend this section of the municipal code. Let's find a middle ground where protections for both vendors and residents exist harmoniously. Instead of a ten-minute limit, vendors should be given the ability to park on public streets for a period conducive to successful business operations, while adhering to safety and public order.”
The current approach places an undue burden on people who lack the resources to navigate complex permitting processes, and Solis argues that the city’s zoning rules, while necessary, should not function as a barrier to economic participation.
