June 10, 2001
I went back to your site and saw the notice about your lawsuit against Chief Parks because of the street vending. I have a funny story to tell you.. One day (a few years ago in Lennox/Inglewood area) I was driving N. on Hawthorne Blvd near the 105 and the Metro station. I saw one of these little ice cream push carts just sitting, unminded, in the middle of a lot, on which was also an abandoned and partially demolished house. As I turned the corner, I looked again, curious as to where the operator was. That's when I saw him, squatted behind one of the walls, squeezing out some of his "business". In case I didn't make that clear, the man was defecating in the open, with no toilet paper around, and of course no hot water and soap to wash his hands with. Well, I was totally grossed out. I had bought ice creams before from these vendors, myself. But it never occurred to me that these people need to go to the bathroom during the day and they have no facilities to clean up afterwords. Then, with the same hand that they used to wipe their bottom or drain their hose, they are later reaching into the box to get you your choice of strawberry, coconut or vanilla...Or would you prefer fudge!
Name Withheld
