SOUTHEAST BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Bakersfield police and other agencies went to the area of Casa Loma Drive and South Martin Luther King Boulevard on Sunday to address ongoing community concerns about vendors setting up on private property.
The Bakersfield Police Department said vendors have been creating traffic congestion, trespassing violations and leaving trash behind after they leave. Some neighbors said the situation has become too much.
Blodgie Rodriguez said she has complained to the city and asked officials to take action. “I’ve been almost rear ended…because people race down that street every single day,” Rodriguez said.
Manuel Alderete said traffic and trash have become ongoing problems in the neighborhood. While he said he understands some vendors depend on sales for income, he said there needs to be accountability.
“What I don’t want is people running a business and then walking away from trash in a mess in my neighborhood. And that’s what the bigger picture if for me, its a deterioration of services based on overpopulation and illegal vending,” Alderete said.
Vendors said they understand the safety concerns but said selling is their source of income. “We’re not doing nothing bad, nothing out of the ordinary. We’re just trying to make a living,” one vendor said…