It appeared the three-year-old fight that pitted some established Latino businesses against illegal Latino vendors in Adams Morgan’s Unity Park was coming to an amicable end. Roxana Olivas, executive director of the city’s Office of Latino Affairs, had spent months negotiating with all parties. “I’m very content that OLA, working since January, was able to help these individuals while taking into consideration the brick-and-mortar businesses,” Olivas told me.
The problems at Unity Park began when, after receiving complaints about people illegally selling food near Sacred Heart Church off 16th Street Northwest, George Escobar, then deputy director of OLA, put those vendors at a site on Columbia Road and Euclid Street NW.
He claimed it was a training program. But the vendors operated without required licenses, failed to pay sales taxes and weren’t subjected to health department inspections.
Not surprisingly, established business owners were angry about the illegal vending. It occurred every weekend, slicing their potential profits.
After Olivas took over, Escobar soon departed the agency. By then, the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was serving as manager for the “training program.” Working with that organization, Olivas made sure vendors secured required licenses and accounting assistance so they could file sales tax reports. Some now have become partners with established businesses. Others have found buildings to rent from which they can operate.
“This will make our brick-and-mortar people very happy,” said Kristen Barden, executive director of the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District. “It’s long overdue that the program be discontinued or moved someplace else.”
Everyone seemed happy. Then, Escobar returned, fomenting discord. Now a staffer with Casa de Maryland in Montgomery County, he reportedly has persuaded four vendors to reject OLA’s assistance — although the program will end on Sept. 30.
Olivas called it “disappointing” that Escobar has misdirected the vendors, encouraging them to reject the resources being provided. “They are getting bad advice.”
I wondered whether Escobar was opening a branch of Casa in the District. The nonprofit organization advocates on behalf of Latinos and has fought against government vending regulations in Maryland. He said he has been acting only as a “resident of Columbia Heights” and a “huge fan” of the market.
“Street vending and outdoor marketplaces are of huge cultural and economic significance for many of our people. Go to any Latin American country and it is a way of life,” Escobar added.
This isn’t Latin America, and Latino vendors, like other vendors, have to follow the rules.
Kimberly Propeack, Casa’s director of community organizing and political action, confirmed that Escobar was acting on his own. “We do not work in Washington, D.C.,” she said.
Asked if she had spoken with folks at OLA about Unity Park and Escobar’s intrusion, Propeack said she “had not called their office.”
Too bad. If she had called, she might appreciate the yeomen’s work Olivas has done and the terrible disservice to Latinos being performed by Casa’s newest employee.
Jonetta Rose Barras’ column appears on Monday and Wednesday. She can be reached at [email protected].
