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FW: Yes - Estolano Advisors La Pulga
City Clerk <
Tue 8/30/2022 7:46 AM
To:Agendadesk <
From: Esparza, Maya <
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2022 7:27 PM
To: City Clerk <
Subject: Fwd: Yes - Estolano Advisors La Pulga
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From: Kelly Snider < >
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2022 6:56 PM
To: Liccardo, Sam; Jones, Chappie; Jimenez, Sergio; Peralez, Raul; Cohen, David; Carrasco, Magdalena; Davis, Dev; Esparza, Maya; Arenas, Sylvia; Foley, Pam; Mahan, Ma
Subject: Yes - Estolano Advisors La Pulga
Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers,
I first learned about the displacement of the vendors when SPUR Director Fred Buzo presented the Urban Village Plan at a policy mee ng in early 2021. I was surprised that the planning for BBUV assumed complete displacement of La Pulga, with no considera on of the devasta ng effects on the small businesses being displaced, or even a collabora ve effort to relocate La Pulga to a permanent loca on.
Prior to approval in Spring 2021, at vendors' urgent request, the City Council made some specific condi ons related to the approval.
Also at that me, the BFVA asked me to advise them in collabora on with OED on the ac ons you're considering today, and I have been advising BFVA pro bono ever since. I am le ng you know that as of today, the Flea Market is in much worse condi on than it was in Spring 2021; many (tens? dozens?) of vendors have been obligated to close due to depressed a endance and increased costs of doing business. But the Condi ons of Approval which City Council hoped would be modestly helpful have actually been extremely hur ul.
Briefly:
First, the ability to opt into a 6-month license, which could have offered a smidgen of security and enable inventory purchases for more than a week in advance, was never implemented. In a spiteful and cruel "requirement" to the 6-month op on, the Bumbs required the full half-year payments upfront - which for vendors would be $8k - $10k all at once, a huge sum for these small businesses. Thus, the 6- month "lease" is a ghost offer only.
Second, the Bumbs doubled the cost to park at La Pulga in Summer 2021. All the parking revenue$ go to the Bumbs directly, so star ng in July 2021, a family with $100 to spend shopping on a warm Sunday was required to first pay $20 "parking" fee (think "resort fee" at a hotel). If you ride a bike or walk in - they now charge you $5 a head. The revenue loss to Vendors was immediate and is sustained today.
Visitors who used to go spend $30 TOTAL in an a ernoon have stopped shopping at La Pulga because they can't even afford to get in the gate. The Bumbs jus fy their parking rates by comparing themselves to Great America and SAP Center. It's spiteful cruelty, intended to thro le down shoppersto La Pulga and to keep the remaining vendors scared and silent.
Third, the Owners are “ci ng” and fining vendors at an increased rate, o en with no explana ons or opportunity for redress. Mr.
Rigoberto Gonzalez, a vendor selling gorgeous piñatas for over 20 years, was given a fine/cita on for..... ( wait for it )......:
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HANGING UP PIÑATAS IN THE SAME PLACE THEY’VE BEEN HUNG EVERY WEEK FOR 20 YEARS! When Sr Gonzalez asked why this policy was "changed" so suddenly, he was given no clear answer. It almost seems as though the Bumbs enjoy being obtuse and hos le to vendors; hoping to in midate them into closing down early and just moving along.
Please approve Estolano Advisors, and please help re-locate La Pulga to a great, permanent loca on ASAP . San Jose is at risk of losing an astonishing, 50-year tradi on - an open-air, mul -cultural and mul -lingual, tax-revenue-producing and small-business incubator that is one of San Jose's most unique and special places. To allow a vindic ve and self-serving person like Mr. Bumb inten onally destroy the few remaining months of the La Pulga (closure no ce in June 2023) would be awful.
Sincerely,
Kelly Snider
__________________________
Kelly Snider, MCP
Director, Real Estate Development Cer ficate Program
Professor of Prac ce, Urban & Regional Planning
San Jose State University
www.KellySniderConsul ng.com