03-09-2010, 05:48 AM
I appreciate the question, Greg. I had not heard of anyone not being allowed to vend based on using EBT to purchase there ingredients. What I can say about EBT is this: I know for fact that there are vendors (note plural) who use EBT to purchase ingredients to make food to sell and do not report the earnings to the Food Stamp Office. This, however, is not something that the SPACE management ever involved itself in, one way or another, the attitude on this subject (for all concerned) being somewhat "don't ask, don't tell". If there is more to this story than I know, I'm sure someone else will comment.
I understand what you are saying about the laws of economics, but, while it sounds alright in theory, the reality is that some people live in such poverty that earning any money is a necessity, even if the hourly wage breakdown is $2.50, if that is the only opportunity available to them. Furthermore, the situation with vendors at SPACE was that some were definitely given preferential treatment, based on varying factors. I recognize that cliques will always form and try to exert their will, none the less, codified regulations and standards for participation which gave anyone desiring to participate an equal chance would level the playing field a bit. As it was, participation was at the sole discretion of one person, with out so much as a list of procedures and qualifications in order to be considered for participation. That may have worked for a few months in the "experimental" stage, but once problems began to arise, they should have been properly addressed, not dismissed by saying "Love it or Leave it". Many "outside" vendors dedicated inestimable time and energy into making the market what it was, they should have had a voice in how it was run, or atleast a set of rules equally applied.
I understand what you are saying about the laws of economics, but, while it sounds alright in theory, the reality is that some people live in such poverty that earning any money is a necessity, even if the hourly wage breakdown is $2.50, if that is the only opportunity available to them. Furthermore, the situation with vendors at SPACE was that some were definitely given preferential treatment, based on varying factors. I recognize that cliques will always form and try to exert their will, none the less, codified regulations and standards for participation which gave anyone desiring to participate an equal chance would level the playing field a bit. As it was, participation was at the sole discretion of one person, with out so much as a list of procedures and qualifications in order to be considered for participation. That may have worked for a few months in the "experimental" stage, but once problems began to arise, they should have been properly addressed, not dismissed by saying "Love it or Leave it". Many "outside" vendors dedicated inestimable time and energy into making the market what it was, they should have had a voice in how it was run, or atleast a set of rules equally applied.