EDITORIAL: We won't stand still for U.

Scott Goldstein says those affected by the proposal were the last to learn about it. Scott Goldstein says those affected by the proposal were the last to learn about it.It is clear when reading the University's proposed vending ordinance that it was written with little regard for the input of University students, faculty and staff, and with little consideration for us, the vendors who serve the University City area. We were also told that if any plans were made regarding changes to the vending scene, we would be the first to know. But after I didn't hear from Scheman for several months, I left her three messages in one week. No one returned those calls. I assumed that this was because no new information was available. But May 6 I received a copy of the widely circulated Graduate and Professional Students Assembly e-mail. I immediately contacted the University and learned of a 5 p.m. meeting the following day. Forty-two vendors attended the meeting, where we were informed of the University's intent to submit a proposal to City Council the next day. Scheman came to the meeting with no intent of showing us the proposal, and only upon our insistence did she agree to provide us with copies, which she gave us after the meeting. We demanded time to distribute copies of the proposal to all of the affected vendors, and this led to the formation of the University City Vendors Alliance, which is 80 members strong and still growing. It is obvious that anyone who supports this document has no understanding of what it is to be a vendor or a consumer, as the interests of both are clearly neglected. The proposal calls for the prohibition of truck vending on all streets but 33rd and 38th streets, and the prohibition of sidewalk vending on most other University streets, as well as limitations on our equipment. The ordinance would make us unable to resell our businesses, and would surely put most of us out of business. What is sad about all of this is that there are very real issues we must address. These are clearly lost in the glut of unnecessary exclusions and limitations the bill provides. When I told Scheman that I could make immediate arrangements to increase safety around the hospital, she insisted that unless the entire ordinance was passed there was no point in talking about this. Scheman claims that the relocation of displaced vendors is an issue separate from the ordinance when in reality the two issues cannot be separated as they greatly affect each other. Her refusal to negotiate on the relocation issue has led the UCVA to present its ideas directly to City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who understands vending issues and has welcomed our ideas, making considerable time for us in her busy schedule. We are thankful for her assistance. The UCVA also differs with the University's proposal in its prohibition of generators, the tools we use to power our refrigeration equipment. This, Scheman says, is a result of a fire caused by a reckless vendor's ignorant mistake. Our more appropriate solution involves a mandatory fire hazard safety course, which we propose would be paid for by the vendors, and taught by the Philadelphia Fire Department. The course would educate vendors in the use of gasoline, propane and electrical equipment. We also understand that vendors should be regulated around retail locations. We will move in that direction immediately, long before any ordinance could possibly clear the political process, further showing our commitment to actually improving the situation. We recommend a process by which vendors could relocate over time, as the University offers private and retail locations. We would agree to allow the spaces vacated to be declared "no-vending zones." We have conceived a plan that would prevent major hardship for the vendors, allow continued access to fast, convenient, affordable goods and eliminate many of the University's vendor-related problems -- and all in a short period of time. It is unfortunate that the University administration has been resistant to our efforts toward a productive dialogue.