Small business owners in a swapmeet say the owner took advantage of the pandemic to get them out of the place where they have sold for decades.
A few weeks ago sellers awapmeet in South Los Angeles they celebrated that they would soon reopen their businesses and regain their finances after two months of total closure due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
However, on May 20 the leasing company sent a letter to the 48 vendors advising that they had 30 days to collect their merchandise because the swap meet Los Amigos Mall would not reopen.
Andrés Ramírez, 74, has sold Mexican churros and antojitos for almost 30 years on the spot. He said they called him on the phone to tell him to get the goods out of his post as soon as possible.
Ramírez added that he employs two people on weekdays and six people on weekends.
"They also did poorly and have not found a job," Ramírez said. "We were all surprised because we were already excited to continue working."
Dinora Figueroa, 57, is another saleswoman who, along with her husband, rents three stores in the swapmeet.
"We started with my husband 21 years ago selling airline tickets, (services of) Western Union, Orlandi Valuta and then I put two shoe stores," said Figueroa.
She explained that what bothers her the most is that the owners, identified as Jorge Torres and Roberta Torres, do not face them and only tell them to make arrangements with the supervisor of the swapmeet.
“It is not fair how they are taking us out because the letter he gave us does not come from the city or from a court. It has no official seal, "said Figueroa.
The sellers said that for a while rumors had been heard that the owners had intended to sell the land where the market is located. However, the plan had not materialized because they did not want to pay compensation to the sellers for an unjustified eviction.
"Well, if he had already sold he would have told us and give us the compensation we deserve, but he only took advantage of the pandemic to get us out," said Ramírez.
"He saw that this was the opportunity he needed to get us out, he did not want to reach an agreement," added Figueroa. "Besides they told us to take everything out and leave it very clean so that they give us our deposit."
Organizing vendors
Diana Ojendis's mother has sold children's clothes and shoes at the swap meet for the past 30 years and when she told her about the eviction she decided to unite the sellers and try to reach an agreement with the owner.
"We made a letter asking for a reason for the eviction and an opportunity to meet but the supervisor did not want to read the letter," said Ojendis. "When I took her to the swap meet the guard pulled me out and the supervisor threw the letter away."
Ojendis said this is a very precarious situation for several of the vendors who keep up with their sales. Two months had passed without income and now continuing without a job affects them too much. For older sellers like Ramírez, it's even very difficult to start from scratch again.
On Saturday the vendors temporarily set up their businesses on the sidewalk of the swap meet where they made their sales. They also held a protest to ask to remain on their premises.
La Opinion tried to get a response from the owner or owners of the swap meet Los Amigos but the swap meet supervisor Adolfo Hernández said that he was not authorized to speak about it. He added that he also did not know who to contact for an answer to vendors' concerns.
Eviction is illegal
Paul Lanctoc, organizer with the Los Angeles Tenant Union (LATU) said that what swap meet owners are trying to do is illegal.
"Despite the fact that they have been given eviction notices, they still have to take them through a judicial procedure," said Lanctoc. "If tenants choose to stay, then we encourage everyone to stay and fight eviction and fight for the right to stay in business."
Lanctoc said that if the owner throws the merchandise away from the sellers it is illegal. So they have decided for Friday, which is the last day to supposedly evict, take guard duty, document and stop any type of harassment that occurs.
Councilman Curren D. Price Jr.'s office, who represents District 9 which includes the swap meet, said he is extremely disturbed by the latest news and is working with the City Attorney to see how to avoid these evictions.
Lanctoc said that on Thursday afternoon June 19 they will be holding a fundraiser very close to the Los Amigos swap meet for those who want to support. The location is 180 E. 35th Street in Los Angeles at 5p.m. at 9 p.m.
Additionally, the group has created a GoFundMe account to be able to collect money and pay the debts of three months of rent that they owe. To donate you can visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-los-amigos-swap-meet
