Avenue Central in San Jose has become a haven for illegal Street Vendors, but that will change with the crackdown on street vendors
Years ago a renovation project spearheaded by the San Jose Municipality, labeled San Jose Posible, was design to give a total face-lift to the downtown area, adding more walking boulevards, planting trees, paining facades and offering incentives for Costa Ricans and residents to move back into the city. The Central Avenue Boulevard and its surrounding parks and plazas have been called the biggest outdoor shopping central in Central America. Traditional shops have given way to modern crafts and souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants and to street vendors.
Staying often at Hotel Presidente, the mecca of people watching, one of the things most noticeable have been the increase of street vendors. What has also been most noticeably have been the increase of illegal street vendors. The last trip down, it became humorous as many will have lookouts and within seconds their goods can be bundled up when law enforcement approaches. Complaints from tourists and locals have causes some hotels, shop owners and restaurants to literally stand guard to prevent some from hassling their customers and most important, to protect them.
Illegal street vendor selling pirated CDs to a groups of tourists.
The problem has increased to the point where last week the Municipalidad de San José stepped up its efforts and have now waged a war against illegal street vendors with the help of the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, the Ministerio de Salud and the Fuerza Pública. Immigration Officials have been brought in because many of the vendors are illegal residents from Perú and other Central American countries.
Avenida Central, the main downtown pedestrian walkway, is filled with vendors, and they now play a cat and mouse game with municipal policemen. Small articles of clothing, souvenirs, CDs, DVDs, and various toys are the usually items being sold, but also the sale of pirated CDs, DVDs, and designer clothing. Some offer marijuana and other illegal drugs on the side and pimping.
The problem escalates when municipal policemen try to enforce the law and have been seriously injured when trying to remove vendors. Another reason why the crack down (beside the illegal sales) is that street vendors pay no taxes and frequently clog roadways and are, some say, sources of street crime like targeting, following, and robbing tourists and locals.
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