The article, from 20th February 2010, on the website from ekatherimini.com states the growth of illegal street vending in the crisis: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100010_20/02/2010_115052, pointing out that most vendors are immigrant vendors on the streets in Athens. And comes up with the old-fashioned idea – made by the municipal police – to change the illegal status to a more secure and legal status by participating legitimate street markets. If it would be so easy, why this doesn’t happen?.
And looking for other reports on street vending in Greece, I came across reports of reports who critically view the role of the police, see the following links to incidents in 2009 and 2007. Street vending in public space for a person of color is transformed to a status of suspicion, and at this point it seems relevant to ask for the role of urban development policies who make the practice of street vending as an exception – and suspicious.
I found on the website of “clandestinenglish. Migration and Struggle in Greece – the clandestina.org blog in English by the Group of Immigrants & Refugees, Thessaloniki” this here: http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/manhunt-against-immigrant-street-vendors-in-athens-center/:
Manhunt against immigrant street vendors in Athens center. Posted by clandestinenglish on 31 December 2009
On THE VOICE REFUGEE Forum I found the report, that 2007 in Thessaloniki a street vendor died after trying to escape a police control: http://www.thevoiceforum.org/node/578.
State Racism Kills: Tony Onouha death in Thessaloniki, Greece
Manhunt against immigrant street vendors in Athens center.
Posted by clandestinenglish on 31 December 2009
What's about Street Vending in Greece? « streetvendor's blog…
Here at World Spinner we are debating the same thing……