Submitted by Alice Baird, Feb 3, 2007 07:34

Your article on the proliferation of cookie cutter street fairs does not go far enough on the disruption to neighborhoods. Snarled traffic when avenues are closed; safety issues when vendors put gasoline generators and wires on sidewalks; blocked streets to handicapped residents; and blocked access to existing community businesses are real problems. More importantly, the goods sold are the same at every fair, the vendors are the same, and there is no link to the community they are invading. After over thirty plus plus years of living in the village, we have watched a wonderful event to promote community spirit turn into a flea market for a small group of vendors, who have no ties to the community. The best solution is to end all commercial street fairs, unless they represent 100% of community shops, restaurants, and community services.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.