As some residents may know, there have been kids selling water and other items on street corners and intersections now for four years here in Whitehall. The Mayor looks at it as kids with a lemonade stand but its not. This is not little kids in front of their own homes with a makeshift stand where a parent can peek out and make sure their kids are following good behavior. These are teens, primarily, who are hawking water with no parental supervision and zero guidelines for doing so. As such, it has become contentious due to unsupervised minors, some of whom, sometimes, act in a variety of ways which raise the ire of the community. Those include: running out into traffic, with some children: near-toddlers, the holding up of traffic, the safety issues surrounding all this, aggressive, abusive behavior, trashing of areas where they sell, unruly behavior, Target carts taken off property, filled with trash littering the neighborhood, etc., etc., etc. It has become a point of irritation and outrage to community members, particularly because there seem to be no adults doing anything about the juveniles behavior. They have looked to authorities to step in to control the situation but, seemingly, neither parents or City Hall is doing anything tangible to address the real concerns citizens have about this situation that’s gotten out of control.

My home is situated a mere fifty feet from the most contentious corner, Robinwood and Doney. I have watched four ‘seasons’ of juveniles selling on this corner; the good, the bad and the ugly, including fistfights. (Let me just say that these problems are not the part of every juvenile who sells at that corner, nor is every kid a part of things which are troublesome. There are also good kids there too but sadly, they’re tarnished with the behavior of the bad ones, which can be pretty bad). While others who live elsewhere don’t experience the situation as closely and as often as I do, I’m the one who sees it day in and day out. I have spoken with them many times as a responsible adult community member, I have bought them poster board and markers to make signs up so they don’t feel forced to yell like carnival barkers selling their wares which I hear in my office on the other side of my large house. I have brought them fudgesicles in the worst heat, I have picked up their trash innumerable times, I have counseled them regarding behavior, Target carts, etc. They have also been counseled  by the Police, Target and other adult community members, and yet, problems still exist. Why? Because no adults who can take charge are doing so in this matter. So,  I thought it would be best to draw up this treatise to show what can be done to make the situation a satisfying one for both the kids and the community they sell in. How hard is it to set guidelines?

This should be viewed as a template. One which in its current form, greatly guides the kids to better practices and which is respectful of them and helpful to the community, but nevertheless, a fluid document. Additions can be discussed (hopefully by community members as well as those at City Hall). I am more concerned that this situation is found an amenable solution than my original document stays the same. I hope everyone can be on board that spirit, for the kids.

I have sent this out to Mayor Maggard, all of Council, the Council President and the Whitehall News. This was the body of my email:

                           Junior Entrepreneur Permit

(or something to that effect)

• The permit should be free but will need to be went over with someone in government who ‘issues’ them so that they see all the parameters they will have to abide by, given the opportunities to ask questions and sign it, agreeing to the parameters of the agreement. They must be accompanied by a guardian when obtaining the JEP. Their Whitehall residency can be verified at that time. They can then be issued a button, lanyard or identification badge with a number (large enough for people to easily identify), their name and perhaps, with their photo. (Without their photo, they can just swap them around to others who didn’t hear and agree to the guidelines, making the whole process pointless) This helps them to feel that they’re a welcome part of the community and gives them a sense of accomplishment and ownership.
• The rules (listed below) will offer common sense guidelines to how they may, respectfully, conduct themselves selling items in public in Whitehall. Some entity(s) can be tasked with checking in on them to make certain they’re abiding by these guidelines. If their behavior doesn’t comply with the guidelines as set forth which they agreed to, after perhaps one, maybe two warnings,  then their ‘permit’ is taken from them and its suspended for whatever period of time (2 weeks, 30 days…). They may have it returned and the privilege to return to selling when they return to City Hall and are counseled regarding their wrongful behavior. This teaches them accountability for their actions and that there are consequences in life when you don’t act appropriately and responsibly. It also teaches them that in society there are steps one must take to achieve what they want, that things aren’t just handed to them. They have to work to make them a reality.
• No one under 18 may sell anything, outside of in front of their own address, without a Junior Entrepreneur Permit. As well, no one under the age of (insert safe age selling on street corners here…7? 6? 5?) If found to be selling something away from in front of their own properties without a JEP, they will be ordered away and given a flier with information on it detailing how they may obtain a JEP. This continues to allow kids the ability to open up a lemonade stand to sell something in front of their own house without government interference. This also teaches kids that there are rules to follow in society and that if they want to do something, they’re gonna need to follow the steps necessary to achieve it. It prepares them for what they must face as adults.
• Limit what may be sold. Its water and ‘gushers’ and I’ve seen candy and chips and soda too but if there are no guidelines, what is to stop them from selling other things, OR, have enterprising parents send them out to sell shoes or flags or toiletries or whatever under the ruse of kids selling’ but really as a business. I lived in NYC for 11 years and I’ve seen ALL the rackets. Unless you control it, it can easily, and quickly, snowball into a community’s nightmare.

THE GUIDELINES

(This list doesn’t represent the entirety of guidelines, only those as I’ve come up with having watched them for four years fifty feet from my property. The list is fluid and can be amended.)

Must be Whitehall citizens. Various kids from various neighborhoods who don’t live here, respect our neighborhoods or haven’t been apprised of the guidelines have come here and brought abhorrent behavior with them. Our city streets should not be opened up to anyone selling anything from anywhere. Our streets, our rules.

No selling during rush hour (times to be determined). This respects the flow of traffic when its heavy and people are trying to get home. It also decreases the danger posed to the juveniles by the heavy volume of hurried drivers.

No more than two or three sellers in any one spot. If an intersection, sellers on only one corner. This alleviates the group dynamic where kids start horse-playing and acting the fool, particularly next to traffic. It also alleviates the driver distraction dealing with kids in action on various corners and in the street taking away their already distracted focus. 

No children 5 years of age or younger. This alleviates the selling situation as ‘babysitter’. The kids want to make money and for whatever reason, they’ve got a toddler in tow, tiny kids who need near-constant supervision, being allowed to sell water and run into the busy street where hurried, distracted drivers may not see them. Selling on the street should also not entail the split-focus distraction for the sellers in watching little kids behavior too. Lesson learned: That outside of selling in front of their own home, this is a responsibility they’ll grow to join one day and that some things are age appropriate.

Must carry along a trash bag which they use to thoroughly clean their litter/mess before leaving the area where they sold. These kids make plenty of money and what they have in order to buy inventory, the small box of trash bags should be a part of that inventory. Lesson learned: a job entails more than the making money part, that they have a responsibility and obligation towards that privilege, just like the adults. Clean neighborhood, happy residents.

Their business must be done on the right of way only, not on private property, unless given permission by the homeowner to do so. This also includes not blocking the sidewalk with their venture. This creates a respectful space, an orderly space and a legal space.

No fist-fighting, no horseplay, no firework, etc. There has been a fist-fight at the corner of Doney and Robinwood twice now. So too, fireworks being let off, basketball being thrown around inches from traffic. It creates an atmosphere and identity for Whitehall, not as a community and a place where people want to visit, shop and live but as a crazy, lawless out of control place they want to avoid. This ill-affects the entire community as a result. Lesson learned: they’re responsible for their actions and the actions of those around them can ill-affect their income source.

No selling shall impede the free flow of traffic. No selling at intersections or busy intersections. No selling along large and/or busy roads or roads which allow large semi-tractor trailer rigs. No moving across the lane from where they’re set up to sell something to a vehicle going in the opposite direction. (‘Large’ and ‘busy’ to be determined) People in their cars who pay taxes for those cars, licenses and roads have a right to as unimpeded a traffic flow as is possible and the city has the obligation to provide that to them. The ‘business’ of juveniles selling water is not a legitimate or appropriate reason to interrupt their rightful flow, in particular, day after day after day. Busy intersections are simply the wrong place to sell anything. The traffic is twice as heavy. If traffic is held up with sales curbside, it quadruples the snarl of the traffic flow with four corners. If there are cars going left of center when the car stopped is at the stop sign, it poses a danger if there is someone (a child) in the crosswalk in front of the stopped vehicle the other vehicle may not see. (A more appropriate place is down the block away from the intersection: cars going around someone who’s stopped doesn’t present the same danger posed to the pedestrians nor does it ill-effect the flow of traffic).

If there is some accident at the corner, the kids standing at the curb all day increase the risk, right next to the traffic, of getting hit.

Running out into traffic to sell someone water puts the child at risk and creates a greater chance of a vehicular accident.

Children and semi-tractor trailer rigs DO NOT MIX. To allow children to irresponsibly sell water, like its a lemonade stand is irresponsible on the government’s part. It is a recipe for disaster and a lawsuit

I understand how different intersections are from each other. The intersection at Yearling and Doney is not the same as Elm and Collinwood or Andrus and Karl. These kids chose a busy intersection because it’s right near their supply chain (Target and the Beer Dock) and where they can maximize their profit. However, it is irresponsible on the parents and government’s parts to allow them to do so in such a dangerous location. It is unacceptable to simply allow them to do so. What next, allowing two year olds to set off Cherry Bombs? If the parents don’t care and the government then doesn’t step in, who’s in charge in Whitehall?
This guideline allows the kids to sell their wares in a safe, reasonable and respectful manner for everyone’s best outcome. The kids are safe, the driver’s flow is uninterrupted…happy community.

Physical and verbal abuse will not be tolerated. Citizens will have the ability to take their badge number/name and report incidences of these abuses. Where competent, respected adults who have stopped to talk and/or counsel them have been called ‘white-ass bitch’ or told ‘fuck you’ is unacceptable on our city streets under the auspices of selling wares. Lesson learned: manners and decency, or lack thereof, matter and have consequences.

Yelling to sell their wares. While I realize they have 1^st amendment rights, talking, speaking at normal levels is not what is at issue here. It is the yelling, like carnival barkers, 6 hours a day everyday, which creates a tension and disturbs the peace of a neighborhood. Incessant noise, in whatever form is not allowed, this fits into the same category. The volume is the issue, not the content or ability to speak. It is not unreasonable to believe that the areas where these kids set up have a modicum of responsibility towards the neighborhood they are making their money from. Cars see them, signs that state their wares and prices are completely acceptable, there is no need to shout what they’re doing and what they’re selling. Lesson learned: Responsibility and respect for the neighbors and neighborhood.

Aggressive selling/behavior. There have been several reports by citizens that the kids are aggressive and get up in people’s windows when they stop at stop signs, get angry when people don’t buy water, hurl insults at them and even reports of throwing water bottles at them. Some residents have even expressed how they’ll drive out of their way to avoid the corner where they’re selling. This is completely unacceptable. Stand/sit where cars can see you, have a sign, wares in hand and if people stop to buy, fine but, if they don’t, then move on. No need for emotion, upset, hostility, etc. Lesson learned: Professionalism, respect and responsibility.