Drag Mall tenants call on Govt for help

"There is no place for us to sell and we have to make a dollar!" cried two former tenants of the People’s Mall. The tenants are asking for Government intervention to help them establish a relocation site or a new mall.

The People’s Mall or Drag Mall was burnt flat almost six months ago, and it is now a parking lot as some of the former tenants are vending on the sidewalk.

Former tenant Frederick Cummings told Newsday that he sells clothing at the corner of Frederick Street and Independence Square. "I sell at night, and I have to make a dollar to live. There is no alternative. I understand we can’t sell the clothing during the day because of the stores, but why are the police running us away at night?" he asked. He puts out his clothing on the Salvatori Building fence at 5:30 pm every day.

Cummings said he was told to stop vending by police officers on Wednesday afternoon.

"Twice they came and told me to leave. Why don’t they have a conscience?" Cummings asked.

The father of six children lamented that he has bills to pay, and has no other skills to fall back on.

"Sometimes I make $60 a day or nothing. I give whatever money I have to my children," he stated.

Anthony Solomon, 23, admitted that a few of the vendors received NEDCO loans.

"I took the money and I invested it. I have to make it back. I can’t be on the streets liming with the other youths. I will get in trouble," he said.

Solomon also sells clothing on Frederick Street.