Pushy carnival atmosphere is not just for Carmel cosmetic shops.
Even if the city wanted to keep food carts and other vendors off sidewalks its hands are tied, with certain exceptions. California Senate Bill 946 was passed late last year with the idea of enabling small businesses that cannot afford a storefront to also make a living.
The law, also called the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, stipulates that California cities cannot ban vending in parks, cannot determine where vendors can operate and are no longer required to ask permission from adjacent businesses to operate. The exceptions to these mandates are spelled out specifically in the language of the legislation but can be summarized as restrictions necessary to ensure the “health, safety or welfare concerns” of the public.