Charleston seeks to push street vendors off much of King Street

Afternoon update: The Post and Courier points out the important difference between those selling on the sidewalk, and those selling on the street. Generally, those on the street are renting a marked-off space and would likely get to stay.

Original post: Italian ice, along with hot dogs, could all but disappear from much of King Street, under a new ordinance being considered by Charleston City Council.

The council wants to push the street vendors out to free up space on the all-to-narrow sidewalks.

Live 5 News reports that street vendors are none-to-happy, quoting George Lopez who owns Giovanni's Italian Ice vending company:

The regulation would ban vendors from King Street on Carolina to Broad streets (map is below).

But, I'll ask if the street vendors are part of the King Street aesthetic, then maybe we should uproot all those palmettos, because I know they get in the way.

Personally, I've always believed they should narrow the road to one lane, and widen the sidewalks, put in a bike lane, and keep the parallel parking. Then we'd have room for the vendors, slow moving tourists, bikes, and, yes, even some palms.

The ordinance would still need to pass a second and third vote before going into effect. Here's a map of the would-be no-vend zone:
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