Garda City Faces Surge in Illegal Street Vendors and Law Enforcement Challenges
The issue of illegal non-EU street vendors is escalating. The alarm comes from merchants in the Garda capital who wrote a highly critical letter to the mayor. But recent episodes of violence involving municipal police officers also contribute to the concern. Three officers ended up in the emergency room after a “violent” reaction from some non-EU individuals checked at the railway station.
Citizens and tourists are also tired of being “extorted” by a group of Albanians demanding money from those parking in the free parking zones along the Marathon route. The situation was brought to the table yesterday of the prefect and the police chief, as well as all Brescia’s parliamentarians, on initiative of the Lega group leader, who sent a detailed report and urges urgent intervention.
Situation in the historic city center and nearby areas
The problem is not new to Desenzano, a tourist city that, in addition to residents, hosts tourists and weekend commuters, as well as young people who frequent it every night. The opportunity to do business has also attracted so-called vu-cumprà (street vendors), who have organized themselves with their sheets spread on the ground as a display base for their merchandise. Most of these products bear counterfeit trademarks.
However, the situation seems to be worsening this year following the increase in the number of these street vendors, mostly non-EU individuals of color. “I counted as many as 51 in the historic center – over the weekend along the lakeside promenade, in via S. Maria, piazza Matteotti, Malvezzi, via Roma,” writes Rino Polloni to the prefect, police chief, and parliamentarians.
These are illegal vendors, not in compliance with their residence permits. The phenomenon has exceeded critical levels. The mayor has involved local law enforcement agencies regarding this issue, but without success. At the public parking lot near the Maratona area, a gang of Albanian parking attendants, despite protests from residents and tourists, has organized to extort money from people trying to use the free parking, demanding “pizzo” (protection money) and threatening those who refuse to pay.
The protests from merchants and actions by authorities
The merchants raised the issue in a letter to the mayor. “We ask for reasons why in the historic center – they write – the ordinance prohibiting the occupation of public land and often the terraces of merchants for displaying and selling goods without a fiscal receipt is not being respected. Since we feel ignored, not only by you but also by public authorities, whom should we turn to? Perhaps we should take our problem to ‘Striscia la Notizia’? Is the law the same for everyone in this case?” The letter is signed by shopkeepers operating in via Papa, via Roma, piazza Malvezzi, and piazza Matteotti.
“It is a serious problem,” agrees Mayor Felice Anelli. “I convened a meeting with law enforcement. Some measures have been taken, but the problem remains. The Municipality, with the police, cannot handle it. In fact, there have been instances where the intervention of our officers, aimed at enforcing the law, was challenged by passersby who sided with the non-EU individuals. The law enforcement forces must intervene.”
Meanwhile, discontent is growing as the news reports the minor injuries of three municipal police officers, who in recent days, alongside officers from the police station, carried out checks on non-EU individuals at the railway station. The latter reacted violently, sending them to the emergency room, where they suffered bruises, which will heal in a few days.