Every summer, in our little nook of the 47th Ward, my family and I stick close to the porch, waiting to hear the clinking bells of the paleta man. We keep a stash of coins handy so that we can bolt out the door and fish around in his little cart for our favorite flavor.
This summer the powers that be have prohibited these street vendors from selling in our neighborhood. Apparently the local ice-cream store owners are concerned about the competition that these paleteros present. To those store owners, I say: Grow up. It’s called capitalism. These street vendors should not be punished for trying to earn an honest living and walking around in the blistering heat all day. Believe me, the 60 cents that they receive for an ice cream is not about to pose a serious threat to stores. Claiming that the vendors are unfair competition is like saying that kids’ lemonade stands are taking away beverage business from McDonald’s.
