In a bid to clear vendors operating near the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), Town Clerk Candace Nelson has instructed the City Constabulary to conduct regular checks in the area. This decision comes after the hospital’s legal counsel sent a letter stating that a mandamus would be sought from the court if vendors do not vacate the vicinity by Thursday.
A mandamus is a judicial order that compels a government agency or official to fulfill a duty required by law. Nelson clarified that the vendors must leave the area three days after receiving the letter, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The Town Clerk noted that despite previous notices, the Constabulary struggled to enforce the movement of vendors last weekend. “During the day, you don’t really find a lot of vending there. From my understanding, they go between the afternoon and on weekends,” she explained. To tackle this issue, special operations during weekends will be organized.
This ongoing struggle spans a decade, with the hospital having written to authorities in 2015, 2016, 2019, and again in 2022, highlighting the traffic obstructions caused by unauthorized street vending. The hospital’s administration has raised concerns about how this congestion affects ambulances and patients seeking care, in addition to complicating efforts to keep the hospital vicinity clean. Noise nuisance has also been identified as a significant issue.
The hospital has warned vendors that failure to vacate the area will result in legal action. Meanwhile, Nelson highlighted that property owners returning to court for contempt of proceedings poses a challenge for the council.
“We do not have the resources to really monitor the areas covered by mandamus as effectively as we need to. This limitation is affecting our ability to manage the vendors effectively,” she stated.
The situation remains fluid as the council works to address the longstanding issue of street vending around the hospital.
