Full Vendor Story

to the editor: despite the unbiased coverage of the 73rd street book vendor ("valued vendor or neighborhood nuisance?" july 2), i felt there should be another side of the story offered. as a licensed general vendor who works within the laws for my livelihood, i have witnessed kirk davidson and his consortium actually renting sidewalk space to other licensed general vendors by way of not setting up one of their six or seven tables. legally, a book vendor is allowed one 8'x3' table with everything extra underneath the table. leaving the goods on the street all night also allows the city to dispose of them if unattended, even for one minute. everyone should be able to sell books within the guidelines, but i think sitting on a la-z-boy chair, complete with end table, through all hours of day and night is outside those guidelines. the constant flow of alcohol and other questionable jaunts to nooks around the corner don't give this enterprise credit either. there is a book vendor between 80th and 81st streets on broadway in front of zabar's who works within those guidelines. he also sets up many tables, but he really does employ others to legally be able to do so. there will be people in the neighborhood who will complain about anything (legal or not), but most people would frown on seeing drinking and loitering on their daily walk home from work.

anonymous vendor

letters have been edited for clarity, style and brevity.