UNLICENSED HAWKERS EMERGENCY: THE ASSOCIAZIONE PIAZZA SAN MARCO RICEIVED BY THE PREFECT

After numerous requests, the Associazione Piazza San Marco, along with Confcommercio and Confesercenti, was yesterday received by the prefect Domenico Cuttaia to discuss the ‘unlicensed hawkers’ emergency in St Mark’s Square. During the meeting of the committee for order and security, the prefect said that in the last ten days 297 unlicensed hawkers were stopped, 140 fines imposed, 29 criminal charges made and 5411 objects (550 a day) sequestered. In addition, following the latest checks, procedures were begun for the deportation of ten unlicensed hawkers. Local business interests, primarily Confcommercio, asked that a permit with points be created for the illegal operators; this request was upheld by the prefect, though he does not have direct jurisdiction in this area. The prefect also said that in addition to the ordinary checks, special checks will be reinforced, as will the inter-service patrols in St Mark’s Square. This latter aspect was greeted positively by the president of the Associazione Piazza San Marco, Alberto Nardi, who finally glimpses the will to act tangibly on the ground.