The image in the screen capture shows that 2 vendors at the Ann Arbor Public Market, Carol Vena and Denise Brock, each holding 3 stalls, operate as a single business entity at the Northville Farmers Market. Is it fair to other vendors in the Ann Arbor market that these two are allowed to operate as two separate business entities? What is going on here? Does the management of the Ann Arbor market not realize that this prevents other vendors from gaining seniority and a stall space on the highly coveted "main aisle"?
This unfair monopolization of scarce public space has been formally complained about numerous times. Market manager Jessica Black was informed about this, former market managers Louise Wireman and Maxine Rosasco were also aware of this, but all chose to do nothing, even though this practice violated Market Operating Rules.
What is even more galling is that vendors Carol Vena, Denise Brock, Delores Gracia, Tina Koski, and T. Gracia all use the same greenhouses in Belleville, MI. This family unit is allowed to take 16 stalls at the Ann Arbor market!! With only 144 stalls in total at the Ann Arbor market, thats over 10% of the stalls being controlled by one family? Is this a Market Mafia or what?
This practice also prevents the needed diversity of the marketplace, prevents competition, prevents Ann Arbor consumers from making choices, prevents new vendors from gaining a foothold, prevents innovation, and prevents others from making a decent living. This is unfair, and should be changed. Ann Arbor consumers should complain to the new Public Market Commission and City Council to get them to discontinue small groups from monopolizing our public spaces.
