In one of the most perplexing moves by the City, the Farmers market held at the Imax parking lot on North Water Street is being asked to cough up parking fees for using the lot each Wednesday afternoon during the season that runs through October. the reasoning, according to the Hour,
Mayor Richard Moccia said the farmers market is no different than any other Norwalk business whose customers pay to use the city’s metered lots.
“He lives in Trumbull and he’s making money (in Norwalk),†the mayor said, referring to Plasko. “Certainly we want the farmers market here, but, on the other hand, we have regulations. We’re charging everyone else … He can’t be the exception to the rule.â€
Some film companies using city property and parking lots have paid up to $5,000 to the city, Moccia said.
Plasko said the market is the only place in Norwalk where low income families can use state WIC (Women Infants and Children) coupons for produce, and the farmers should not have to pay for parking because they provide that service.
“We’re not just any other business in Norwalk,â€he said. “We take these WIC coupons and we take a loss on them.â€
Plasko also said he knows of no other farmers market in the state whose farmers and customers pay for parking on town or city property.
Moccia said Norwalk is not nearly a rural area where the farmers have lots of open space to pick from.
“We’re not in Durham, Connecticut, where there’s open fields — we’re in the middle of an urban center,â€he said.The city has and still is willing to discuss an agreement with the farmer’s market, Moccia added, whether its concerning the North Water Street lot or elsewhere.
“I am willing to sit with him to talk about a situation where this can be alleviated,â€he said.
Of course farmer’s markers are not like any other business. Farms in Connecticut are few and even the Governor has made it a priority in her administration to preserve farms. ““Farmers’ markets are a great way for all families to get tasty, nutritious regional produce and other food items,†Governor Rell said. “Eighteen of our farmers’ markets are now accepting Food Stamp benefit cards, meaning that it is more convenient than ever for Food Stamp recipients to shop for fresh, locally grown food.†Rell stated through a recent press release. Hosting farmers markets is one of those good community building things that brings together an opportunity for people to buy locally grown produce. It’s not an opportunity that anyone has by visiting the Super Stop N Shop or Shop Rite in Norwalk.
With the amazing amount of vacant store fronts in SoNo, you’d think the City would be sensitive to encouraging some day time activity that brings people to SoNo. You’d think the Mayor would be concerned about encouraging low income familes to have access to locally grown produce. Instead the Mayor has decided that parking fees are more important than doing the right thing for the SoNo community. Office workers in SoNo also look forward to getting fresh produce each week.
Today the Courant profiles a Celebrity Chef event aiming to bring attention to locally produced products.
“It makes so much sense to support farming in Connecticut,” said her husband, Scott. “The whole issue is buying locally.”
There is certainly an interest in buying locally, Talmage said. Shoppers support up to 100 farmers markets that operate every week this time of year. “It’s not because they can’t find food elsewhere,” he said.
Still, the local farm remains threatened.
“In a state where the population is essentially stable, we’re losing farmland faster than anyplace else in terms of percentage,” he said.
source:: The Hour, Parking dilemma could mean end of farmers market, By JEREMY SOULLIERE, September 9, 2007
source:Foodies, Down On The Farm Celebrity Chefs Turn Out To Support Local Products, by MICHAEL REGAN, September 10, 2007
