Vendors displaced by Super Bowl City may get reimbursed

San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin introduced two ordinances on Tuesday that would help reimburse street artists and food vendors who were displaced by Super Bowl City.

Peskin said the first ordinance would establish a Super Bowl 50 Impact Fund. The second ordinance would appropriate $100,000 to that fund.

“I think that we should show that we take care of our street artists, our street vendors, our shoe shine guy and put our money where our mouth is,” Peskin said. “To be clear, the $100,000 appropriation that is being introduced today comes from the City of San Francisco’s General Fund Reserve.”

Peskin said he is waiting on a final report from the city controller to determine how much money was made during Super Bowl week. He hopes to take some of that money and apply it to the fund to help additional small merchants. He hasn’t ruled out the possibility the NFL or Super Bowl Host Committee could make additional contributions to the city.

Street vendors were excited to hear they could possibly get reimbursed while they were displaced for a three week period. While Justin Herman Plaza is shut down, street vendors are able to participate in a daily lottery for 10 vendor spots on Market Street between Third and Fourth Streets.

“I think that’s excellent actually,” Mauricio Trabuco, a street vendor, said. “It’s wonderful if they do that.”          

Peskin said a vendor or artist would have to apply for the money and show they were adversely impacted by being displaced.

Wayne Bowens, known as shoe shiner “Famous Wayne,” was the only vendor allowed to keep his spot near the Hyatt Hotel throughout Super Bowl City.

“I made less money, but it was fun,” Bowens said. “Everybody’s got bills. I got to pay my little bills. I’d appreciate if it they cut me a check. I’d be very happy.”

The Board of Supervisors will likely vote on the ordinances in March.