By Ignacio Dominguez. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
For over 60 years, La Pulga de Berryessa in San Jose has become a landmark for the Hispanic community throughout the Bay Area. The location is home to more than 400 migrant merchants of Latino and Asian origin for whom their only source of income is their storefront.
But now it faces an uncertain future after the San Jose City Council presented a development plan that was discussed during the last meeting on Tuesday, June 22 and continued into the next day.
The Berryessa BART Urban Village plan, approved by the Council, would use 61.5 acres on Berryessa Street for a commercial and 3,450-home development project that would leave 5 acres available for La Pulga, or one-third of the site, leaving hundreds of merchants without space in this new project.
Roberto González, president of the Association of Vendors of La Pulga de San José, along with other merchants and activists, protested against the project with marches and hunger strikes in order to reach an agreement with the owners and the city authorities.
The owners of the La Pulga location, the Bumb family, promised a year's notice prior to the eviction date, and the creation of a support fund of more than $2.5 million for more than 400 merchants. If the project were to pass, the San Jose La Pulga Vendors Association would ask the Bumb family for a five-year contract plus a fund of $$28 million.
A vote was expected at last Tuesday's meeting but was postponed to next week on a 6-5 vote, as the Council was unable to come to an agreement.
With that time left until the next meeting, Roberto Gonzalez explained, "We are very hopeful that these actions we took and the support of the community, which we appreciate from the bottom of our hearts, we will continue to push for a win-win agreement."
For merchants like Humberto Ramos owner of "La Sonrisa de Cheque" who has been in La Pulga for 4 years it is inexplicable how they can undo something so quickly.
"I hope they come to a situation that is facilitated for us and understand that this is a Hispanic heritage. This market is over 30-40 years old."
Humberto Ramos, owner of "La Sonrisa de Cheque".
This Monday at 5:30 p.m. the San Jose La Pulga Vendors Association will have a community event to support their future. On Tuesday there will be a meeting with the San Jose City Council where there will be no public present.
"We will all be watching for that vote. Their responsibility is to the people of the town and not the corporations or developers," said Roberto Gonzalez, President of the San Jose La Pulga Vendors Association.
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