G20 Summit already a nightmare for Toronto

[marmar]

from the Toronto Sun:



Summit already chewing up vendors' business
By TOM GODFREY, Toronto Sun

Last Updated: May 29, 2010 7:24pm


The G20 summit is still weeks away but it’s already putting a bite on downtown food vendors.

“It’s dead down here these days,” Juan Restituto said on Friday. “Very few people are here because a lot of companies have moved their employees to other areas,” he said.

He’s been putting in long hours to earn as much as he can before he’s forced to close, Restituto said.

The area is starting to look deserted as companies have started moving staff to other locations, he said.

Restituto is one of 40 vendors who will have to move from outside the Metro Convention Centre from June 11 to 30.

They are not allowed to sell elsewhere because their licences specify a designated area.

The G20 members will be meeting at the centre June 26-27, following a G8 summit in Huntsville June 25-26.

Some banks have added extra security or plan to board up windows and ABM machines, a number of which were spray-painted early Friday.

Toronto Mayor David Miller said there’s little the city can do to compensate the vendors since the summit is a federal responsibility. ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/05/29/14183866.html