In recent weeks, an illegal, makeshift sidewalk sale popped up on the relatively busy section of Sunnyslope Road near Clearview Drive. That ended Saturday after the Free Lance questioned two men running the non-permitted business on a portion of sidewalk that doesn’t even abut homes.
Those two men last weekend continued a recent pattern of Saturday sidewalk sales at the location.
The two men weren’t happy about questions from the Free Lance at 11 a.m. Saturday or being told it’s illegal to set up a business on a sidewalk. But 48 minutes after the exchange of words, a police officer made contact with the violators, who packed up and left the site.
“It’s a yard sale,” one of the two men, with short blonde hair, responded when initially questioned Saturday morning by the newspaper.
When told it’s not a yard and such a sidewalk sale is illegal, that same man contended police officers “always pass by and they don’t question it.” In Hollister, however, the code enforcement division that is now run by the Hollister Fire Department—after previous oversight by the community services department—is typically responsible for enforcing such municipal code violations.
At that point, a second man with dark hair and a pony tail became agitated. Neither person identified himself or his city of residence.
“It’s none of your business. Get out of here. Leave!” the second man yelled, pointing.
He became louder yet.
“Go (expletive) yourself!” he said while displaying his middle finger.
Police later responded to the location after a call from the Free Lance reporting the situation, and the two men then left the area.
Police Chief David Westrick provided a response report showing an officer made contact with the men at 11:59 a.m. on a report of suspicious circumstances.
Look back for a broader analysis on code enforcement activity in Hollister.
