Editorial: Sidewalk-goods ban should be left alone

Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001 | 8:45 a.m.

Since 1999 the city of Las Vegas has enforced an ordinance that bans businesses from selling their merchandise on sidewalks. The ordinance was put in place in the 1980s because things got out of control, with merchandise on sidewalks impeding pedestrian traffic. But some business owners along Main Street in the downtown area don't like the ordinance. They say that the prohibition hurts their businesses and should no longer be enforced.

But if the city lets these downtown businesses display their merchandise on the sidewalk, what's to stop other businesses throughout the city from doing the same thing? Such an unintended consequence could create a real mess. And as an aesthetic matter, cluttered sidewalks in front of businesses look trashy and sure won't help downtown redevelopment efforts. The city should stand firm and enforce the ordinance.

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