SANTA ANA : Vendors Try Soft Sell to Save Swap Meet

More than 20 swap meet vendors staged a quiet rally at Rancho Santiago College on Wednesday to urge the college’s Board of Trustees to save El Mercado, the swap meet held in the college parking lot on Sundays.

The vendors, many of whom carried hand-painted signs, said they want the board to appeal a Dec. 26 court decision that gives the city the power to shut down the swap meet because it violates city zoning laws.

“We’re asking the college to give us the support to keep the swap meet open,” said vendor Robert Rodriguez, who sells children’s clothing at El Mercado.

Rodriguez and others said many families count on the swap meet as a source of extra income.

“My business here really helps to support me and my two kids, who are both teen-agers,” said Carmen Jurado, who sells used clothing at El Mercado and at other area swap meets.

The vendors also said they want the college to run the swap meet instead of turning it over to an outside contractor.

The current arrangement calls for the Santiago Club, a nonprofit organization, to run the swap meet for the college. The club contracts with Norton Western Ltd., a company owned by Santa Ana Councilman Richards L. Norton, to manage the event. The club receives 24% of the gross revenues generated from admission fees and space rentals.

“We’re trying to make the college understand that they can run the swap meet themselves,” said Andres Balderas, who sells music cassettes there each week.

“The city and Mr. Norton get into too many problems. It’s political, and the vendors are paying the price,” Balderas said.

Norton could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Board members remain split about whether El Mercado should survive. If it does, however, the board has indicated that the college would operate it.

The vendors said they plan to also attend Monday’s board meeting at which trustees are expected to announce whether they will appeal the decision.