GAM, Amman governor examine options to random downtown stalls
By Razan Abdelhadi, Jordan News
last updated: Feb 16,2022

AMMAN — Following a recent campaign by Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) teams, supported by the public security and the administrative
governor to remove random stalls in the different areas of the capital, including
downtown, Governor of Amman Yasser Al-Adwan stated on Tuesday that in
cooperation with the GAM, several options are being examined to find
alternative spaces in regulated areas for stall owners to sell their goods.
Adwan told Jordan News that the “targeted areas
will be selected based on traffic of vehicles and pedestrians in order for the
stall owners to achieve a good volume of sales.” He said that the stalls were
in violation of the law and obstructed traffic, noting that many stall owners
pick random spots to place their goods “thinking it is their given right to do
so.”
Jordan News made a visit on Monday to downtown, which
was almost devoid of shoppers and sellers. The campaign was not welcomed by
many, who said “it was inhuman to deprive the stall owners of their livelihood,
especially in light of the economic challenges since the start of the pandemic.
Several citizens spoke of the difficult situation stall owners face, and called
on concerned authorities to review the decision or find other alternatives.
Alaa Abu Hammad, a frequent visitor to downtown, told Jordan
News that the authorities should be more lenient during the current
economic conditions and keep the stalls, adding that “those people cannot
afford to pay rent for shops. Even some of the big retailers have been closing
down their businesses due to a slow shopping season.”
Adel Shami, a retailer, told Jordan News that
the pretext of the authorities to remove the stalls was overcrowding on the
streets, and hindering people’s movement, “but I can tell you that downtown is
always full of people, and I don’t believe that removing the stalls is the best
solution to eliminate overcrowding.”
Ramadan, a stall owner, who was not affected by the
stall-removal campaign, thanked his lucky stars. “Luckily, I had a chance to place
my stall in a good location which does not impede the traffic, so it will not
be removed, however, I feel sorry for other sellers who face such a bad
situation.” He said he doubted that alternative spaces would be found for other
stall owners in the crowded downtown area, expressing pity that they have lost
a chance to earn income.
However, some agreed with conducting additional
campaigns to eliminate stalls permanently.
Mariam Shahwan, a frequent downtown shopper, told Jordan
News that the stall owners “are a nuisance as they beg passersby to buy
their goods; they don’t wear facemasks or keep physical distance from others.” However,
Shahwan said that she feels pity for those stall owners, urging authorities to
find them licensed alternatives, noting that some of those stalls “are popular
and citizens oftentimes look for them to catch a good bargain.”
GAM official spokesman Nasser Al-Rahamneh said that the
main objective of the campaign was to raise awareness among stall owners, who
place their goods randomly on sidewalks and on streets, of the inconvenience
they cause to traffic and to pedestrians.
Rahamneh said the GAM had previously offered them many
solutions but they consistently refused to respond. He said the intention is
not to cause them harm but steer them to follow the rules. “It is our job to
regulate the market and to ensure that everyone is safe and that the presence
of these stalls does not cause overcrowding or impede traffic.”
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AMMAN — Following a recent campaign by Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) teams, supported by the public security and the administrative
governor to remove random stalls in the different areas of the capital, including
downtown, Governor of Amman Yasser Al-Adwan stated on Tuesday that in
cooperation with the GAM, several options are being examined to find
alternative spaces in regulated areas for stall owners to sell their goods.
Adwan told Jordan News that the “targeted areas will be selected based on traffic of vehicles and pedestrians in order for the stall owners to achieve a good volume of sales.” He said that the stalls were in violation of the law and obstructed traffic, noting that many stall owners pick random spots to place their goods “thinking it is their given right to do so.”
Jordan News made a visit on Monday to downtown, which was almost devoid of shoppers and sellers. The campaign was not welcomed by many, who said “it was inhuman to deprive the stall owners of their livelihood, especially in light of the economic challenges since the start of the pandemic. Several citizens spoke of the difficult situation stall owners face, and called on concerned authorities to review the decision or find other alternatives.
Alaa Abu Hammad, a frequent visitor to downtown, told Jordan News that the authorities should be more lenient during the current economic conditions and keep the stalls, adding that “those people cannot afford to pay rent for shops. Even some of the big retailers have been closing down their businesses due to a slow shopping season.”
Adel Shami, a retailer, told Jordan News that the pretext of the authorities to remove the stalls was overcrowding on the streets, and hindering people’s movement, “but I can tell you that downtown is always full of people, and I don’t believe that removing the stalls is the best solution to eliminate overcrowding.”
Ramadan, a stall owner, who was not affected by the stall-removal campaign, thanked his lucky stars. “Luckily, I had a chance to place my stall in a good location which does not impede the traffic, so it will not be removed, however, I feel sorry for other sellers who face such a bad situation.” He said he doubted that alternative spaces would be found for other stall owners in the crowded downtown area, expressing pity that they have lost a chance to earn income.
However, some agreed with conducting additional campaigns to eliminate stalls permanently.
Mariam Shahwan, a frequent downtown shopper, told Jordan News that the stall owners “are a nuisance as they beg passersby to buy their goods; they don’t wear facemasks or keep physical distance from others.” However, Shahwan said that she feels pity for those stall owners, urging authorities to find them licensed alternatives, noting that some of those stalls “are popular and citizens oftentimes look for them to catch a good bargain.”
GAM official spokesman Nasser Al-Rahamneh said that the main objective of the campaign was to raise awareness among stall owners, who place their goods randomly on sidewalks and on streets, of the inconvenience they cause to traffic and to pedestrians.
Rahamneh said the GAM had previously offered them many solutions but they consistently refused to respond. He said the intention is not to cause them harm but steer them to follow the rules. “It is our job to regulate the market and to ensure that everyone is safe and that the presence of these stalls does not cause overcrowding or impede traffic.”
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Adwan told Jordan News that the “targeted areas will be selected based on traffic of vehicles and pedestrians in order for the stall owners to achieve a good volume of sales.” He said that the stalls were in violation of the law and obstructed traffic, noting that many stall owners pick random spots to place their goods “thinking it is their given right to do so.”
Jordan News made a visit on Monday to downtown, which was almost devoid of shoppers and sellers. The campaign was not welcomed by many, who said “it was inhuman to deprive the stall owners of their livelihood, especially in light of the economic challenges since the start of the pandemic. Several citizens spoke of the difficult situation stall owners face, and called on concerned authorities to review the decision or find other alternatives.
Alaa Abu Hammad, a frequent visitor to downtown, told Jordan News that the authorities should be more lenient during the current economic conditions and keep the stalls, adding that “those people cannot afford to pay rent for shops. Even some of the big retailers have been closing down their businesses due to a slow shopping season.”
Adel Shami, a retailer, told Jordan News that the pretext of the authorities to remove the stalls was overcrowding on the streets, and hindering people’s movement, “but I can tell you that downtown is always full of people, and I don’t believe that removing the stalls is the best solution to eliminate overcrowding.”
Ramadan, a stall owner, who was not affected by the stall-removal campaign, thanked his lucky stars. “Luckily, I had a chance to place my stall in a good location which does not impede the traffic, so it will not be removed, however, I feel sorry for other sellers who face such a bad situation.” He said he doubted that alternative spaces would be found for other stall owners in the crowded downtown area, expressing pity that they have lost a chance to earn income.
However, some agreed with conducting additional campaigns to eliminate stalls permanently.
Mariam Shahwan, a frequent downtown shopper, told Jordan News that the stall owners “are a nuisance as they beg passersby to buy their goods; they don’t wear facemasks or keep physical distance from others.” However, Shahwan said that she feels pity for those stall owners, urging authorities to find them licensed alternatives, noting that some of those stalls “are popular and citizens oftentimes look for them to catch a good bargain.”
GAM official spokesman Nasser Al-Rahamneh said that the main objective of the campaign was to raise awareness among stall owners, who place their goods randomly on sidewalks and on streets, of the inconvenience they cause to traffic and to pedestrians.
Rahamneh said the GAM had previously offered them many solutions but they consistently refused to respond. He said the intention is not to cause them harm but steer them to follow the rules. “It is our job to regulate the market and to ensure that everyone is safe and that the presence of these stalls does not cause overcrowding or impede traffic.”
Read more National news