One of the organizers of a new street market in the Downtown Eastside says it's an ideal way for binners to sell the treasures they find in their everyday travels.

"It puts money in people's pockets," said Tami Starlight of the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council. "Instead of criminalizing vending, we should give them a place to legally sell their goods. A lot of binners find great stuff, but can't afford to pay the fee at flea markets."

Starlight said the neighbourhood council is purchasing required insurance, which is the last hurdle for approval for a city permit to hold the market. The neighbourhood council, which formed in January, is a group of Downtown Eastside residents who lobby for the "needs, interests, and aspirations" of their neighbourhood.

Despite a lack of formal authorization, the market launched June 13 at Pigeon Park and has been running every Sunday between noon and 5 p.m. Vendors taking part in the markets sell artwork, clothing, jewelry, as well as a variety of miscellaneous items found in garbage bins or on the street, such as board games and trinkets. Previously, these same sellers faced being ticketed for street vending.

Starlight said the council launched the market before all of the permits were in place for one reason--the weather.

"The weather was nice and we decided we better get this going," she said. "Sometimes bureaucracy is so slow it hurts people."

According to a park board report, the neighbourhood council unsuccessfully tried to secure a privately owned location for the market. So the council applied to the city for a special event permit to use the Carrall Street Greenway for the market, and to the park board to use a portion of Pigeon Park as an overflow area. The report notes city staff is working with the neighbourhood council to find a permanent home for the market.

Starlight said the market is a sign of a positive and "groundbreaking" shift in the Downtown Eastside. She added one female vendor who attended an organizing committee for the market told the people in attendance, "I don't want to sell drugs, I don't want to sell my body, I just want to sell my stuff."

"We hear that from a lot of people," said Starlight.

The neighbourhood council wants the market to take place once a week on the Carrall Street Greenway, which would be closed to traffic. Starlight also wants the market to find a permanent home off the street during the rest of the week.

"It's nice to close the street down once a week and enjoy that festival atmosphere," she said.

Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Const. Lindsey Houghton said the VPD will fully support the new market--once the proper licence and permits are in place. "It is something we absolutely support," he said.

Houghton said there is some concern stolen items will make their way to the market and added if that's ever the case, a criminal investigation will be initiated.

"But that said," Houghton added, "if the city supports this market, the VPD will also support it. The city takes the lead on licensing."

sthomas@vancourier.com