Farmers markets bracing for L.A.’s tab

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Farmers market managers in Los Angeles are in a tizzy over a proposal to pass on all the cost of setting up shop -- such as traffic control officers, traffic barriers and no-parking signs. Some markets fear it could put them out of business, or, at the very least, force them to move.

‘It’s pretty scary, and we’re all trying to figure out exactly what’s going on,’ said Melissa Farwell, a market coordinator for Raw Inspiration Inc., which sponsors 15 local markets.

Since the first certified farmers market in Los Angeles was established in 1980, the city has covered such expenses as traffic control officers, traffic barriers and no-parking signs. For many years, legislators and policy analysts have proposed billing markets for these costs, but only this month, faced with a giant budget deficit, has the Los Angeles City Council taken action. Read the rest of the story here:

What do you think? Should city funds go to such a use? Or should the farmers markets be fully self supporting?