Third time at Phinney Market we get a No Go

By Izzy Marvin

Hi ladies and gentleman. On Friday, June 28, I attempted to give out The Christian Science Monitor Weekly at the Phinney Farmers Market but was prevented from doing outreach there.

Despite being at this market two times before, I was told this time that I can’t have a table at the edge of this market. After I got set up in a new spot and was sitting for a few moments, the market manager approached me and asked what I was distributing and then said “We don’t allow any material like that to be given out here”. The manager told me that I was not allowed to be stationed within or outside of the market going forward and he stood there in front of me until I packed up and left.

This was a very frustrating experience. I felt frustrated because I felt a bias towards the material I was distributing as well as hostility towards me. I was also confused as to why all of a sudden I was not able to attend this market in the future.

After I got kicked out of the market I decided to start another mini project. I did some research on all of the locations and phone numbers of rehabilitation centers in the Seattle area and created a spreadsheet in excel. I expect to call every rehabilitation center on this list and offer them a gift subscription! I was pleased I was able to turn the day around and be productive with my time even though plans changed. 

NOTE: Cindy Safronoff, Administrator of the CS Literature Joint Distribution Committee paid a visit to the Phinney Market Manager later that day to discuss things with him. The Manager graciously accepted a sample copy of the Monitor Weekly, which he was not familiar with, the “Farmer’s Revolt” issue, and he said he would read it with interest. Possible options for us returning to the Phinney Market in the future were explored.