São Luís court orders relocation of vendors in Sá Viana

A judge in São Luís has ordered the municipal government to remove irregular structures from the sidewalk on Nestor Ferreira Street in the Sá Viana neighborhood. The ruling, issued by Judge Douglas Martins of the Vara de Interesses Difusos e Coletivos, aims to restore public space for pedestrian circulation.

Before the structures are removed, the city must provide a relocation plan for two vendors who sell fish and vegetables at the site. The municipality has 90 days to present a plan and one year to execute the relocation, offering alternative spaces in a public market, street fair, or other commercial points within or near the neighborhood. The vendors are permitted to continue their current activities until new spaces are provided.

The legal action was initiated by a local resident who reported that the stalls obstructed pedestrian movement and caused sanitary issues, including waste accumulation and insect proliferation. The resident also alleged the area was used for drug trafficking at night. In his decision, the judge noted that the commercial activity has existed for nearly five decades due to a lack of adequate public infrastructure for fresh food, and acknowledged the social and economic importance of the vendors' work.