Without Supervision, Street Vendors Return to São Paulo

04/08/2015 - 09h13

The sounds of people yelling: "olha o rapa, olha o rapa!" (mind the inspection) is becoming less common in São Paulo's street trading.

Street vendors, who used to yell to announce the arrival of supervision and lived in a very intense game of cat and mouse with police and municipal guards, now operate illegally with more ease.

Offering anything from selfie sticks to Paraguayan cigarettes, this type of trade occurs without disturbance in different regions of the city, as Folha has learnt over the past week.

The increase coincides with the reduction of police officers who participated in the Operation Delegated - an official unregistered work paid by the municipality, which hires military police to fight illegality.

The operation once had about 3,899 police officers, but today the agreement provides up to 1,472 policemen and 800 civil guards.

The operation was established by Gilberto Kassab's (PSD) administration, which had as its flag the fight against illegal trade and software piracy. However, under Fernando Haddad's (PT) administration, the project lost momentum.

According to the Workers' Party Mayor, the State government reduced the number of police officers used in the operation. The Military Police blames the municipality for the reduction.
The proliferation of all kinds of products for sale on the streets can be seen in traditional points of the city, such as Santo Amaro (South) and Brás (Centre).

In Brás, mats take the sidewalks and part of the streets in the surrounding area of Largo da Concórdia. In Lapa (West), the illegal trade happens around the market and the train station. During part of the day, "sales" are offered outside the station, alongside with chocolates and toys stalls.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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	Eduardo Anizelli/Folhapress
	The operation once had about 3,899 police officers, but today the agreement provides up to 1,472 policemen and 800 civil guards