When friends ask me about downtown Livermore I usually fall back on this go-to description: charming.
And when my friends visit I often hear the ladies say, "Oh, it's cute here!"
Downtown Livermore: charming and cute. Sounds like a keeper.
While the word "cute" isn't something I regularly throw out, I'm sure it's not my first choice to describe a man selling used DVDs at a downtown intersection. Not cute, bro. Nor charming.
But don't tell Derek Ott that.
The 35-year-old Livermore resident received a warning from police for doing just that — trying to sell used DVDs Thursday afternoon at the intersection of First and South K streets, just outside .
At around 2:40 p.m. the Navy vet who said he was on permanent disability began unloading about 20 DVDs on the ground, near the crosswalk that leads to the .
And oh, can't forget about the "DVDs For Sale" cardboard sign he placed on the intersection light post.
Ott then sat on a garden- or beach-like chair with an American flag and waited for customers.
Some of the titles he had for sale included Mamma Mia!, Hart's War featuring Bruce Willis, and Happy Gilmore — a personal favorite of mine.
"They're all good. I just seen them all," Ott said of his DVDs, which he was selling for around $5 each. "I'm just trying to make a few bucks to pay my light bill."
However, his makeshift DVD shop was short lived.
Within five minutes a officer came by after the department received a complaint from someone in the area.
Ott, who didn't make a sale, was given a warning from the officer and then packed up his belongings.
"He told me what I was doing was illegal and that I needed a permit," Ott said of the police warning. "I can't find a job. I can't make a buck off the street?"
You can. Just not here and in that fashion.
I'm not trying to knock Ott's hustle or any person trying to make a few extra dollars to pay bills. Times are tough — I know. But there's a time and a place. Hello, Craigslist?
All I know is if I start to see more street sales while hangin' around downtown, I'm going to have to find another go-to description.
Stay charming, Livermore.
OK, fine. Stay cute too.
I do feel for the guy but come on, this isn't telegraph- though at times it does look like it. That's a comment for another time...
Within Livermore, the fastest and easiest to sell is through a garage sale, Craigslist or community rummage sale. To get a permit is relatively easy (but not as cheap as surrounding cities), and if you are selling stuff, you'll need a resale license (free from the State Board of Equalization, but it takes a couple of weeks), because you'll have to pay tax on what you sell. And if you want to sell at Farmer's Market or the upcoming Festival, fees are $75/day for the Farmer's Market or $290/table at the Festival. So, if Mr. Ott needs a few dollars to pay his energy bill, these are not good options. The City of Livermore can always come up with a site use plan that would create more of a swap meet type event where you don't need permits and can bring your stuff to sell. This would be a great way for people like Mr. Ott to earn cash for selling items as well as craft vendors who can't afford all the fees. Maybe we should push for the City to consider hosting this type of event on occasion.
Thank you to those of you for your kind comments,he is a great guy and a very hard worker,he is also practically crippled due to a horrible accident that he had while serving his country,and they have the nerve to sign him off at 856 dollars a month... This is why I feel it is so important that we be aware of how we treat our vets when they come home,Derek has unfortunately been one of those who has fallen through the cracks,so before you judge the guy in the silly hat trying to sell DVD's in your charming, yet albeit pretentious little town,get your facts...