" yes i do have business insurance on our boats-And we are paying what we are supposed to be paying. We also own a company in town that has a store front and it has been in business since 1988. We belong to the Lions, and the kiwanais, We are members of the Marine association(which by the way are the ones volunteering & keeping the windsor beach launch open) We donate products and voluteer for events. We clean shore lines and highways- So talk all you want about us being non tax paying-and fly by nights and basically dirtbags all you want i can bet we do more for the community than most of you ever have. "

" We were told we werent part of this and now we are-thanks alot!
We can vend just not put down an anchor-so we will be there!!
We were told there is not law we are breaking so i cant not get an attorney until i recieve a ticket or notice...
they have to create a law we are breaking(which takes 6 months) then we have to put a permit in for this new law-which takes 6 months-- "

" Many of you keep saying, "They're breaking the law..." What law are they breaking? Both the city and BLM recognized they have not created a legal provision for water-based vendors, there is NO licensing, there are NO specific regulations. If there are NO Laws regulating the behavior then guess what, you can't break something that doesn't exist.

Let's say they are licensed, does this change the nature of most of them being cash based businesses? Does this license create some form of automatic oversight that says, "okay now you're an honest business person and you will automatically pay all taxes..." What kind of ridiculous dribble is that? For decades, Bernie Madoff held several licenses from the State, City, SEC, and was audited annually by several different institutions, yet he was responsible for the largest financial fraud ever committed, so stop acting as if "licensing" somehow precludes illegal activity or a lack of licensing or regulation automatically means everyone is unethical or dishonest. I had two neighbor kids come by the house last week and asked if they could pull weeds for money, it cost me a hundred bucks and a pizza - they did an awesome job. I doubt they had a business license or paid taxes on it, and no, I didn't check their legal status either, but they looked as white as a Canadian so let's hope they weren't illegals from Canada...

The land in question is public land. Meaning you and I, are no more entitled to it then these businesses, it's first come, first serve. The BLM has a 30-day limitation for staying in one spot, if you don't like this, hire a lobbist to influence our representative house representative Trent Franks and have him propose a change to the law. In our country we don't have a dictator, we don't have a king, we have a legal process in doing things - We set a dangerous precedent when we just expect government agencies (federal, state, country, or city) to just do things outside the legislative process, the fact many of you encourage the government to function OUTSIDE the law is a bit ironic considering your arguing for more LAWS.

As for taxes, you don't need a city business license to pay taxes. You don't need a city license to collect sales tax. Tax entities make it [fun] and easy to collect taxes. The IRS makes it easy for anyone to pay taxes regardless of immigration status, legal (or illegal) business status, whether you do business in Arizona, California, Germany, it doesn't matter, the IRS will take the money. Operate a meth lab? That's okay, the IRS will take that money too! The only questions the IRS wants to know is the nature of the income- is it compensation, investment income, gift, estate, etc... What assurances do you have that swap meet vendors pay taxes? What assurances do you have that any business pays taxes? Business licensing and taxation are two completely different functions and enforcing compliance rests on three completely different government organizations. Sometimes I wonder what country you people live in that you know so little about how our government functions and its responsibilities. Did we recently get a large migration of traditional soviet expriates into our community? Based on the way you people talk you'd think we did...

Just ridiculous... "

" Heidi Beem's Letter to the Editor in Friday's paper (July 10,2009) was on the mark on this issue!!! Thank you Heidi!!! "

" Ridiculous - Are you serious? You are assuming these transient cash based businesses who are able to vanish tomorrow and admit to breaking the law are going to deposit their cash in the bank...where the IRS can track it. Now that is REDICULIOUS! "

" LHCwasteland: The vendors at the swapmeet have a LHC sales licence State sales tax licence and pay taxes The are business people. "

" Cal/hav If you went to the vilage you would see that there are people trying to do things for the village. Jersey's Grill Opened Up there, you have the shave ice place and an Ice cream Parlor opening. Cheers to them for taking a chance and trying to bring the village back. Support them or stay in Cali!!!!! "

" I do believe the high-end tool vendors have a permit from the city to be a mobile business. As does the roach coaches,and ice cream trucks So why WOULDN'T the lake vendors be expected to get a permit and PAY TAXES? Remove them permently they are nothing but an eyesore to our beaches. "

" Unbelievable, The things these great citizens Of Havasu wasteland find issue with. You have people making money at the swap meet. Are they paying taxes? I know they're paying for a spot. Is that land owner paying taxes? "

" You want an Ugly unsightly, nusiance which obstructs access to the lake just go to the English Village. When are they going to do something about that? "

" I am one of those who have complained about the vendors taking over beach areas. However, as I said before, I do not advocate removing all vendors. There are some vendors who have been a part of Thompson Bay for a long time. The big orange floating store/fast food restaurant is one, Dave the Hat Guy is the other. Their services are absolutely needed on the water just like the Jet Ski and Boat rental businesses like the ones located near the Bridge. What has gone wrong is the continual uncontrolled influx of on the beach businesses that take up hundreds of yards of beach front. They rope off “their” area of water front real estate and anchor their jet ski rentals and “offices”. As one vendor commented, he moves every 30 days to a new location on the shore to avoid evection. I believe that there should only be a number of each type of vendor allowed based on seniority. If one of the businesses decides to move out, a lottery for a replacement or a seniority process should be used to permit a new business to take their place. That way the tourists have the conveniences of services on the lake without over burdening the shore lines and lake with vendors. Just a thought…. "

" What are you people talking about?? Have you even been to the beach to see where these vendors are located? What area did you want to use for a picnic but couldn't? I strongly believe some of you complain simply for the sake of complaining... I love the way so many of you are so concerned about tax revenue or paying a $50 city business license fee; what a red herring! Many of you seem to be under the impression there's a small village of businesses in the water - I've been on water nearly every weekend for the past several weeks - I counted an average of 9. All this for 9 businesses.

Now, let's review ECON 101. The majority of these businesses are local residents - they earn their money predominately from tourists (outside dollars) only to deposit this money into local banks. Now, if they use a community bank, this money stays in Lake Havasu - if they use a regional or national bank who knows where it go's (perhaps investments into Mexico or China), but that' an entirely different issue. These business owners shop locally, probably hire locally, and using the Keynesian Multiplier Effect, every $1 invested locally becomes nearly $4.80...

It's hypocritical to say things like, "the free market will set the price" - The free market already has, now by introducing governmental interference, it certainly undermines the laissez faire philosophy that popularized that phrase. Let the free market set the price after the government artificially raises the pricing floor through taxes, licensing, and insurance requirements - I can't believe you people want higher prices - well, actually none of you do, because I doubt any of you will pay them - perhaps you just like get a sick pleasure at seeing your neighbors suffer additional financial hardships.

These vendors contribute a "tourism" feel to our community - it's sad that it took a movie production to make our town look like a tourism destination - now they've left and it appears they took their flags, banners, and prop vendors with them... We're back to trying on our own to encourage tourism and cater to their needs; and the first thing we do is take a gigantic leap backwards. We should be doing everything we can to encourage business in this town - not by eliminating competition but by encouraging it... In what economic model or industry has shown that eliminating competition is a recipe for economic expansion and success?

This is just ridiculous.

Now, let's review ECON 101. The majority of these businesses are local residents - they earn there money predominately from tourists (outside dollars) only to deposit this money into local banks. Now, if they use a community bank, this money stays in Lake Havasu - if they use a regional or national bank who knows where it go's (perhaps investments into Mexico or China), but that' an entirely different issue. These business owners shop locally, probably hire locally, and using the Keynesian Multiplier Effect $1 invested locally becomes nearly $4.80...

It's hypocritical to say things like, "the free market will set the price" - The free market already has, now by introducing governmental interference, it certainly underminds the laize faire philosophy that popularized that phrase.

These vendors contribute a "tourism" feel to our community - it's sad that it took a movie production to make our town look like a tourist destination - now they've left and it appears they took there flags, banners, and prop vendors with them... We're back to trying on our own to encourage tourism and cater to their needs; and the first thing we do is take a leap backwards.

Great job... This is just ridiculous. "

" "all of the water-based vendors below the 450-foot elevation mark". This may sound obvious but where is this mark? Is this a mark that wipes out all water based vendors, or is there an area above 450' that would allow them to stay? Just curious, I bring my own toys. "

" Anything that goes down around here is always accompanied by a smear campaign attacking the motives and actions of the targeted individual or group. It seems to be both a local and a national habit that is getting further out of control every day. The "fly by night" vendors we are hearing about are simply the latest local scapegoat. Certainly, they should not be allowed to obstruct views or access but why can't a spot be chosen for them where they can conduct business legitimately without getting in anyone's way? Some of those operations are an eyesore and should be encouraged to tone it down while others are already low-key and minimally objectionable. I don't think it's right for the more responsible ones to lose their significant investments just so established "shore-based" businesses don't have to worry about any competition. Although I prefer a clean, unobstructed beach, I don't like seeing well-intentioned people pushed around. The city council should revisit the issue one last time and fashion a policy that respects the rights of the vendors to protect their investments and conduct their businesses while guaranteeing full access and unobstructed views to the people. Kicking them off the beach until a permitting process can be worked out, with no place left for them to go, seems a tad heavy-handed, don't you think? "

" It is evident that a majority of the people making statements in this matter have some sort of involvement in this matter. It seems to me however that this particular guy says he has been doing this for thirteen years. Come on now, I think you have beat him up enough. He tried something and got to do it for thirteen years and now it has become an issue and he lost and is ordered to stop. Now real need to rub faces in it. If a permit process for lake vendors are established you can rest assured that he will return and then he may under cut everyones prices and make more money than he is now. You should be gracious and let the process work. After all its what yoou asked for, to get the vendors off.

I could tell you that I would go after each and every one that continues to attack me by renting my ski's out for the very minimum I could and stop your rentals as much as possible. I would advertise and gaurantee the lowest rates in town. So syop beating the guy you won for now "

" It is about time they get them out of there. They are an eye sore and take up beach space. Now the playing (renting) field is level by all them paying rent and taxes. "

" "ridiculous" is a good word for it. There is a huge difference between a truck that stops and delivers goods and someone who sets up an entire store front on public land and doesn't pay compensation. Here is the whole argument in a nutshell...I would like to use that beach area for a picnic. I cannot because this business owner has exclusive use of the property. Since I can't use the property, the business owner needs to compensate me and others that would like to use the beach. We can then compensate someone else for their property and have a place for our picnic. The whole system of free enterprise fails when people start trying to cheat and take something that is not theirs. "

" ridiculous obviously you don't comprehend what JohnyJay was trying to say:
How can you compareroach coaches, ice cream trucks, home delivey meat vendors, some high-end tool vendors, etc to shoreline vendors. All of these vendors are licensed and permitted unlike shoreline vendors, and also do not violate federal state or city codes. Not to mention they don't take up 100's and 100's of feet of valuable public shoreline for extended period of time.

I'm amazed on how these shoreline vendors agree they are not following the law. But still try to justify what they are doing. Who are they trying to convince? Themselves. "

" ECON 101-I am confused...I have read & reread this quote.

“I’m going to do the best I can on-land,” Jeff Prieur said, "When the other vendors said we were undercutting pricing, we weren’t. Now we are coming on land, we’re going to have to. There are going to be some good bargains on Jet Ski rentals.”

This vendor admits he has no overhead, pays no rent or other fees...and now he's going to be forced to be a land vendor and pay launch fees, rent, utilities etc & still manage to lower his prices...what kind of economic class did he take? "

" Now here is a prime example of the pot calling the kettle black.

Prieur said he realized there was a problem with the influx of fly-by-night water vendors on the lake and was an issue that needed to be addressed. Wait a minute isn't he one of these vendors? And he even agrees this is a issue. Next quote - "It was the methods used to force the vendors off the lake that he didn’t like". What method did he not like... LAW ENFORCEMENT?! "

" Havasugirl3 These vendors have a "cash only" business- do you really think they are paying taxes on what they make! They do not have insurance & they have no overhead and your tax money is being spent on grooming the beaches for them- not for your enjoyment. I hope BLM keeps them out for good. Let them pay launch fees, insurance & rent - the free market will set the price "

" everyone says they aren't paying anything to be there, what about the taxes that they pay, so what if they aren't paying anything to use the land they pay taxes and by being on the water they bring in even more visitors to havasu because people know all you have to do is walk to the water and you can rent anything. the vendors have to get a business license just like anyone else that has a business, leave them alone and go bother someone who isn't helping bring income to the city. "

" “When the other vendors said we were undercutting pricing, we weren’t. Now we are coming on land, we’re going to have to. There are going to be some good bargains on Jet Ski rentals.” <<<<<< Easier said than done when you actually have to PAY rent rather than freeloading. "

" JohnJay: By that example, roach coaches, ice cream trucks, home delivey meat vendors, some high-end tool vendors, etc... must be illegal too... Don't try to make lake vendors sound criminal simply because some politician has yet to write a law defining a permit.

This may be hard to beleive, but in the United States of America, the people has the freedom to do something unless there is a law that regulates the behavior, it appears so often Americans are beginning to think we had some Communist/Socialist revolution where we gave up the Constitution and told the government, "Oh, we won't do anything unless the government passes a law that says we can..." What a ridiculous notion. "

" “We weren’t thinking we were down there getting away with anything"
So, the fact that you weren't compensating anyone for use of property just seemed like a normal way to conduct business. "