Street vendor ban proposed around Wrigley Field

Street vendors who hawk peanuts and souvenirs on the streets and sidewalks outside Wrigley Field are as much a part of the ballpark’s charm as the rooftops across the street.

Not for long, if local Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) has his way.

At today’s City Council meeting, Tunney introduced an ordinance that would ban peddlers from a two block area around the Friendly Confines.

The existing ban covers Wrigley’s immediate perimeter — Addison, Clark, Waveland and Sheffield.

The expanded no-peddling zone would encompass a much broader area and begin two hours before Cubs games or Wrigley concerts and end two hours after.

It would include Addison and Waveland, from Wilton to Racine and Clark and Sheffield between Newport and Grace. Vendors would be allowed in those areas, only if they are selling from private property.

“You can’t walk down the street. You can’t walk to the park without being run over by peddlers. They need to be restricted. ... They’re allowed to sell, but they need to be on private property,” Tunney said.

Past attempts to rein in Wrigley peddling have unleashed a barrage of complaints about the “little guy” being pushed aside in favor of local merchants.

But, Tunney said Wrigleyville has changed dramatically since then. The Cubs are now setting annual attendance records.

“We allow the little guys to sell on private property. It’s really a public safety issue with the narrowness of the streets.”

What about messing with the Wrigley experience?

“We’re gonna have hearings on it. We’re gonna have a lot of people come out to voice their opinion. But, this is something that the businesses, the residents and the public safety people say is a problem,” Tunney said.