Growing up in Fort Bragg, some of my most cherished memories are of browsing the shelves at Cheshire Books on Franklin Street. With each visit, I was filled with anticipation for the new adventures that awaited me between the covers of a book. That store was more than just a bookstore; it was a portal to other worlds and an important part of our community’s cultural fabric. Sadly, Cheshire Books is no longer there, but the dream of bringing that joy and excitement of reading to the community I love has lived on in me.

Now, when I have the opportunity to bring a similar experience to Fort Bragg as a mobile book vendor, I'm stumped by a single roadblock—Municipal Code 10.20.150 subsection B, which currently prohibits the mobile vending of items that are not food or flowers. In a city that thrives on creativity and culture, it seems a great loss to restrict the sale of printed books directly to our community’s streets.

Books are vital for nurturing imagination, knowledge, and empathy. They are also accessible gateways to education and personal growth. Allowing mobile book vending would expand literary access, foster community interaction, and support small business growth. Why not give Fort Bragg’s residents and visitors the chance to stumble upon their next great story in our streets and open spaces?

We propose two viable solutions for modifying the current code. Firstly, amend the municipal code to include books as allowable items for mobile vending. This simple change would recognize books as essential cultural commodities worthy of public access. Alternatively, we could establish a new permit specifically for mobile book vendors, ensuring regulations that respect community standards while supporting the growth of small enterprises.

Let’s keep the magic of books alive in Fort Bragg. By signing this petition, you help to pave the way for a richer cultural landscape in our beloved city—a place where stories can thrive and every resident has the chance to discover the boundless worlds within books. Help me make this dream a reality. Please sign to support changing Municipal Code 10.20.150 subsection B.