WASHINGTON - City vendors are holding a rally to voice concerns over regulations the D.C. government has established for sales on Inauguration Day.

About a dozen vendors and advocates gathered Monday at the city's consumer affairs department on North Capitol Street.

Some vendors say the city's fees are too high. Others say some designated vending spots are in out-of-the-way areas.

D.C. officials are accepting applications until Tuesday for a lottery that will decide which vendors get preference for the 716 vending sites near the inaugural parade route and another 1,000 around the city.

When it comes to President-elect Barack Obama (web | news | bio) , the vendors who line 15th and 17th Streets near the White House are already cashing in. When it comes to Obama's swearing-in, however, it's a gamble as to whether or not they'll bring in the bucks.

Bryant Powell has been vending for 34 years. Last inauguration, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs moved him far from the action -- from 17th street to 12th Street.

This year, he's not sure he'll even get a spot. "They reassigned us, moved us far away from here," Powell said. "I was never notified and tomorrow is the last day and I live 100 miles from here."

Some of the 300 downtown vendors said they didn't know about the inaugural lottery. "Oh tomorrow [is] the deadline? I didn't know because I'm so busy," said Thanh Nguyen, a street vendor at 17th Street.

The vending zone with 716 spots was set up by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to determine where the licensed district vendors can sell, angering some who say they're having to pay to vend and the locations they get might not be worth the effort.

Brenda Sayles, a vending advocate and part-time vendor, has said many vendors don't know whether to stock up on merchandise or hold off until Jan. 6 when they find out whether they get a guaranteed vending site.

"They're here day in, day out no matter whose inauguration it is and whose it's not, so when there's something big going on they've earned their spot," noted Marilyn Breen, a D.C. visitor.  

The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs agreed, saying they'll have priority -- just not at the cost of security.

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