John Drayman says his involvement in new community market is limited
The ousted manager of the Montrose Harvest Market has started his own weekend event with the help of former City Councilman John Drayman.
Despite an ongoing investigation into allegations that Drayman embezzled money from the Montrose Shopping Park Assn., which manages the Harvest Market on Honolulu Avenue, several vendors who plan to join a new craft market Saturday say they aren’t worried about the investigation.
“I have no idea what he did wrong. I have no say in that, but all I know is the way he treated me,” said collectibles vendor Bob Waldron. “Every one of the vendors that was there at the time that he was running the market, we’d follow him if we can.”
Waldron plans to drive two hours from Ventura to have a booth at the first Foothill Crafts & Collectibles Outdoor Market.
Drayman once helped organize the Harvest farmers market each Sunday and was part of a group that founded it nearly 10 years ago, likening it to a “neighborhood reunion.”
While vendors point to Drayman as the impetus for their involvement in the new craft and collectibles market on a vacant lot at Foothill Boulevard and Briggs Avenue, Drayman said his role is limited. He made introductions, plans to participate in the event as a vendor and is helping out, but he’s not running the show, he said.
“I was asked to be involved in the organization of it, but I didn’t think that was such a good idea,” Drayman said.
-- Brittany Levine, Times Community News
Twitter: @brittanylevine