Charity Seeks OK for Ringers at Mall

About a week after Salvation Army bell ringers were told they wouldn’t be welcome at their traditional spots at entrances to Pacific View Mall, the shopping center’s officials say they will meet with the charity’s leaders to discuss alternatives.

“We’re trying to come up with some solutions,” said Phil Vise, regional marketing director with Macerich Co., which manages the mall.

Vise said the company typically allows no solicitation at its doors, on the grounds that if it lets one organization do so, it would have to let others.

The policy is not atypical. The Oaks and Janss malls in Thousand Oaks have similar rules, and the Camarillo outlets allow the bell ringers only at the food court.

Salvation Army officials in Ventura said they have been allowed to ring the bell at the mall since it opened, until the appointment of a new manager this year.

“We feel deeply that this is really important,” said Dave Ide, an advisory board member for the group.

“This has been our biggest draw, and we anticipated because of the remodeled mall it would be an even bigger draw.”

Charity officials said the decision could hurt them. Ringers--who come from various service organizations in the city--pull in about a quarter of the chapter’s funds from the Christmas season, about $10,000.

They say they are different from other solicitors.

“We don’t ask people to give, and we don’t sell anything. We provide Christmas greetings and thank-yous,” Salvation Army Lt. Keith Solts said. “A lot of people count on seeing the Christmas kettles.”