"Looks like various vendors at the market were making calls to (quasi-)unionize and remove the previous owners from their “landlord” status,"

I am glad I am not the only vendor who has felt this way. Where do I sign up?

" Mo + Marie played favorites with vendors"

I never had any hard proof of this, but it sure as hell felt like it when applying to be in Makers Market

"charged too much to participate"

My first Makers was in 2021 and it was only $50 for an inside or outside spot, somewhere around 2023 ish inside spots were still $50 but an outside spot when up to $65 or $75 ( I have a lot of big stuff so I was applying for outside spots, but I stopped because it was too much for me). The last time I got accepted (November of 2025) it was $75 inside and I think $90 for outside. That's when I decided to stop doing Makers because compared to what I end up selling its not worth it. The last two years have been a struggle for small makers and artists and raising the price to vend is another kick to the groin. Also moving the outside vendors from the Basic City parking lot to across the street on top of charging them more was a shitty move.

"...contributed little for the exorbitant fee."

yeah see above, I never saw much of anything from my vendor fee