Opinion: A Balanced Approach to Street Vending

In a time when immigrants and workers are targeted by executive orders at both the city and federal levels it is crucial that the New York City Council do everything in our power to assistance street vendors alongside the brick-and-mortar business that make our commercial corridors thrive Street vendors near train station at Junction Boulevard in Queens last year Adi Talwar City Limits New York City s street vendors are an integral part of our city s fabric but thousands are still waiting to formally join the economic system by obtaining a vending license In a time when immigrants and workers are targeted by executive orders at both the city and federal levels it is crucial that the New York City Council do everything in our power to assistance street vendors alongside the brick-and-mortar business that make our commercial corridors thrive At the city level strengthening our street vending approach is one of the only tactics we can make our city safer and more welcoming for immigrant New Yorkers That s why I m proud to share that my bill to do just that is having a hearing in the City Council the upcoming day Tuesday May The reality is our street vending system is broken Since the s New York City has issued a very small number of vending permits relative to demand with more than vendors on a now-closed waitlist This proliferation of unlicensed vendors makes it more and more laborious to enforce the rules that are on the books like physical condition standards for food being sold or spacing rules that keep our streets safe and clean When permits are not made widely available all New Yorkers suffer RELATED READING NYC Issued Over Street Vendor Tickets Confiscated Tons of Food in As a daughter and granddaughter of street vendors I have made this issue a priority since taking office My bill Int would tackle our failed system head-on The bill would mandate that the city issue far more permits each year to bring existing vendors into the formal economic system It would pair that access with coaching so that vendors know their rights and responsibilities In addition my intention is to add new enforcement standards so that the rules for how a vendor can lose their license are clearly established By taking a comprehensive approach to street vending we can expand opportunity for our smallest businesses establish a clear and fair enforcement system and create thriving streets throughout our great city If you feel strongly about the bill I invite you to join us at the coming day s New York City Council hearing Tuesday May on this critical measure either in person or by submitting a written testimony As a member of the Council s Progressive Caucus I m proud to have my bill as one of the Caucus priorities this term With the backing of and collaboration with my colleagues I hope an amended version of Int will pass in this Council session I hope you join me in raising your voice for all of our city s workers from the local auto shop to your neighborhood bodega to the street vendors striving for a better life Pierina Ana Sanchez is a member of the NYC Council representing the th District which includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Kingsbridge Fordham University Heights and Mount Hope The post Opinion A Balanced Approach to Street Vending appeared first on City Limits