We've been tipping the City off about the flourishing illegal black market in food vendor permits for years -- writing and even speaking out publicly on the issue. So, bravo to the Department of Investigation for finally doing something about it, arresting six of the scammers involved yesterday (TImes coverage here). Hopefully the city will lock them up and throw away the key. But even without the use of fake documents, the buying and selling of permits is illegal --which is why City Council needs to issue more licenses and put an end to this illegal market for good. In fact the legislation already exists, its now just up to all of us to summon the political will to get it enacted.
Providing further evidence that vendor struggles for public space are indeed global, SVP interim co-director and vendor Chiekh Fall recently returned with a report on his May visit to Durban, South Africa, where things have been heating up. Here the Inter Press Service details how Durban developers planning to open a upscale shopping mall are calling to push out vendors from the nearly century old Early Morning Market. This will sound familiar to anyone aware of what's been happening in places like 125th St. in Harlem, among other NYC neighborhoods. Also similar though, are strategies for fighting back, which are outlined in this solidarity statement put out by Durban-based street vendor association StreetNet International. After meeting with Street Net coordinator Pat Horn, as well as vendors groups from every corner of the globe, Mr. Fall commented that "since our problems so similar, groups around the world should meet more, so that we can come up with a common strategy, and solutions for all the world's vendors."
May 20th was a good day for vendors, as a proposed Consumer Affairs committee hearing concerning vending law in Sunset Park Brooklyn, was deferred by Council Member Comrie. What did the intro aim to do? Suffice it to say that it would create neighborhood specific permits and licenses which are to be overseen by the Sunset Park Business Improvement District. This would add another layer of unnecessary complexity to vending laws, distract from the demand of the vast majority of vendors and vendor groups--more city-wide licenses and permits--and jeopardize the independence so crucial to vending in the city. More dangerous still, is the fact that Council Member Comrie, as well as the BID itself, have touted this intro as a model for other areas of New York, which would begin the process of privatizing street vending. Relentless pressure on politicians by SVP as well as other vendor advocates has blocked this most recent attempt to undermine vendor will (covered by the Indypendent here.) It is likely that the BIDs will continue to lobby for this unwelcome change, that is why SVP will continue to build alliances and grow, so that when they come at us again, we will be be on the offense.
Yesterday, SVP organized a group of over 50 vendors and their allies at City Hall to broadcast both their support for the raising of decades old caps on licenses and permits, as well as their opposition to a dangerous new fingerprinting bill which would further criminalize street vending. Check out our photos. That these positions are just is not in question. But what is also shown by the coverage in the The Indypendent and the NY Times and, is that old scapegoating and diversionary tactics are losing steam, while the need to allow more vendors to work legally is becoming clearer and clearer. Thanks to Esperanza del Barrio and the New York Immigration Coalition for turning out and pushing the movement forward!
This past Saturday the 28th, dozens of vendors and volunteers went on a guide distribution rampage all over the City. The Times covered the action here, and this is where you can find a few choice photos. But the story does not end there. Later this month, SVP plans on holding another press conference on the steps of City Hall, and hand delivering the guides to elected officials. We will also be visiting Community Boards as well as community policing meetings, using the guide to spearhead information sessions and advocacy campaigns to raise the caps and gain some of the respect that vendors so deserve.
Working in conjunction with The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) and designer Candy Chang, SVP has put together a great looking, informative and visionary guide about vendor regulations, rights, history and what a more just system would look like. Check out PDF samples here and here, and come to the press conference/launch extravaganza (when vendors and volunteers will be distributing the guide to thousands of vendors around town) on March 28th, 11:30 AM at SVP headquarters, 123 William St!
Annie Shreffler, a reporter at large and friend of SVP, has been discovering what many journalists have known for a long while: vendors are some of the most captivating story tellers in New York City, and their stories demand to be heard! Check out some of what she's published on her website Food Vendor Watch.
Last week, the Post reported that NYPD precinct commanders recently got together "to focus efforts against aggressive beggars, squeegee men, hookers and illegal peddlers." Attempts like these, to misrepresent and criminalize some of the city’s most vulnerable communities, are nothing new. In fact, vendor harassment by the police has alwaysgone hand in hand with "quality of life" laws. What perhaps is new, is the effort to implement a "zero-tolerance" policy on people like vendors, the homeless and sex workers. These “crackdowns” conveniently distract from some of the actual, major problems the city is presently facing. They also may be their own undoing though, as they fuel groups like SVP, and allies like The Sex Workers Project and Picture the Homeless to organize and take the power back!
The city of New York capped food vendor permits at 3,000 in 1983. A recent Crain’s New York Business article asks if this cap makes any sense today, with jobs in New York harder and harder to come by, and thousands of willing entrepreneurs who simply cannot work. Calling it a “corrupt system”, the article goes on to describe how the existing permits are illegally “rented out” on a black market, saddling vendors with yet another financial burden: “$8,000 to $9,000 every two years.” Targeting red tape, they write; “city and state leaders should get out the scissors to quickly cut a path to job creation.” SVP couldn’t agree more.
Listen to this sad, funny and powerful interview of SVP member and 73-year old disabled veteran vendor Bert Stein -- it really gives the inside scoop on vending in ways you may not have heard. "I've been given a lot in my life and I like to give back, and I hate to see people taken advantage of by the system," Bert says. Thanks to Paula Winograd for conducting the interview.
We've been tipping the City off about the flourishing
Providing further evidence that vendor struggles for public space are indeed global, SVP interim co-director and vendor Chiekh Fall recently returned with a report on his May visit to 
May 20th was a good day for vendors, as a proposed Consumer Affairs committee hearing concerning 
Yesterday, SVP organized a group of over 50 vendors and their allies at City Hall to broadcast both their support for the raising of decades old caps on licenses and permits, as well as their opposition to a dangerous 
This past Saturday the 28th, dozens of vendors and volunteers went on a guide distribution rampage all over the City. The Times covered the action 
Working in conjunction with 
Annie Shreffler, a reporter at large and friend of SVP, has been discovering what many journalists have known for a long while: vendors are some of the most captivating story tellers in New York City, and their stories demand to be heard! Check out some of what she's published on her website 
Last week, 
Listen to this 
