REMARKS
Chair Julie Menin Opens Hearing on Street Vending and Lithium Ion-Powered Mobility Safety
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5 min
Julie Menin, as the newly appointed chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, opens her first hearing with a focus on street safety and vending regulation.
She outlines 11 legislative bills related to street vending and lithium ion battery safety for mobility devices, detailing each bill's intentions, sponsors, and compliance requirements. Menin emphasizes the importance of these legislative efforts in enhancing New York City's streetscape and protecting its residents.
Speaker 1
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Good afternoon.
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I'm Julie Menin, and thrilled to welcome you to my first hearing as chair of the committee on consumer and worker protection.
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Before we begin, I want to recognize my fellow council members, members of the committee who are here, council member, Abreu.
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Thank you for being here.
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And I don't see anyone else, but I will recognize other members as soon as they join.
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So today's hearing is on 11 bills related to 2 issues that impact our city's streetscape.
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Street vending and lithium ion battery empowered mobility device safety.
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The legislation that is a subject of the hearing.
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Today was heard last session in this committee, and all testimony from that hearing will be incorporated into the record for today's hearing.
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This includes the following bills that were heard at our October 23 2023 hearing on lithium ion battery powered bicycle and powered mobility, device safety.
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A preconceived introduction sponsored by council member Brewer would require all businesses that sell ebikes, e scooters, and other personal mobility devices powered by batteries to post lithium ion battery safety informational materials and guides.
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A preconceived introduction sponsored by council member nurse would create record keeping and reporting requirements for entities of purchase or accept 2nd use rechargeable lithium ion batteries at power devices such as e bikes and electric scooters.
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This would CLUDE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF BATTERIES PURCHES ARE ACCEPTED IN THE MANNER OF DISPOSAL OF SUCH BATTERIES.
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A preconceived introduction sponsored by council member brewer would require the delivery worker bicycle safety course developed by the Department of Transportation to cover the safe and lawful operation of powered bicycles as well as lithium ion battery and charging safety.
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In addition, it would require 3rd party delivery companies ensure that their delivery workers complete the bicycle safety course and provide their delivery workers with bicycle safety equipment including protective head gear, a lamp, a bell, or either signaling device, breaks, and reflective material.
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A pre considered introduction, sponsored by council member Feliz, would require that any powered mobility device operated by food delivery worker on behalf of a 3rd party delivery service or 3rd party courier service meet fire safety standards.
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3rd party delivery services or 3rd party courier services will be responsible for providing food delivery workers with such devices at no expense to the worker.
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Finally, responsibility for compliance with these provisions would fall on the 3rd party delivery service or 3rd party courier service, which would be subject to civil penalties for any violations.
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A pre considered introduction sponsored by Council member brewer would require electric bicycle or scooter businesses to obtain a license in order to do business in the city.
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In order to receive a license, businesses would need to have liability insurance and certify that they are in compliance with certain safety requirements.
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This would also enable the Department of Consumer And Worker Protection And Coordination With the Fire Department to conduct inspections of these businesses to ensure that they are operating in a safe manner.
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It also includes the following bills, herded our December 13 2023 here on street vending in New York City.
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A preconceived introduction sponsored by myself would prohibit general vendors, mobile food vendors, and vendor related activity from occupying bicycle lanes.
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A preconsidered introduction sponsored by myself would allow mobile food vendors to display or store goods on top of their carts, and it would simplify the display requirements for general vendors.
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This bill would also remove bookkeeping requirements for general vendors and mobile food vendors.
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A preconceived introduction also sponsored by myself would eliminate the requirement that individual employees of mobile food vending cards or trucks each have a New York State Certificate of Sales Tax Authority.
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A preconceived introduction sponsored by council member, Dela Rosa, would allow vendors to place their push carts 2 feet from the curb or as close as possible to an obstruction that is in or on the sidewalk.
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Currently, the law requires vendors pushcards to abut the curb, endangering the safety of vendors who must exit their parts onto the street and potentially into oncoming traffic.
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A preconsidered introduction Sponsored by counsel member Krishnan, who would remove all misdemeanor criminal penalties for general vendors and mobile food vendors.
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INDIVIDUALS WHO VIOLATE VENDING REQUIREMENTS WOULD INSTEAD BE SUBJECT TO AN OFFENCE AND CIVIL PENOMETIES.
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A PRECONCIDERED INTERDUCTIONS sponsored by council members Brewer and Farius would prohibit general vending and mobile food vending on a bridge approach to restrict all vending on bridges to elevated pedestrian and walkways that have at least a sixteen foot clear pedestrian path and prohibit vending within 20 feet of another vendor operating on a bridge.
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We received extensive feedback on each of these bills at our previous hearings and continued to work with holders in assessing any suggested amendments.
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So I will now turn it over to our committee counsel.