TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alexandria Sica: Balancing Vendor Opportunities with Community Quality of Life
1:37:38
·
111 sec
Alexandria Sica, representing the Dumbo Improvement District, voices concerns over proposed vending regulations, particularly those allowing vendors to set up in front of sidewalk obstructions.
Highlighting the importance of maintaining quality of life for residents and workers in Dumbo's tech and creative sectors, Sica urges for balanced opportunities that respect both vendors' livelihood and community needs, stressing the necessity for appropriate citing guidelines and the preservation of pedestrian spaces.
Speaker 30
1:37:38
Hi.
1:37:38
My name is Alexandria Cica.
1:37:40
I represent the Dumbo Improvement District, and thank you very much for this opportunity.
1:37:46
I'm just gonna echo what you've heard from a number of speakers regarding the concerns, specifically regarding putting bending the ability to bend in front of obstructions on the sidewalk.
1:38:01
We have, you know, benches, bike racks, treat pits, the idea that you would be able to set up vending and block these assets, these things that are useful to the community, Further pinching our sidewalks is very concerning.
1:38:17
Quality of life is incredibly important to our residential and our office worker population.
1:38:23
In Dumbo, we have a a really great tech and creative scene that the city has been trying to cultivate and the idea that you would inundate more vending and squeeze down the pedestrian paths there is deeply concerning.
1:38:43
There has to be a balance that does not benefit some at the cost of thousands of others, and I totally appreciate wanting to create more opportunities for vendors that is not a point that I'm trying to take away.
1:38:57
We should create opportunities that are rational, opportunities with citing guidelines that balance these opportunities for vendors with the quality of life for everyone else.
1:39:09
Let's look at streets where vending is appropriate, but not where vending will appropriate the space needed for New Yorkers to park their bikes, walk to work, go about their business, This bill threatens that, and we hope you will really take to heart what you're hearing today and modify.
Speaker 1
1:39:28
Thank you.