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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Christian Casablanca: A Vendor's Economic Impact and Plea
3:26:12
ยท
5 min
Christian Casablanca, previously a Brooklyn Bridge vendor, shares his testimony about the economic impact of vending closures on his livelihood. Selling mainly artistic souvenirs, Casablanca recounts how this job was his sole source of income, supporting his family and children. He acknowledges the law's importance but pleads for permission to resume selling on the bridge under any new regulations the city might impose. His testimony highlights the struggles faced by immigrant workers relying on street vending for their livelihood.
Speaker 42
3:26:12
We wanna start this.
3:26:18
So He recorded the Nava here.
3:26:31
I'll just do this as the Nava here.
3:26:33
I'll just come in and
Speaker 11
3:26:40
Good afternoon.
3:26:41
My name is Christian Casablanda.
3:26:44
Casablanda, and a member or the vendors' assessments who were working in the Brooklyn Bridge.
3:26:50
I was selling several products.
3:26:52
Some of them were mostly artisty products.
3:26:55
Like, for example, like small statues, small things related to New York, and things that will make you remember New York when you come as a tourist.
3:27:06
And I was working there for a very long time.
3:27:12
Okay.
3:27:12
Continue.
Speaker 42
3:27:17
Guerrolor Vasquez, all our president, you let me know.
3:27:22
We have committed
Speaker 11
3:27:46
Yes.
3:27:46
I was helping the tourists who were there in the Brooklyn Bridge.
3:27:50
And the people and the pedestrians, the people who were walking around the bridge when I was working there.
3:27:55
I wanted to say thank you, to the president, Miss Julian Menin, for the opportunity that you had given me to raise my voice in this council.
3:28:05
And and today, as a bender, a sleep bender, I feel very bad.
3:28:10
I was affected very bad economically because, unfortunately, this was my only job I have.
3:28:16
Right?
3:28:17
And I didn't have all the future jobs, and my children were affected because of these.
3:28:25
Yeah.
3:28:26
No.
3:28:27
No.
3:28:28
Okay.
Speaker 42
3:28:57
Then it's
Speaker 11
3:29:07
Okay.
3:29:07
As I mentioned before, I was affected economically because this was my only job I have.
3:29:13
And, Adi, I I found myself.
3:29:15
There was no future for my million because I cannot even pay my own bills that have at my home because I'm not able to work.
3:29:24
And when I live, I live with a family.
3:29:27
So this was my only economical support, and I was buying my daily bread a big you know, that was bringing to my table.
3:29:35
Miss Manning, what he means with daily breath, I This was the only way to support himself and to support his family.
3:29:41
It's a Spanish metaphor that made more sense than in Spanish than in English, you know?
3:29:46
Daily breath.
3:29:47
Okay.
3:29:48
And and just a hardworking parent, and an immigrant who's trying to help his family and to try to help his children.
Speaker 40
3:30:05
You.
Speaker 1
3:30:17
I need to ask you to wrap up, please.
Speaker 11
3:30:20
Sorry, sir.
3:30:20
He has his screen is slow on Spanish.
3:30:23
That's why miss Manuel, you speak all the languages in Ecuador as well.
3:30:26
That's why.
3:30:27
You know what I'm saying?
3:30:30
Okay.
3:30:31
His first language is speaker
Speaker 1
3:30:44
And if you wanna submit, you you can submit in writing.
Speaker 11
3:30:48
Talking worse.
3:30:50
So as I mentioned before, I was an immigrant father trying to help my children, to survive, and to help my entire family, And the problem, you are not able to sell anything in the Brooklyn Bridge like I was when I was working there before, but I respect the laws of the city of New York, and I promise to respect the rules that you can impose is necessary.
3:31:14
Mhmm.
3:31:14
But if you can let me sell my things and the broken wish again, but I'm I'm willing to respect the laws that you can
Speaker 1
3:31:20
Okay.
3:31:21
Thank you.
3:31:21
Thank you very much for the customer service.
Speaker 11
3:31:23
Language is catch wise.
3:31:24
One of the languages is okay.
Speaker 1
3:31:26
Thank you.
3:31:27
No.
3:31:27
No.
3:31:27
That's Thank you.
3:31:28
Thank you so much for your testimony.
Speaker 11
3:31:30
Okay.
3:31:31
Yes.
3:31:31
Testimony.