TESTIMONY
Testimony by Raul Rivera: Advocating for Vendor Rights Against Real Estate Pressures
3:20:02
·
139 sec
Raul Rivera, a TLC driver advocate, voices his support for bill 0075, highlighting the challenges food vendors face in areas like Hudson Yards due to real estate pressures.
He criticizes the marginalization of vendors, particularly people of color, and the disregard shown by certain non-profits and city officials towards small business owners. Rivera calls for recognition of the struggles faced by these vendors.
Speaker 38
3:20:02
That being said, that being said, my name is Raul Rivera.
3:20:05
I'm a TLC driver advocate.
3:20:06
We We support the 0075.
3:20:11
There's a big issue with with real estate here in New York.
3:20:16
We we have Hudson Yards.
3:20:18
I know many of the the food vendors there are getting pushed out.
3:20:22
And if we're talking about 6 inches, I mean, that's a little bit ridiculous.
3:20:27
I mean, we have plenty of space in this city and to try to push people out for 6 inches.
3:20:33
It's it's uncoffled.
3:20:34
You know, Stephen Ross.
3:20:36
He's the he's the owner of Hudson Yards, and they're discriminating against food vendors, people of color.
3:20:44
We just passed the 586 yesterday.
3:20:46
Right?
3:20:46
You you veto I mean, you you override the veto.
3:20:49
Right?
3:20:49
That's about safety, about people of color, transparency, and all that stuff.
3:20:53
Right?
3:20:54
Well, we have we have Hudson Yards We just had a clown here that we pointed out that complained he'd literally complained about nonprofits but he has a nonprofit called health kitchen alliance that's working with NYC Parks department and they're pushing out the the vendors there.
3:21:14
This is ridiculous.
3:21:15
We called we called the mayor.
3:21:17
We, you know, we know the mayor personally.
3:21:19
We reached out to the mayor.
3:21:20
We reached out to Eric Batcher, who's the council member to the district, and they are our cries, their cries fall on deaf ears.
3:21:28
This is absolutely ridiculous.
3:21:32
And we and we know that these novel prophets, they're not doing the right thing.
3:21:37
And it's it's shameful that you guys don't recognize this.
3:21:40
You need to recognize this.
3:21:42
I don't know if you recognize the the the small business owners when you had your other committee.
3:21:47
It's ridiculous.
3:21:48
They they are hijacking our cities and they're and they're abusing the people who can
Speaker 1
3:21:52
ask it to wrap up.
Speaker 44
3:21:52
We'll leave it there.
3:21:53
We'll leave it there.
Speaker 1
3:21:55
Okay.
3:21:55
Thank you.
3:21:56
Okay.
3:21:57
We have ridiculous.
3:22:00
Yeah.
3:22:00
We have one more
Speaker 38
3:22:01
by the way, this is not a deadly weapon.
3:22:03
Alright?
3:22:03
Just so you know.
Speaker 1
3:22:04
Sir, that that is enough.
3:22:06
Okay?
Speaker 38
3:22:06
I don't know.
3:22:07
That's not enough because we've been sensitive.
3:22:09
We won't fit in.
Speaker 22
3:22:10
Thank you.
Speaker 1
3:22:10
We won't fit in.
Speaker 18
3:22:10
Thank you.
3:22:10
We won't
Speaker 27
3:22:10
fit in.
Speaker 1
3:22:10
Thank you.
3:22:11
Our number just gonna say no one is being censored.
3:22:13
Okay?
3:22:14
I really take I would get I really take onbridge with that.
3:22:18
These all of these meetings are recorded.
3:22:20
Okay?