Q&A
Council Member Paladino discusses concerns about street vendors with Commissioner Kim
1:38:20
·
3 min
Council Member Vickie Paladino raises concerns about street vendors in her district, particularly on Bell Boulevard, where vendors are setting up directly in front of brick-and-mortar businesses. She asks Commissioner Kevin Kim about regulations and how to address this issue without impeding vendors' ability to make a living.
- Commissioner Kim explains that the primary purpose of an ongoing study is to focus on time, place, and manner of street vending.
- He clarifies that SBS is not a regulatory agency for street vendors, and enforcement powers lie with the Department of Sanitation.
- Kim emphasizes SBS's role in supporting all types of businesses and highlights the importance of small businesses in job creation and the local economy.
Vickie Paladino
1:38:20
Okay, sir.
1:38:22
Concerning the street vendors.
1:38:24
We have a a a problem in my district.
1:38:29
I really need to know when we let's take Bell Boulevard for prime example.
1:38:35
We have vendors that are setting up directly in front of and mirroring a business that is paying rent on the boulevard.
1:38:45
It's literally a truck, several trucks down bell, And but this one particular vendor is actually, like I said, doing exactly what the storefront is doing.
1:38:57
And it's just not right.
1:38:59
So while I understand a street vendor needs to make their money and I and I believe in it, a 100%, The problem is their locations and such.
1:39:09
Do we have any sort of ruling or any kind of things that they need to follow through small business practices because they cannot continue to impede upon people who are struggling in bricks and mortar.
1:39:25
So while I believe in vending, I believe that there's there's a place for vending.
1:39:29
And I know years ago, they used to be a favorite outdoor guy was right outside the Weisong Shopping Center.
1:39:37
His name was Jim and a retired farm in, but he nobody the vendors always knew a place to be.
1:39:45
So they would never, like I said, taking food out of somebody who's paying big money.
1:39:51
For bricks and mortar and really struggling.
1:39:54
So what can you help me out?
1:39:55
Like, how can you help me with that?
Kevin Kim
1:39:57
Well, I think that's what the primary purpose of the study is it will really focus on time, place, and manner.
1:40:05
And I think that's what addresses your concern.
1:40:08
There should be places that are appropriate at the time that's appropriate and in the manner that's appropriate.
1:40:15
There are laws in place.
1:40:16
We at SBS are not a regulatory agent see except for our small waterfront permits department.
1:40:23
They they just deal with a very specialized area.
1:40:26
But other than waterfront's none of our divisions have any regulatory power.
1:40:32
I think as you know, the mayor has put the enforcement powers on on the compliance with any kind of laws related to street vending with the Department of Sanitation.
1:40:41
And so they would be the more appropriate agency to speak to.
1:40:45
Yes.
1:40:45
So for us, at SBS.
1:40:47
We just wanna make sure that anybody who comes to us with a business, we can offer as many of the services because the end of the day, a successful business hires people.
1:40:58
Those record number of jobs, when it's 4,700,000 jobs that were created in New York City the record number, over a million are hired by small businesses alone.
1:41:08
And so without the small businesses, the city would not look the same.
1:41:13
We companies under 50 employees, small businesses make up 94% of all companies under 50 employees.
1:41:20
So these are very powerful numbers that have real community impact attached to them.
1:41:28
And at SBS, whatever business you're in, we wanna be supportive.
1:41:34
So that's something that I'll defer to you.
1:41:37
Thank you.
Vickie Paladino
1:41:37
Thank you.