TESTIMONY
Mohamed Attia, Managing Director of the Street Vendor Project, on the Need for Reforming New York City's Dysfunctional Street Vending System
5:53:46
·
150 sec
Mohamed Attia testified that the current street vending system in New York City is dysfunctional and not working for vendors, city agencies, or the public.
- He criticized enforcing vending laws when vendors cannot obtain the required licenses and permits.
- Attia highlighted the fixed number of vending licenses since 1979 as a key driver trapping vendors in poverty.
- He called on the City Council to reform the vending system by passing bills to increase license availability and provide resources for vendors.
Mohamed Attia
5:53:46
Hello.
5:53:46
It's on.
5:53:47
Good afternoon, Richard, Brandon.
5:53:49
Chair Krishnan and council members.
5:53:51
My name is Mohammad Atia.
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I'm the managing director of the chief vendor project.
5:53:54
Thanks for the opportunity to testify today.
5:53:57
As you have heard from so many people so far, the winning system we have right now is now functioning, is now working for the vendors, now working for city agencies, is now working for New Yorkers.
5:54:08
And I'm here today to highlight the fact that you cannot enforce a system that's impossible to follow.
5:54:13
No matter how much we're funding DSNY police, to enforce the vending laws.
5:54:18
Nothing will improve until Syria's efforts are made to reform the vending system starting with making sure that vending licenses and permits are available.
5:54:27
It is self contradictory that one city agency, DSNY, is finding the vendors who are not having a license, while the other agencies like DCWP and DOH are not offering the same license for vendors.
5:54:40
The current system of chief bending illustrates clearly how the city government is failing to regulate such an important industry that has been a part of the city for centuries.
5:54:51
As we heard today loud and clear from commissioner Tisch when she was asked about what tools the agency would need to change the dynamics in the streets.
5:55:00
She said, quote, the key driver is the number of licenses we give out as a city.
5:55:06
End quote.
5:55:07
A number that has been fixed since 1979 since the eighties and has been only increasing very slowly for food vendors over the last several months.
5:55:15
We cannot hide from the fact anymore.
5:55:18
The number of license available is the key issue.
5:55:21
More enforcement of the current system means trapping vendors and poverty.
5:55:25
And extracting wealth from disadvantaged or marginalized communities.
5:55:29
We cannot blame the city agencies for the number of permits or licenses available They only implement what's in the books.
5:55:36
It's the city council's job to change the law.
5:55:39
And we hope that the council will address the pending issue soon and stop ignoring the elephant in the room.
5:55:45
We need to reform.
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It's that simple.
5:55:47
We hope that the council will take action on some of the bills that were mentioned today and show 431 that will make sure vendors have access to business licensing and show 408 that will make sure that the city is providing trainings, workshops, and resources to the vendors along with the 2 other bills that were mentioned Andrew 47, sponsored by council member Krishnan, and Andrew 24, sponsored by council member Delarosa.
5:56:13
Thank you so much, and we're happy to answer any questions you may have for us.