PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Robert Belkipir, Veteran and Disabled Veteran
2:03:12
·
3 min
Robert Belkipir, a disabled veteran and street vendor, testifies about the challenges faced by veteran vendors in New York City, particularly in Times Square. He highlights issues with unfair ticketing practices and proposes a solution involving the use of unused newsstands by veteran vendors.
- Belkipir reports receiving disproportionate ticketing despite being a legal vendor in Times Square.
- He suggests repurposing approximately 300 unused newsstands in the city for veteran vendors.
- The proposal aims to accommodate veterans' needs for flexible work due to frequent medical appointments while potentially increasing city revenue.
Robert Belkipir
2:03:12
Alright.
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Thank you.
2:03:13
Hi, hello there.
2:03:14
How are you?
2:03:14
Alright.
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My name is Robert Belkipir.
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I'm a service collector, disaster veteran, and I'm blue license too.
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I just want to answer the of the the blue license.
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In Times Square, especially the the city, an NYPD, the other issuing summonses only for disaster.
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And I give you an example, Lee.
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I'm the only one, Miramar Mendo, Mister Wasey says merchandise bar as a food vendors.
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We are the only legal vendors in Times Square, but we are the only one who gets ticket.
2:03:46
Couple of months ago, the the city issued 18 tickets.
2:03:51
They gave me 16 because, you know, that's the problem.
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They don't give them about disaster infections.
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We are the only ones.
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So that's the problem.
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We we I have here New York State court order.
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They ignore that.
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Just like that.
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I told them, they come to me.
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They says, you can How many legal vendors there?
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This is not He's the only one who wants to go.
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He says, why?
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What's going on here?
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I'm a disabled veteran.
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They have I have everything legal.
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But okay.
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But I have something to say about the new stance.
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We are a man of the one everybody we did talk about.
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So I have a I'm gonna read you a letter.
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I'm happy you will answer with my accent.
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We are a group of deserved vaccine from New York City reaching out to you regarding the current state of the largely abundant New York City in Houston.
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Today, the committee of street vendors in New York City include more than 1600 veterans who makes their living on the street brave in all matters on a weather condition, wherever it's cold or heavy, whatever.
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In the summer or the winter, in a freezing cold, alright, during the rain and everything.
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For many of us, deserved veterans, These businesses are among the few that accommodate our need to attend frequent via hospital appointment.
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Of course, we have to make all appointments.
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If you get a regular job, we can't do it.
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So it is difficult enough for most everybody individuals to do.
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Of your body and mind, we believe there is an updated opportunity that will cost the city any financial services and would, in fact, add revenue to its coffers through the inaccurate stocks.
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Based as veterans who have made significant sacrifice to our country, we ask that our service and needs be an allogene respected.
2:05:50
And rewarded by licensing to and I'm printing what we are about to propose.
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Our preliminary research showed that only about 300 new stents.
2:06:03
So there is only 300 new stents.
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It used to be, like, 1300, but only 100 deposited with the with the new technologies.
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New stands are still operating in the city, most of which are in Manhattan, plus of course, Bronx Blue Brooklyn.
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They said I'm sorry.
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1950 it is like 1325 new stands with the c location.
2:06:26
Okay.
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But today, it's only 300.
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So whatever.
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We if we can get those, of course, we're gonna pay and everything, and we are willing to work with the DBS, And I think the deserved vaccine, we deserve this chance.
2:06:41
Because if we don't do it, probably the city would give it to someone else.
2:06:45
Their nose would go to sell inside.
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So I think they already started selling cigarettes or whatever they're saying.
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So if you can tune them into perfectly ask, so it will be the eyes of the city, plus it's gonna be a little help center for veterans.
