PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Armando Crescenzi on Street Vending and Veterans' Issues
2:08:13
ยท
8 min
Armando Crescenzi testified about the importance of street vending for veterans and provided comments on several resolutions and introductions related to veterans' issues. He emphasized the need for better support for veteran street vendors and criticized some proposed legislation.
- Highlighted the benefits of street vending for veterans, including financial stability and reintegration
- Criticized Intro 687 regarding commissary fee waivers as not beneficial to veterans
- Suggested improvements to Resolution 465 on public housing for veterans, including expanding preferences beyond just public housing
- Proposed changes to the Street Vendor Advisory Board, recommending that members spend time working with vendors to better understand their issues
Armando Crescenzi
2:08:13
Good afternoon to the committee and to all the veteran advocates who are here today.
2:08:17
My name is Armando Crisci.
2:08:20
I was a little confused coming in what the, agenda was gonna be today, so I put my focus on the introductions and the resolutions.
2:08:29
However, having sit, having sat here and heard of, of how, how meaningful, and helpful the arts are to veterans in the city, I I have to say that, street vending is likewise very helpful to veterans in the city.
2:08:49
You asked earlier, if somebody had a success story, success stories about how arts were able to help a veteran, overcome a crisis or or maybe a suicide.
2:09:01
I I have 100 to store not 100, but certainly dozens of stories where street vending was basically the bridge, the foundation that helped veterans in crisis make it through another day and turn their lives around.
2:09:16
And the fact that, you know, I hate to say it, but the, the the discrepancies between the willingness to embrace the arts, but street vending not so much.
2:09:31
It it it really left me, with the bad impression of the council.
2:09:35
And I feel that, basically, the council owes all the vendors in this room an apology because it I have kids, and I'm not gonna invite kids to the party and make one feel special and the other one feel like crap.
2:09:51
So I think the council owes an apology to all the vendors in this room.
2:09:57
So I'd like to go on and speak a little bit more about the, how beneficial street vending can really be.
2:10:07
Basically, just like the dough fund says, work works.
2:10:11
Certainly, for immediate finance, self efficacy, job training, job development, career development, a bridge to a reintegration.
2:10:21
You know, veterans, it it's rough out there.
2:10:23
People who do this for a long time, it's it's really just a mechanism for the veteran to get on his feet and hopefully come up with a plan, build a restaurant, go back to school, you you know, something else.
2:10:36
For those of us who stay, they get good at it.
2:10:39
There are fortunes to be made out there.
2:10:41
Sadly, veterans have not been given the opportunity they promised, and it's just not easy for vets to do this.
2:10:48
I would say any vet who finished basic training should be a success out there.
2:10:52
But because of the city's harassment and disrespect, they're driven out of the marketplace.
2:10:58
So having said that, I like to go, to what I was gonna do and comment on the resolutions and the intros.
2:11:06
Regarding resolution number 6, 465 on public housing, I'm fine with everything except for the resolution.
2:11:15
The resolution has, only says that the veteran shall be given preference for public housing.
2:11:22
Alright?
2:11:23
That needs to be broadened.
2:11:25
Public housing, all new developments, any development where the, the builders have been given a tax credit or a tax break, Alright?
2:11:33
It needs to be expanded.
2:11:35
Also, with the city of YES having been approved, there's a not a lot of opportunity there for the city.
2:11:41
They're gonna separate $5,000,000,000 to promote the city of YES.
2:11:45
Well, how about how about a program where if if a homeowner rents a unit to a veteran, their loan could be forgiven.
2:11:54
The cost the loan for the cost of their building their dwelling unit could be forgiven over, let's say, 5 years.
2:12:01
Alright.
2:12:01
So I thought that was a pretty good idea.
2:12:05
And, of course, miss Mitchell Lama and any other any other, housing that the city has access to.
2:12:11
Alright?
2:12:12
Regarding regarding the, the real estate tax break, also, I'm a supporter of that, but, the resolution the resolution is vague because we already have, a property tax exemption for veterans.
2:12:30
15%, 20%.
2:12:32
We already have that.
2:12:33
What we're looking for is an exemption for the entire annual tax.
2:12:38
So that resolution's gotta be cleaned up a little bit.
2:12:42
Moving right along to the original oh, I'll start with the, the silly one first or next, and that is, the commissioner shall waive the fee for, commissary operators who reserve a space for 1 mobile food vet.
2:13:02
Who wrote that?
2:13:03
I don't know any veterans who own commissaries.
2:13:06
Alright?
2:13:07
That was not written by a veteran.
2:13:09
It was not written for a veteran's interest, and there's no way to make sure that benefit will trickle down to a veteran.
2:13:16
In fact, having been out there for 20 years, I have to say that the commissaries are very hostile place for veteran.
2:13:22
And the idea that one veteran by himself is gonna be in a very competitive and aggressive and sometimes violent environment by himself in a commissary.
2:13:33
I mean, I've been a victim.
2:13:36
I remember when the when the, the hot the hot dog carts, the Nathan's came out, they were all electric carts.
2:13:42
I can't tell you how many times I went to get my cart.
2:13:45
It had been unplugged overnight.
2:13:47
Alright?
2:13:47
And you go to complain, next thing you know, your gas cords are cut.
2:13:50
So I just wanna wrap this up because the next item is very important.
2:13:53
And the thing is, I wanna like to have a little more time because we spent about an hour and 40 minutes on the arts.
2:13:59
And I think that
Robert Holden
2:14:01
That's the topic of the hearing.
Armando Crescenzi
2:14:02
So Then alright.
2:14:04
Well, what This
Robert Holden
2:14:05
is not a food venue.
Armando Crescenzi
2:14:06
The resolution well, I don't know.
2:14:07
I was invited to discuss the resolution.
Robert Holden
2:14:09
Well, again, you're you can talk about the resolution, But but to knock the other topic and say, well, you know, we're not giving enough time for this topic we are.
2:14:19
I'm giving you I've given you more than
Gene De Francis
2:14:21
a lot of people.
Armando Crescenzi
2:14:22
That's disingenuous.
2:14:22
That's very disingenuous.
Robert Holden
2:14:24
Okay.
2:14:25
Then that's that's your opinion.
2:14:26
But if you wanna change the word commissaries minute.
2:14:29
What what let me just get back to your original you just mentioned about, 687, the the word commissaries.
2:14:35
What would you change it to?
2:14:38
You don't like that word?
2:14:39
No.
2:14:39
So what would you change it to?
Armando Crescenzi
2:14:41
When you start when you start giving commissaries to service I
Robert Holden
2:14:44
just asked you a question.
2:14:46
It has to be thrown out.
2:14:47
Change the resolution.
Armando Crescenzi
2:14:48
You're rewarding our abusers by giving the commissary owner a break.
Robert Holden
2:14:52
What would you like to say?
Armando Crescenzi
2:14:54
What am I trying to say?
2:14:55
Build commissaries for veterans.
Robert Holden
2:14:57
Okay.
2:14:59
Thank you.
2:14:59
Thank you for your time.
Armando Crescenzi
2:15:01
Thing on the appointments to the street vendor, street vendor adviser report.
2:15:07
Yes.
2:15:10
The title of those people who are picked is absolutely inconsequential.
2:15:16
It could be the pope.
2:15:18
It could be Derek Jeter.
2:15:19
If they don't have training, if they don't have awareness of what is going on in the street, if they're not aware of what's going on, it doesn't matter if they're commissioners of this or commissioners of that.
2:15:30
They are not gonna help write any legislation that's gonna help any street vendors.
2:15:34
So my suggestion would be, when, to add to that amendment, during during the member's tenure on the street vendors advisory board, each member must spend at least one day a month in a on a field day working with a vendor.
2:15:53
Alright?
2:15:53
And it should cover all the vendors.
2:15:55
A general vendor who's a vet.
2:15:57
Alright?
2:15:58
A general vendor who's not a vet.
2:16:00
It should cover food vendors who are vets and food vendors who are not vets.
2:16:04
It should cover those vets who are specialized vending licensees and those vets who are not specialized licensees.
2:16:12
And it should also include First Amendment matter, of, First Amendment, matter vendors.
Robert Holden
2:16:19
Okay.
Armando Crescenzi
2:16:19
So if they because what has happened, why we have made no progress over 20 years is because folks who are preparing legislation or hearing our complaints just don't understand our issues.
2:16:34
So there needs to be a certain level of proficiency on the board.
2:16:38
And I have so much more to say, but I'm sorry if I encroached on your time.
Robert Holden
2:16:42
Thank you.