PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ahmed Murad, Street Vendor, on Challenges Faced by Immigrant Street Vendors
5:50:43
ยท
4 min
Ahmed Murad, a street vendor since 2012, testifies about the challenges and fears faced by immigrant street vendors in New York City. He emphasizes the importance of vending for immigrants' dignity and livelihood while highlighting the increasing difficulties they face, including interactions with law enforcement and concerns about immigration enforcement.
- Murad waited 11 years to obtain a vending permit, illustrating the long wait times for legal authorization.
- He reports a 71% increase in ticket fines since 2022, adding financial pressure to vendors.
- Fears of both local police enforcement and potential immigration enforcement under a new Trump administration are significant concerns for the vendor community.
- Murad calls for the City Council to help provide more permits to street vendors to mitigate these issues.
Ahmed Murad (via Arabic Interpreter)
5:50:43
And I have a street vendor since 2012.
5:50:52
But I was obliged to wait for 11 years to take this, permit to work in the street.
5:51:01
As for us as immigrant.
5:51:10
The work is not like a way to, sustain our work.
5:51:18
But it is a way to keep our dignity.
5:51:23
And sustain our families.
5:51:57
And they make significant contribution not just to the local economy but also to social textures of the city.
5:52:07
Despite this on a daily basis, we face challenges and dangers to our safety and livelihood.
5:52:15
And also there is increases in the taxes, since 2022, by 71%.
Juan Diaz
5:52:24
Not taxes, the ticket.
Ahmed Murad (via Arabic Interpreter)
5:52:26
Oh, the ticket?
5:52:27
Yeah.
5:52:28
Okay.
5:52:28
It's not in the taxes.
5:52:29
Sorry.
5:52:30
It's the ticket.
5:52:36
Many of us live in constant fear with the police.
5:52:46
Almost, many of them they deal with a harsh way with the, street vendors.
5:52:57
In the last times, they, raised a lot of street vendors.
5:53:08
And our fears were, is increase are increased with, with Trump's coming to the administration.
5:53:18
In addition to the, difficulties that we struggle with the ordinary police.
5:53:28
And the fear of the street vendors from the, immigration police.
5:53:43
Because a lot of street vendors fears, fear the immigration police because that affects their work.
Garfield Green
5:53:55
And
Juan Diaz
5:53:58
the
Ahmed Murad (via Arabic Interpreter)
5:54:01
sentences of the police is much more severe than?
Raul Rivera
5:54:13
And
Ahmed Murad (via Arabic Interpreter)
5:54:13
because of that may affect their future and the future of their children?
5:54:33
The the most trees vendors, they don't have, like, a permit.
5:54:37
So we want you to help them to give them permits in order not to get be be affected from the police.
5:54:47
Thank you very much again.