PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Marlene Ansaldo, Street Vendor, on Street Vendor Challenges and Harassment
5:48:52
ยท
76 sec
Marlene Ansaldo, a street vendor with 21 years of experience, appeals to city authorities and council members for help in obtaining licenses and permits, and to stop harassment from sanitation departments and police. She emphasizes that vendors want to work peacefully without asking for handouts.
- Ansaldo reports constant harassment from authorities, including confiscation of merchandise and hefty fines ranging from $2,000 to $3,000.
- She specifically requests intervention to stop sanitation departments from throwing away vendors' merchandise.
- The testimony highlights the economic challenges faced by street vendors due to enforcement actions.
Marlene Ansaldo (via Spanish Interpreter)
5:48:52
My name is Marlene Ansaldo, and I'm a street vendor.
5:48:58
I've been doing it for 21 years, and I just want to ask the authorities, the council members, the politicians to help us with licenses and permits To stop the harassment of the authorities of sanitation, the police, this has become a massive harassment against street vendors.
5:49:23
We just ask you to let us work.
5:49:27
We don't want anything for free.
5:49:30
We just want to work in peace.
5:49:34
This has become a constant harassment with the authorities, sanitation, and officers.
5:49:42
Please, we just want to work in peace and to stop the harassment from sanitation because they take our merchandise and they throw it in the garbage, and they give us tickets from 2 to $3,000.
5:49:55
That's a lot of money.
5:49:57
Thank you very much to all of you, and, we want you to to help us stop the harassment from sanitation and the police.
5:50:07
Blessings to all of you.