Q&A
Discussion on SBS services for street vendors
2:55:00
ยท
122 sec
Council Member Oswald Feliz asks Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez about the Street Vendor Project's experience with SBS services, particularly the New York City Business Express team and compliance advisors.
- Kaufman-Gutierrez indicates that they haven't recommended these services to vendors due to the complexity of the street vending industry.
- She mentions that she hasn't heard of any vendors using the SBS Express team.
- Kaufman-Gutierrez notes that while SBS flyers list resources, they don't adequately address the needs of street vendors, particularly those waiting for business permits.
Oswald Feliz
2:55:00
Yep.
2:55:00
Thank you so much for your testimony.
2:55:02
Yeah.
2:55:02
A few questions.
2:55:03
Can you talk to us about the your experience with the New York City Business Express team and also with the compliance advisors, the business advocates, and the many programs that SBS offers?
Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez
2:55:15
Yeah.
2:55:16
I think SBS, we we know they did a, training internally to onboard their, their hotline regarding street vending.
2:55:27
It's not a service that we have recommended to vendors to participate in, just given the complexity of the street vending industry and how complicated permitting has become.
2:55:41
So we have, to be honest, have not used those services.
Oswald Feliz
2:55:46
Got it.
2:55:46
Okay.
2:55:47
Have you heard any vendors mention any good or negative feedback about the express team express services team?
Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez
2:55:55
Or I have not heard of any vendor who has used the team.
Oswald Feliz
2:55:59
Got it.
2:56:00
Okay.
2:56:00
Cool.
Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez
2:56:02
I will say the, I have these up here.
2:56:06
The, the flyers that go out about street vending are great because they list the business solution centers.
2:56:14
But we, again, are they they note they have their resources.
2:56:19
Oops.
2:56:20
I'll turn out the the let me turn off my blur background.
2:56:25
Like, we know we have the resources street vendors need to operate or expand.
2:56:30
It does feel like a little bit of a a dig because, unfortunately, SBS and and the city at large does not have the resources that street vendors need to operate and expand for those who are waiting in line for decades to receive their business permitting.
2:56:48
So, you know, we just encourage that in addition to the bills that are here today, intro 431 is also, in consideration moving forward.
Oswald Feliz
2:56:59
Okay.
2:56:59
Sounds good.
2:56:59
Thank you so much for, joining us and for your testimony.