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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mahmoud Zayed, Member of Street Food Vendor Project on Street Vending Permits
2:04:37
ยท
134 sec
Mahmoud Zayed, a food vendor and member of the Street Food Vendor Project, testified about the challenges faced by street vendors in obtaining permits. He highlighted the long wait times for permits and the need for reform in the vending system.
- Zayed has been a food vendor for nearly 17 years but still doesn't have his own permit
- He urged the committee to hold a hearing on Intro 431 to address permit issues
- Zayed mentioned renting permits from an underground market, which impacts his business and the local economy
Mahmoud Zayed
2:04:37
I want to thank everyone that for giving me a chance to speak up today.
2:04:42
And my name is my name is Zayed, and I work in the Upper East Side.
2:04:47
And I have a I've been a food vendor since 02/2008, which is seven almost seventeen years now.
2:04:57
I'm also a member of a street food food vendor project.
2:05:01
My business actually providing a service to the community, and we create jobs and paying a lots of taxes to New York City.
2:05:10
We we are dealing with a a very old system, and I can't have my own permit.
2:05:18
I'm still in the wait list for so many years.
2:05:21
I don't know if I'm going to have my permit if I don't know if I'm gonna be alive when I'm going to have my permit or not.
2:05:30
Okay.
2:05:31
I'm renting I'm renting a permit from underground market, and and this is actually bring impact on my business and also to the local economy.
2:05:44
We need a a vending system that works for for me and for everybody else who wants to have a a food vendor permit.
2:05:55
I request that this committee this committee hold a hearing on Entrul four three one so we can have a a license or our own permit without run after people who already has the permit and rented and rented for other people.
2:06:12
I want to do share I want to share some of the names with you that who's been waiting for so many years get the the permits, and this so far, they haven't got it yet.
2:06:25
Juan Tu Kwan, Doris Casta Castaneda, Andrew oh, thank you.
Julie Menin
2:06:34
Okay.
2:06:35
Thank you very much.
2:06:35
And if you wanna submit the names, we're happy to to take that.
2:06:38
Thank you.
Mahmoud Zayed
2:06:39
You're welcome.
2:06:41
Joni Brown.
Julie Menin
2:06:43
No.
2:06:43
No.
UNKNOWN
2:06:43
I have to have we have to
Julie Menin
2:06:44
give everyone the
Mahmoud Zayed
2:06:45
exact same amount of time.
2:06:46
Thank you.
Julie Menin
2:06:46
Our roles.
2:06:47
But please, if you wanna
Mahmoud Zayed
2:06:49
Okay.
2:06:50
Thank