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Council Member Amanda Farías advocates for street vendor legislation
0:18:59
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144 sec
Council Member Amanda Farías expresses strong support for a package of bills aimed at reforming street vending regulations in New York City. She highlights the importance of street vendors to the city's economy and culture, while criticizing the current regulatory framework as outdated and unfair.
- Farías sponsors Intro 1251, which aims to ensure the full issuance of 445 supervisory licenses each year as mandated by Local Law 18.
- She co-sponsors Intro 431, which proposes lifting caps on food and general vendor licenses and increasing the number of licenses issued annually.
- The council member emphasizes the need for a system that respects street vendors and moves away from over-policing.
Amanda Farías
0:18:59
Thank you chair Menon.
0:19:01
I'd like to highlight and be associated to the words of my counterpart, partner in crime, Councilmember Sanchez.
0:19:10
This hearing is a long time coming specifically on the bills we have in front of us today.
0:19:14
Myself and Councilmember Sanchez have worked diligently to lift up the voices of vendors in the people's house.
0:19:20
Street vendors are a vital part of New York City's economy, their entrepreneurs, cultural ambassadors, and community anchors.
0:19:28
But our city's regulatory framework continues to fail them, keeping vendors trapped in an outdated unfair system that limits opportunity and invites criminalization.
0:19:38
I'm proud to sponsor Intro twelve fifty one, which addresses a major flaw in the city's implementation of local law 18.
0:19:45
That law mandates the Department of Health to make 445 supervisory licence applications available each year through 02/1932, but applications available is not the same as licences issued.
0:19:59
As a result, we are falling short of the goal this law sets out to achieve each and every year, which is continually keeping licences out of the hands of our vendors.
0:20:09
Intro twelve fifty one fixes this by authorizing the department to issue more than 445 applications per year, actually as many as necessary to ensure that 445 licenses are issued each year.
0:20:23
That's the only way we'll reach 4,450 total licenses by 02/1932, as the law intended to do from the beginning.
0:20:32
This is a simple and essential correction that would help get more vendors out of the underground economy and into safe legal employment.
0:20:39
I'm also proud to be the co prime sponsor of Introduction 04/31 alongside council member Pierina Sanchez.
0:20:45
This legislation lifts the arbitrary caps on food and general vendor licenses, increases the number of licenses issued each year for the next five years, and strengthens local training rules and restrictions.
0:20:58
If we're serious about equity and opportunity then lifting those caps is long overdue.
0:21:03
Together with Intro four zero eight, these bills form a package rooted in fairness, economic justice, and common sense.
0:21:09
They move us away from over policing and toward a system that respects the value of street vendors and what they bring to our city every day.
0:21:17
Let's get this done and give vendors the dignity, recognition, and protection they have long deserved.
0:21:22
Thank you for the time.