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Q&A

Number and types of complaints about street vendors

0:41:38

·

81 sec

Deputy Commissioner Goodman provides information on complaints about street vendors:

  • In fiscal year 2025 (through April), there were over 22,000 311 complaints about street vending
  • Complaints are categorized by community board, zip code, and council district
  • Common complaints include vending in prohibited areas, vending in front of business entrances, narrow sidewalk issues, and material left behind
  • DSNY sanitation police officers inspect locations based on complaints and additional information from council members and community groups
  • Issues are resolved through verbal communication, summons issuance, or confiscation when warranted
Julie Menin
0:41:38
And how many complaints in the past year about street vendors have you received, and what are the most common complaints?
0:41:45
Explain how the city's responding to those complaints.
0:42:02
Can you break them down by borough?
0:42:06
Okay.
Joshua Goodman
0:41:48
So if we were to, say, speak about fiscal year 2025, there were about this is going through the April there were just over twenty two thousand three eleven complaints about street vending.
0:42:03
I have them by community board.
0:42:06
Or I could provide a borough breakdown at a later date if you'd like.
0:42:09
Okay.
0:42:09
But I have them by community board, by zip code, and by council district.
0:42:13
Those complaints are they run the gamut.
0:42:16
It may be this is a no vending area and there is vending occurring.
0:42:21
It may be I'm a brick and mortar business and there's someone vending right in front of my entrance which is not allowed.
0:42:27
It may be the narrow sidewalk issue and there's no clearance.
0:42:32
It may be material left behind.
0:42:34
So these basically lead to inspections.
0:42:37
DSNY sanitation police officers inspect these locations, particularly focusing on areas of the highest amount of three eleven complaint or additional info from members of this council, community groups.
0:42:50
And if the issues can be resolved with inspections, with verbal communication, they are.
0:42:54
And if they cannot be, they are resolved through summons issuance or confiscation when warranted.
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