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REMARKS
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams advocates for street vendor reform legislation
0:11:03
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3 min
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams delivers remarks supporting a package of street vending reform bills, emphasizing the need to end criminalization of vendors and provide more licenses, services, and training. He highlights the economic benefits of the proposed legislation and the importance of supporting small businesses and immigrant communities.
- Williams introduced Intro 408, which would create a division within SBS to assist street vendors
- He cites data showing increased enforcement against vendors and long waitlists for vending licenses
- Williams argues that the legislation is crucial in the current political climate, choosing opportunity over criminalization for small businesses
Jumaane Williams
0:11:03
Thank you very much, madam chair.
0:11:05
Good morning, everybody.
0:11:06
First of all, let's go Knicks.
0:11:08
Great game.
0:11:09
Let's go Knicks.
0:11:10
I said Knicks in four.
0:11:11
I said what I said.
0:11:13
Good morning.
0:11:16
My name is Jermani Williams, public advocate for the City Of New York.
0:11:19
Thank you again, chairman and and committee members, for holding this hearing.
0:11:22
This day has been fought for a long time.
0:11:25
Hearing is essential at a moment when the federal government is actively seeking to criminalize many communities and prosecute our small businesses.
0:11:33
New York street vendors are our smallest businesses, many of which are minority and women owned businesses.
0:11:39
They are frequently the targets of excessive enforcement by law enforcement and city agencies.
0:11:44
Today, we are one step one important step closer to changing the dangerous dynamic of criminalization.
0:11:49
In 2024, excuse me, the NYPD and Department of Sanitation issued nearly double the amount of vending related tickets issued in 2023, '5 times higher than the number of tickets issued in 2019.
0:12:00
The enforcement costs related to issuing these tickets vastly outweigh the revenue generated by penalties.
0:12:05
In addition, the independent budget office found that license proposal made by intro 04/31 would boost the city's GDP by $17,000,000.
0:12:13
Frankly, this legislation is common sense, long overdue.
0:12:17
As of October 2023, were almost 11,000 individuals on the wait list for a general vendor license and nearly 10,000 individuals waiting to receive a food vendor permit.
0:12:27
As a part of the street vendor reform package, I introduced intro four zero eight which would create a division within the Department of Small Business Services or SBS to assist street vendors.
0:12:37
This division would provide much needed services and resources for street vendors alongside important educational and training programs on safe vending.
0:12:44
These bills are part of a package for a reason.
0:12:47
Each piece is essential.
0:12:48
There is a budget proposal this year that would allocate an additional $7,700,000 to the Department of Sanitation for vendor enforcement.
0:12:55
Notably, is still nothing to support vendor compliance and education.
0:12:59
We have to try our best to end the criminalization of street vendors, many of whom have been vending for years, must include more licenses, more services, and more training, not simply more enforcement.
0:13:10
I've said that said this before and we'll say it again, you can't rain down enforcement on an unfair system.
0:13:16
The goals of intro four thirty one and for vent the goals of intro and for vendors for vendors and consumers.
0:13:23
And as I call to close, I cannot overstate how crucial these bills are at this current moment.
0:13:29
The president in particular and unfortunately to walk them with the support of our mayor are quick leading our communities and and economy into extreme hardship and undue criminalization.
0:13:40
We must provide our communities with ways to help support themselves and their loved ones.
0:13:45
This is a common sense of legislation being heard today.
0:13:47
It's a major step in direction that chooses opportunity over criminalization and love over fear for our smallest businesses.
0:13:53
This is an amazing intersection of immigration, of economic empowerment, and small businesses.
0:13:59
We have to find a way to help the folks that our fabric is based on.
0:14:02
I don't think any New Yorker could think of a New York City without our street vendors who are out there in the rain today providing the services they always do.
0:14:10
We can find a way to regulate, this in a way that is actually fair and make sure everybody has what they need.
0:14:16
So I look forward to hearing what the department and agencies have to say today.
0:14:20
Thank you madam chair.