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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Abram Morris
4:51:22
·
125 sec
Abram Morris, a constituent from Council Member Menin's district, testifies in support of street vendors and the proposed street vendor reform package. He emphasizes the importance of street vendors to communities, the economy, and street safety, while criticizing the criminalization of vendors.
- Supports Intro 431 and Intro 408, calling for their passage to expand opportunities for vendors and improve their relationship with the city
- Shares personal experience with a fruit stand in his neighborhood, highlighting the convenience and fresh food provided by vendors
- Argues that criminalizing vendors makes life harder for all New Yorkers and risks creating a "sterile city with silent streets"
Abram Morris
4:51:22
I'd like to thank the chair Menon for the opportunity to testify today.
4:51:27
Street vendors are an integral part of our communities.
4:51:30
We must help them succeed, not neglect them and criminalize them.
4:51:35
My name is Abram Morris and I'm a constituent of council member Menon district five.
4:51:41
On 80 First Street between First And Second in Manhattan, we depend on the fruit stand at the end of the block.
4:51:47
Growing up, the produce my family got from that stand made up a good portion of my diet growing up.
4:51:53
And the man who runs the stand stays out day and night, cold and warm and rain or shine to deliver Yorkville fresh food.
4:52:01
Street vendors provide New Yorkers with convenient food and products.
4:52:04
They're vital to the city economy and their presence brings vibrancy to our streets.
4:52:09
As a city, we must stop pushing them to the sidelines.
4:52:13
The city and state punish street vendors for trying to make ends meet while they reward large companies with security details.
4:52:21
As the cost of living has become top of mind to New Yorkers, criminalizing vulnerable entrepreneurs makes life harder for all of us.
4:52:29
I put forth my support for the street vendor reform package including intro four thirty one and four zero eight.
4:52:35
Our street vendors make our streets fun places to be and they make our streets safer with their eyes on the street.
4:52:42
Demonizing and criminalizing people destroys our streets and breaks down our communities.
4:52:47
Do we want a sterile city with silent streets?
4:52:51
If we do nothing to support our vendors, that's what we're gonna get.
4:52:55
We need these laws to create a bold and transformative relationship between the city and our street vendors.
4:53:02
Intro 04/31 will expand the opportunities for vendors to do their work within the law rather than pushing them to the fringes.
4:53:08
We need to integrate our vendors into our economy not force them out.
4:53:13
And Intro four zero eight will help our vendors to interface with the city and create buy in with these regulations.
4:53:18
Vendors and patrons alike will benefit from the added resources.
4:53:22
I ask that you move these bills out of committee and they be voted on as soon as possible.
4:53:26
Thank you.