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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Al Long, Street Vendor from Flushing
4:32:18
·
4 min
Al Long, a street vendor from Flushing, shares his experiences with confiscations and violations, advocating for fair competition and the ability for small vendors to obtain licenses. He argues that society needs small vendors and that a free market should allow for open competition between businesses of all sizes.
- Reveals he has had over $10,000 worth of merchandise confiscated and received over 20 violation tickets along with his friends
- Believes most complaints against vendors come from local shop owners
- Urges the government to allow public vendors to obtain licenses to operate legally
UNKNOWN
4:32:18
So my name is Al Long.
4:32:19
I'm from Flushing.
4:32:24
And I've been a vendor in Flushing for two years.
4:32:27
So so far, I have had over $10,000 worth of merchandise that was confiscated.
4:32:40
So combining with my friends, we've been given over 20 violations tickets.
4:33:00
And I believe they are mainly caused by complaints of local shop owners.
4:33:10
So someone earlier mentioned that there were, within a year, over 100,000 phone complaints from So I believe majority of these phone complaints are from local business owners, shop owners.
4:33:43
Okay.
4:33:50
So I believe, overall, the society, the community needs us small vendors.
4:33:58
So a free market, free society should have free and open competition.
4:34:14
So if you provide superior service, then someone would use you.
4:34:21
If not, you will be eliminated.
4:34:39
So to allow us under normal circumstances, reasonable circumstances within the law to fairly compete, and that should what be a normal government agency should do, should allow us to do.
4:34:54
It shouldn't be a situation where there's a big tree with no grass at the root.
4:35:19
So a more perfect society would allow everyone to survive, big one, big guys, small guys, and that should that should be the normal the the norm.
4:35:39
And you probably noticed that a lot of the items that the vendors sell on the streets are very popular.
4:35:48
People support the items that we sell on the street.
4:35:57
So it's a society for everyone, big or small.
4:36:18
Urge that we, the public people, would be allowed to get a license vendors so then we can do our work.
4:36:28
Okay.
4:36:28
Thank Thank you.
4:36:30
Thank you, everyone.
4:36:50
Dear friends, government and guests.
4:37:04
Thank you for the platform you're providing me right now.