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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Balanda Joachim, Campaign Organizer at Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development
3:38:42
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130 sec
Balanda Joachim, representing the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development and the United for Small Businesses of New York City coalition, testified in support of Intro 408 and Intro 431. She emphasized the importance of creating a dedicated street vendor division within SBS and lifting caps on vendor permits to support both street vendors and brick-and-mortar businesses in New York City's diverse neighborhoods.
- Intro 408 would create a street vendor division within SBS, providing resources and support for vendors
- Intro 431 would lift caps on vendor permits, addressing issues of informal markets and punitive enforcement
- The coalition supports iconic immigrant business corridors and works with both brick-and-mortar businesses and street vendors
Balanda Joachim
3:38:42
Thank you committee chair Julie Menon and members of the committee on consumer worker protection for the opportunity to testify today in support of intro four zero eight and intro four thirty one.
3:38:51
My name is Balana Jokim.
3:38:53
I'm a campaign organizer at the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development.
3:38:58
I'm here today on behalf of the United for Small Businesses of New York City coalition of community organizations across New York City committed to protecting small businesses and nonresidential tenants from the threat of displacement, particularly owner operated low income and BIPOC run businesses that serve our city's low income neighborhoods and communities of color.
3:39:20
Small businesses are cornerstones of our city and neighborhoods.
3:39:24
They provide jobs, culturally relevant goods and services, and community keeping and community keeping our neighborhood striving and vibrant places to live.
3:39:34
Our coalition supports some of the most iconic by pocket immigrant business business corridors in the city from Jackson Heights to the Lower East Sides Lower East Side and The Bronx.
3:39:44
And our coalition members work directly with both brick and mortar businesses and street vendors.
3:39:49
The passage of intro four zero eight would be crucial too for organizers conducting outreach and supporting vendors with their merchant associations.
3:39:57
Creating a dedicated street vendor division within SBS would ensure the street vendors who are often integral parts of local commercial ecosystems receive the resources, education, support they need to operate safely and in compliance with regulations.
3:40:12
However, the effectiveness effectiveness of this division depends on street vendors having proper access to permits and licenses.
3:40:19
Currently, the cap on permits continues to push vendors into informal markets and exposes them to punitive enforcement and displacement.
3:40:26
This not only harms vendors, but also negatively impacts foot traffic and economic vitality of nearby brick and mortar businesses.
3:40:34
The passage of intro four thirty one, which would lift the caps on vendor permits, is essential.
3:40:39
By ensuring proper legal access to permits, we empower vendors and allow USBNYC and its partners to more to more effectively support them as vital members of our city's commercial and cultural landscape.