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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eliana, Street Vendor and Member of Street Vendor Project
3:13:08
·
4 min
Eliana, a street vendor for 39 years and member of the Street Vendor Project, testified about the challenges faced by street vendors in New York City. She emphasized the need for reform bills to provide a legal pathway for vendors to work without fear of punishment.
- Eliana has worked as a street vendor for 39 years but has never been able to obtain a permit, resulting in continued summonses.
- She stressed the importance of street vending for her independence and survival, highlighting that vendors contribute to the economy and pay taxes.
- Eliana urged the city council to approve reform bills, specifically mentioning Intros 431, 408, 407, and 204, to address the issues faced by street vendors.
UKNOWN
3:13:08
Good afternoon, your excellency and the audience.
3:13:20
My name is Eliana.
3:13:21
I'm very proud to be a member and leader of.
3:13:28
And I am a founding member of Street Vendor Project.
3:13:34
I have lived in the city of New York for forty three years.
3:13:42
And I have worked as a street vendor for thirty nine years.
3:13:54
So I work legally with a license, but I have never been able to obtain a permit.
3:14:02
I live alone and this is how I survive.
3:14:08
I do not have a big business or a boss to protect me.
3:14:15
I just have my own hands and my efforts.
3:14:25
In fact, after all these years, I continue receiving summonses because I don't have a permit.
3:14:34
The truth is that we cannot obtain one.
3:14:50
So the truth is that when we go to request a permit, the city tells us we have no licenses for you and then they punish for This is why we are demanding that the city council approve the projects or the the bills, the reform bills for street vendors.
3:15:23
Number four thirty one, four zero eight, 40 seven and 20 four.
3:15:36
These bills would finally provide street vendors a pathway to work legally and without fear.
3:15:47
Street vending is not a job for me.
3:15:51
It's my independence.
3:15:53
It's my survival.
3:15:58
It gives me the power to survive on my own.
3:16:08
With dignity after decades decades contributing to this great city.
3:16:15
We do not depend on government help.
3:16:21
We pay our taxes.
3:16:25
We contribute to the economy.
3:16:31
We want to follow the law but the city will not allow us.
3:16:41
Every day that I go to work, I carry this fear of being ticketed.
3:16:47
Harassed or something worse.
3:16:52
As an immigrant woman who works alone.
3:16:57
This is a huge fear.
3:16:59
But I continue going.
3:17:07
Well, we fight for permits to formalize our work.
3:17:22
Okay.
3:17:28
Thank you very much.
Julie Menin
3:17:14
Okay.
3:17:14
I'm just gonna ask you to wrap up and you can submit the written testimony.