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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Juan Nuñez, Community Organizer from Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition
2:45:44
·
137 sec
Juan Nuñez, a community organizer with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, testified in support of Intros 431 and 408 regarding street vending reform. He emphasized the importance of supporting both brick-and-mortar businesses and street vendors in the Bronx, highlighting the shared struggles of community members and the need for more accessible licensing.
- Nuñez is organizing around the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory and its impact on local businesses
- He argues that real estate speculation, not street vendors, is the biggest threat to small businesses
- Nuñez criticizes the current enforcement methods for street vendors, calling for a more humane approach
Juan Nuñez
2:45:44
Good afternoon everybody.
2:45:45
My name is Juan Nunez.
2:45:47
I am a community organizer with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition.
2:45:51
I wanted to thank chair, Menon and the committee for the opportunity to testify today in support of intros four thirty one and four zero eight.
2:46:00
I'm currently organizing around the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory, this massive building that is already having a massive impact on the small businesses on the Cambridge Corridor that includes brick and mortar and street vendors.
2:46:13
The Norfolk Bronx fights for racial justice and economic justice to transform the Bronx and beyond so that all of our people could thrive.
2:46:21
We help form tenant associations, merchant associations, and we're here as part of the Street Runner Reform Coalition.
2:46:26
We're Street Runner Project because we know that communities thrive when we work and organize together.
2:46:32
Use because you see the Street Runner that was ticketed is your neighbor whose kids attend the local elementary school two blocks away from the church you all go pray at on Sundays.
2:46:42
We are all going through the same struggle.
2:46:45
Everything is getting more expensive.
2:46:47
We have some of the highest eviction rates in the city in The Bronx, residential and commercial.
2:46:52
So if it's happening to you, it's happening to your neighbor.
2:46:55
Over the past three years, I've been working closely with the brick and mortar businesses on the corridor, helping to reactivate the merchant association, providing resources, training, workshops through SBS and other really good partners.
2:47:09
And I've been meeting with the vendors at the armory, also providing resources, compliance training, direct services, anything we can do to support them, which isn't much unless they have a permit or a license.
2:47:20
Which is interesting because the same could be said for brick and mortar businesses operating without long term leases.
2:47:27
So I really don't understand how any small business owner could be opposed to these two pieces of legislation knowing that the biggest threat to your business is real estate speculation, not the lady selling coquitos down the block.
2:47:39
This is a human rights issue.
2:47:41
There is no need to send sanitation police in SWAT gear, which I've seen myself, to hand people a 250 ticket.
2:47:49
Do we have NYC best teams that go to brick and mortar businesses?
2:47:52
We could do the same for street vendors and provide, permits and and and, licenses.
2:47:57
So, please, I'm in support of these, two bills, and I thank you for your time.