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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Maryam Shuaib, Representative of Council on American Islamic Relations of New York
4:02:15
·
135 sec
Maryam Shuaib, representing the Council on American Islamic Relations of New York, testified in support of Intros 408 and 431 to address the issues faced by street vendors in New York City. She highlighted the cultural significance of street vendors and the problems caused by the current permit system.
- Emphasized the unrealistic cap on permits, leading to over-policing and economic insecurity for vendors
- Cited examples of harsh enforcement, including confiscations and summonses, particularly affecting Muslim vendors
- Argued that the proposed legislation would create sustainable economic opportunities and improve regulatory compliance
Maryam Shuaib
4:02:15
Hello everyone, thank you so much for your time and for hearing my testimony.
4:02:19
My name is Miriam, I'm representative of the Council on American Islamic Relations of New York, and our work extends to protecting Muslims everywhere.
4:02:28
Street vendors are a cornerstone of New York City, emblematic of the rich culture and diversity that is the foundation of the city that we love.
4:02:35
In fact, the iconic chicken over rice meal originated from halal food vendors just like the ones down the street who wanted to give cab drivers an accessible halal food option.
4:02:46
The number of available permits is way too low, which subjects people to over policing and risking their economic security.
4:02:52
The current cap on permits for street vendors is unrealistic and currently does not justify the over policing of street vendors.
4:02:59
Over 10,000 street vendors await their turn in a dysfunctional system that is impractical and inaccessible at best.
4:03:05
As a result, New York City has issued over 10,000 tickets to street vendors, confiscated over 800,000 pounds of food, with DSDNY issuing over 400 summonses in Corona, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights in the last year alone.
4:03:19
Most of these tickets, confiscations, and summonses were issued because of the absence of a permit.
4:03:25
In the words of Mahmoud Khalil, who has the right to have rights?
4:03:30
Is it the Muslim street vendor who was issued a $250 ticket for not having a permit, or is it the officer who raided his table in Jackson Heights just mere days before the start of Ramadan as he sold prayer mats and copies of the Quran.
4:03:42
What about the 14 year old girl standing by her mother on a hot summer's day?
4:03:46
No permit was all it took for an NYC Parks patrol officer to handcuff a street vendor before wrestling her 14 year old daughter to the ground.
4:03:54
The current permit system excludes those who need it most.
4:03:57
Your support of Intros four zero eight and four thirty one can change this unsustainable dynamic.
4:04:02
Intro four thirty one would ensure regulatory compliance of all mobiles all mobile food and merchandise, which would create sustainable economic opportunity for the city's smallest and mightiest businesses.
4:04:13
Intro four zero eight would create an off an office of tree vendor services within SBS, ensuring that tree vendors
4:04:23
And outreach to support businesses, and thank you so much, and I hope that you all vote in support of both resolutions.
4:04:29
Thank you.
Julie Menin
4:04:19
come back to I'm just gonna ask you to wrap up, and then you can submit your written testimony.
4:04:22
Right.