Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Matthew Shapiro, Legal Director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center
1:45:07
·
170 sec
Matthew Shapiro, representing the Street Vendor Project, advocates for economic justice for street vendors in New York City. He supports Intro 431, which would gradually increase the number of vending licenses available, allowing current unlicensed vendors to formalize their businesses and work legally.
- Highlights the current lack of legal pathways for vendors to obtain licenses and permits
- Addresses concerns about increased vending, stating that compliance will improve with formalization
- Emphasizes that vending has been a historical economic pathway in NYC, and it's time to remove barriers for vendors
Matthew Shapiro
1:45:07
Hello, my name is Matthew Shapiro, and I am the legal director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center.
1:45:13
We are a membership based organization of over 3,000 vendors who work in New York City's public spaces.
1:45:19
These include a large community of immigrant vendors as well as native born and veteran street vendors.
1:45:23
We organize vendors to have their voices heard when it comes to policies that affect them as well as provide legal and small business services to maintain and grow their businesses.
1:45:32
We are here today to talk about economic justice and relief for the 23,000 vendor small business owners who are currently selling food and merchandise in our public spaces, serving New Yorkers and visitors alike.
1:45:43
81% of all use vending as their primary source of income.
1:45:49
The problem, as you well know, is that there is currently almost no legal pathway for vendors to formalize their business and obtain the required licenses and permits to operate.
1:45:59
In 1979 and 'eighty three, the number of food vendor permits and general vendor licenses were capped with a modest additional amount of only food vendor permits being released every year due to the passage of Local Law 18 in 2021.
1:46:13
However, every week, vendors come into our office either asking how they can get a license and permit to sell food or merchandise, or they come with multiple thousand dollar tickets because they took a risk selling tacos, ice cream, or cut mangoes to support their family.
1:46:28
These high fines are in addition to having their food seized and disposed of by the NYPD or Department of Sanitation.
1:46:35
Eight hundred thousand pounds of food from vendors was seized by DSNY in 2024 alone.
1:46:41
Vendors cannot even get on a waiting list for a license, which has thousands of names and is currently closed.
1:46:47
Intro 04/31 is the solution.
1:46:50
Gradually increasing the number of licenses available for a multi year period will allow those vendors who are currently working to formalize their business and work legally.
1:47:00
Some who oppose this legislation may say that this will open the floodgates with vendors everywhere.
1:47:06
Quite the opposite.
1:47:07
By giving vendors a license and permit, compliance with the sidewalk rules will increase since vendors have skin in the game and incentive to have a legal business.
1:47:16
There simply cannot be unlimited vending in New York City since 80% of New York City sidewalks are less than 12 feet wide and are therefore restricted for vending.
1:47:24
There are also numerous restricted streets and sidewalk placement rules that when fairly enforced will ensure that vendors keep adequate clearance from crosswalks, bus stops, taxi stands, and brick and mortar entrances.
1:47:37
Street vending has been an economic pathway for small businesses since New York City was founded.
1:47:42
For far too long, the city has placed insurmountable barriers for vending, instead prioritizing strict enforcement and criminalization.
1:47:49
It is time for the city to allow vendors to formalize, vendors, brick and mortars, and all New Yorkers will be better off.
1:47:55
Thank you.