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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Nick Gulotta on Street Vending Reform
4:49:00
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138 sec
Nick Gulotta, a resident of Jackson Heights, testifies in support of Intros 408 and 431, advocating for street vendor reform in New York City. He argues that the current system is outdated and unfair to vendors, citing historical data and the negative impacts of the current permit cap on immigrant vendors.
- Highlights that NYC issues fewer vendor permits now than it did 120 years ago, despite population growth
- Points out that NYC is the only major U.S. city with a cap on vendor permits, leading to 70% of vendors operating without one
- Emphasizes the risks of criminal summonses and potential deportation faced by vendors, calling for decriminalization of vending
Nick Gulotta
4:49:00
Thank you so much Chair Menon, Majority Leader Farias, and Council Member Sanchez for your incredible leadership on this issue.
4:49:07
I live off of Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, and I took today off to testify along with several vendors who are my neighbors and friends to support intros four zero eight and four thirty one.
4:49:19
Prior to today's hearing, I reviewed transcripts from the last ten years of council hearings on vending.
4:49:25
At each hearing opponents of increasing the number of permits and from the administration have asked the council to go back to the drawing board to conduct a comprehensive study, a census, before doubling down on a broken system.
4:49:39
At each hearing they've described legislation to expand permits as premature and hasty.
4:49:46
But the mayor's office actually did a comprehensive census and study on vending over a hundred years ago, in nineteen o five, the report on the mayor's pushcart commission, which showed that New York City actually issued 7,463 vendor licenses and estimated that there were approximately 9,000 vendors.
4:50:07
Today, our population has doubled and the number of vendors has more than doubled, yet New York City issues actually 600 fewer permits than we did 120 ago.
4:50:19
This council has the opportunity to finally address this issue through the street vendor reform package, a comprehensive rational approach to vending that will expand education, establish clear and fair enforcement system in every council district, and create a thriving, well regulated streetscape.
4:50:37
Every day that goes by is another day where vendors, ninety six percent of whom are immigrants, risk being given criminal summons or related charges that escalate from police enforcement.
4:50:49
The NYPD issued 9,376 tickets to vendors just last year.
4:50:54
New York City is the only major city in the country with a cap on vendor permits.
4:50:59
As a result, over 70% of vendors take the risk to operate without one.
4:51:03
Immigration legal service providers have raised the alarm about multiple cases where vendors were targeted by ICE because of criminal summonses they received.
4:51:10
No one should be criminalized, arrested or subjected to deportation for feeding New Yorkers.
4:51:14
I ask that the council move these bills to negotiations and pass them.
4:51:18
Thank you.