Sonia Lizcano She is Venezuelan by birth, she has been a New Yorker since she arrived in the Big Apple nine months ago on one of the buses from Texas, she has been a mother since her almost two-year-old daughter was born, and she is peddleraccording to his own words, because “it is the only way he has found to earn a living and rummage”. The 23-year-old informal worker has become a common face on the streets of Roosevelt Avenue and even in restaurants where she goes to sell sweets and chocolates, carrying her daughter on her back, as well as on the subway platforms. from where she assures the policemen who see her offering her sweets take her out almost daily.
And if in train waiting areas and carriages it has become more and more common to see Street sellersmostly migrant women, already vendors with fruit and churro stands, outside, in neighborhoods like Jackson Heights and Corona, in Queens, Upper Manhattan, Union Square and parts of Brooklyn like Sunset Park, food vendors They have been taking over sidewalks to make some money with their informal business and they have even installed awnings with tables and chairs, like the arepas and empanadas that are seen on New York streets today.
“I prefer to be a street vendor and earn an honest living instead of stealing or begging give me something It’s hard, and although you always have to keep an eye out because the police take us away, for now I have no other way to make money”, says the Ecuadorian Leopoldo Cardenaswho sells food home in a corner of the roosevelt avenue.
And while the street vendors defend their workneighbors and small business owners do not see them with such good eyes, stating that the proliferation of informal merchants has unleashed a storm, where even walking has become a challenge in certain streets, where there is greater disorder and even an increase in trash.
“This doesn’t look like New York anymore. This it looks like a fair or a bazaar one of those that exist in the neighborhoods of our countries, and although I have nothing against people who are just arriving, I also don’t want to see my neighborhood become a place where I can’t even walk and where even at night I It’s scary to pass by,” says the Colombian Fanny Sanmiguel, who lives on 80th street in Jackson Heights 25 years ago. “Roosevelt has always been a mess, But it is that now this has turned into chaos and I feel that the Mayor does nothing to bring order. Those who just arrive cannot come to impose their law and fill the sidewalks to sell their things and the City has to find spaces so that they can earn a living but not on the streets”.
it has been such the hassle with the increase in street vendors in recent months, that even in neighborhoods of the city, meetings have already begun to be organized to demand action from the authorities, as happened last Monday in Corona.
There, restaurant, store and business owners met with community members to address concerns they have with the increase in street vending that they say has “taken over” their neighborhood.
“The well-being and safety of residents are at stake, as businesses experience declining clientele, organizations feel the urgency for a solution, and health issues related to extreme sanitation concerns,” the spokespersons said. meeting in a statement, where they insisted on the urgency of efficient solutions.
Area residents like Massiel Lugowho even stated that he was afraid of security issues in his neighborhood, mentioned that he is promoting a campaign to fill out a petition with hundreds of neighbors so that the City hears them and lends a hand to promote clean and safe streets.
“We have to show that our voices matter too because I feel like only the vendors have been heardbut we have residents who have been here for decades and we have businesses that have also been losing sales,” said the mother of the family, who criticized that in recent days elected officials such as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, promoted a demonstration denouncing the uprising of street vendors, for whom they demanded more sales permits.
Yarin Nadelwho has several points of telephone accessories, assured that it is not an attack on street vendors but a matter of justice, since he mentioned that vendors have set up stalls near their stores selling items similar to those he sells, at a lower price. price because they do not have to pay taxes or rent, which is leading to their business and others in the area being severely affected.
“We are supporting families, we pay taxes and we are doing things right, but many business owners and residents here are afraid to go out and really express how they feel, out of fear,” said the businessman.
AND when questioning the municipal authorities about the claims of neighbors and businesses New Yorkers about the impact that the increase in street vendors is causing and how they are addressing the situation, the City Administration did not reveal exactly what action plan it will implement, but two local agencies insisted on asking the street vendors to follow the rules established.
Single moms selling candy on NYC trains. Photo: Edwin Martinez
“We remind all vendors of their legal responsibilities to not leave litter or merchandise, and we encourage vendors to visit nyc.gov/vendingenforcement for educational tips on vending enforcement, which are available in twelve languages, including English and Spanish,” said Vincent Gragnani, spokesman for the New York City Department of Sanitation, who mentioned that they are taking limited enforcement action.
“As part of the commitment to the Administration Adams With the health, safety, accessibility, and cleanliness of our streets, the Department of Sanitation conducted inspections of vending machines and limited enforcement in Corona Plaza on July 26 and 27. This is a location where recent visits have shown cleanliness and pedestrian access issues,” the official said. “The Sanitary Police withdrew five abandoned stalls, all of which have vouchers and can be claimed by their owners, and issued a citation to a vendor for obstructing the sidewalk.”
The City Department of Transportation (DOT)which also works to ensure that public spaces are used in accordance with the laws, stated that this body promotes the Equity Program in public space to expand maintenance capacity and improve cleanliness in areas such as Corona and revealed that they are working in a long-term outdoor market concession operation in Corona.
“It can better serve the various uses of the space and enhance the experience for all who live, work, or visit the area,” said vincent baroneDOT spokesman.
But from the other shoredefenders of Street sellers, Those who continue to cry out for their work to be formalized, and not only to increase sales permits but also to promulgate actions that allow them to work supported by the law, ask the Municipal Administration to seek solutions and not mere punishments.
This is how he defends it Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, deputy director of Street Vendor Projectwho advocates for informal traders, and who warned that the independent labor force has been joined by thousands of recently arrived migrants who see street vending as a way to survive in the Big Apple.
New street food businesses line the sidewalks of Roosevelt Avenue. Edwin Martinez
“Vending has been a part of New York City since the 1800s, providing opportunities for low-income immigrant families to start a business. Many new Yorkers are using their skills to support their families as they try to navigate our broken system to obtain street vendor permits.”, assured the spokesperson for the Street Vendro Project, highlighting that street vendors are asked to work with their licenses and permits when the municipal entities themselves have extremely limited the adequate concession of guarantees, leaving a vast majority of merchants with the only option of sell their products without authorization.
“There is essentially no way for anyone wanting to start a street vending business to obtain a permit to operate legally, which forces potential entrepreneurs to operate in the underground economy,” said the activist. “Our City must address the root problems so that vendors can open businesses, opening access to street vendor permits, and guaranteeing that an agency City is in charge of vendor outreach and education. Enforcing an unfair system does not lead to progress.”
