Street Vendors react to decriminalization
The change is part of a package of reforms passed by the City Council aimed at addressing long‑standing issues in the city’s street vending system.
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Street vendors in New York City say they are feeling a sense of relief this week after a new law took effect that removes criminal penalties for vending without a permit.
The change is part of a package of reforms passed by the City Council aimed at addressing long‑standing issues in the city’s street vending system.
Vendors in Bushwick told News 12 the change makes it easier to work without fear.
One vendor said it feels like a weight has been lifted now that people are no longer calling the police on them.
She said that in the past, vendors would scatter when officers arrived, sometimes leaving behind merchandise or money that was later taken.
Another vendor said the streets feel calmer and that she no longer feels like she is being treated as a criminal while trying to earn enough to survive.
The reform follows years of debate over how the city handles vending enforcement. News 12 has previously reported on the push to overhaul the system, including the Council’s vote to override a mayoral veto on a major street vendor reform package and the city’s enforcement sweeps in Bushwick, which vendors said left them struggling to keep their businesses afloat:
Even with the threat of arrest removed, vendors say the biggest problem remains the lack of available permits.
One vendor said fines can reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars and that she has been waiting two years for her permit application to move forward.
Advocates say the city should focus less on issuing fines and more on helping vendors navigate the permit process.
Nachi, a member of a mutual aid group for NYC immigrants, said that instead of having multiple agencies handing out penalties, the city should be doing outreach and helping people apply for the permits they need.
"If you talk to these vendors, they want to have permits, they are waiting for years, they want to be a part of this community, helping them through that seems to be a better use of resources than more fines and more fear," he said.
Currently, the NYPD, the Parks Department and the Department of Sanitation all have enforcement authority over street vendors.
DSNY told News 12 the new law does not change its civil enforcement powers, which include breaking down vendor setups, issuing fines, and discarding food considered unsafe.
Several vendors said they have received fines of more than 500 dollars and that they are still waiting for permits despite applying years ago.
A separate bill that aims to reduce the permit waiting list, which can stretch up to a decade, is also moving through the City Council.
