Street vendors react to passage of Proposition 2 as advocates call for City Council to protect them

The Street Vendor Advocate Project says that sets up jurisdictional battle, one that vendors will lose, while not addressing the difficult process to obtain proper permitting.

Rob Flaks

Nov 9, 2024, 3:55 AM

Updated 22 days ago

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The passage of Proposition 2 Tuesday night expanded the authority of the mayor through the Department of Sanitation to go clean the streets, including increased enforcement of illegal street vending.
The proposition sets up DSNY to now be the third agency with that authority, in addition to NYPD and Parks police.
The Street Vendor Advocate Project says that sets up jurisdictional battle, one that vendors will lose, while not addressing the difficult process to obtain proper permitting.
"City Council must use every remaining tool in their power to implement the street vendor reform bills and protect vendors from harassment," said Carina Kaufman Gutierrez, deputy director of the Street Vendor Project.
Fidel Cortez, owner of Nieves Ice Cream, operates just outside Maria Hernandez Park. He tells News 12 the passage of the measure saddens him, even as one of the few vendors that does have a permit.
"We see now in Queens, especially they are shutting down a lot of places. Now we are worried that could be coming to Brooklyn and that could be hard for all the vendors," he said.
He adds that he is in constant contact with vendors and advocates, like Street Vendor Project when police raids of vendors take place and worries this change will only make them happen more often.
In a press briefing following Election Day, Mayor Adams reiterated the ballot measures were a response to public pressure, despite criticism from the ACLU and other civil rights groups that the measures consolidated power in the office of mayor and away from City Council.
However some residents are in Bushwick say they would be sad to see the vendors go, especially if they were removed by force.
"The Sanitation Department has a lot bigger problems to worry about. These people are out here everyone they serve they know it's a community thing, it's not that big of a deal people aren't getting sick, so leave them alone they cook good food," said resident Brittany Cincaid.