(New York, NY) – On Thursday, December 4, Council Member Pierina Sanchez and City elected colleagues gathered a broad coalition of brick-and-mortars and street vendors to demand urgently needed reform to the broken street vending system. The organizations highlighted the importance of Sanchez’s bill, Int. 431-A, which aims to fundamentally reform NYC’s street vending system through a balance of expanded access to licenses, alongside provisions that require increased and targeted enforcement. The bill will also adds new provisions that strengthen how licenses are suspended and revoked, broadens representation on the Street Vendor Advisory Board, and requires regular reporting to assess conditions on the ground.

“The street vending system in NYC is broken, and today marks a critical milestone in the path to reform,” said NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez, prime sponsor of Int. 431-A. “For the first time, supermarkets, bodegas, and restaurants who have long been on the opposite side of the debate table are joining forces with street vendors to demand reform. Int. 431-A offers a balanced path forward by pairing stronger, targeted enforcement with an expansion of licenses, so we can bring order to our streets without criminalizing the people who feed our city. As the daughter and granddaughter of street vendors, I cannot accept a status quo where vendors are scapegoated for our inaction,” she continued. “Over the past year — and especially in these last few weeks — stakeholders have engaged in productive, if difficult, conversations. While we are still finalizing the bill, we have more momentum than ever before to meaningfully reform street vending in NYC, with a broad coalition that understands there is a moral imperative to fix this system now. We owe it to our immigrant workers, to our small businesses, and to our neighborhoods to get this done before the end of session. To my Council colleagues: the time is now — let’s finish the job.” 

“I want to thank Council Member Pierina Sánchez for thoughtfully amending this legislation to reflect the concerns raised by stakeholders across the city. By reducing the long wait times for obtaining a vendor license while also strengthening enforcement, Intro 431-A charts a fair and workable path forward. This balanced approach will support the thousands of street vendors who contribute so much to our vibrant neighborhoods,” said NYC Council Member Julie Menin. 

“We must remove unnecessary barriers that prevent street vendors from getting business licenses. There are extreme faults within our street vendor licensing process that harm the working people of our city. Street vendors are at the beating heart of many of New York’s neighborhoods, and many of our immigrant communities in particular. As immigrants face violent attacks from the Trump administration, we should be making the process of legally engaging in business easier, not more tedious. Intro 431-A will effectively right the wrongs of an outdated system by expanding access,” said NYC Council Member Alexa Avilés. 

“Council Member Sanchez’ amended bill, my bill to create a unit dedicated to supporting vendors, and the entire package of street vendor legislation before the Council are essential in keeping both vendors and consumers safe. Street vendors are New York City’s smallest businesses, and provide some of the most affordable options for New Yorkers facing an increasingly unaffordable city. It’s time for the City Council to pass these much needed reforms to help build a thriving, regulated street vending environment in our neighborhoods,” said NYC Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams.

“As United Bodegueros of America, we know firsthand that both brick-and-mortar shops and street vendors are just trying to survive and support their families,” said Rhadhames Rodriguez, President of United Bodegueros of America. “We support a fair compromise on vending reform that brings order to our sidewalks, expands legal pathways for vendors, and stops pitting small businesses against each other. We are grateful to Council Member Sanchez for bringing all stakeholders to the table, and we believe that with the amended version of Int. 431, we can get there together.” 

“New York’s street vending system has been broken for far too long, hurting both vendors and the brick-and-mortar small businesses that anchor our neighborhoods. We appreciate Council Member Sanchez’s leadership and openness in working closely with us to strengthen this bill, and we are proud to stand with her today in support of responsible reforms that bring fairness, accountability, and order to our city’s streets. The National Supermarket Association remains committed to working with the Council, city agencies, and our fellow stakeholders to ensure these reforms are implemented effectively and deliver for all New Yorkers,” said Nelson Eusebio, Director of Government Relations for the National Supermarket Association.

“We at Gristedes have been battling for fairness for grocery stores involving street vendors for 25 years. We have watched rules broken with little consequence and laws introduced that said nothing about protecting grocery stores from unfair competition. For the first time under Intro 431-A we have a bill that is fair to both vendors and supermarkets. The provision to hold repeat vendor offenders accountable through license revocation is essential to protect grocery stores that are essential to public health. We appreciate the work of CM Sanchez. She has achieved what we thought was impossible: Fairness to grocery stores,” said Joe Parisi, President/Chief Operating Officer at Gristedes.

“For the first time in memory the City Council has stepped up to balance the rights of store owners with those of street vendors. It did so by including some strict enforcement measures in Intro 431-A,  so that vendors that persistently violate the rules could have their licenses revoked. CM Pierina Sanchez, the sponsor of this amended bill deserves great credit for the work she did-listening to all sides-and drafted a bill that is fair to all. We are grateful for all the good work she has done,” said Francisco Marte, Founder of the Bodega and Small Business Group 

“Street vendors, restaurants, supermarkets — together we are the backbone of New York City. And today we stand shoulder to shoulder in support of the Street Vendor Reform Package. We thank the 31 City Council sponsors who have signed on in support, and together call on City Council to vote on Intro 431A, ending the existing bureaucratic chaos and allowing street vendors to provide the services New Yorkers want in a regulated, predictable, enforceable system,” said Mohamed Attia, Managing Director, Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center

“As the chef and restaurant owner of Ursula in Brooklyn, I believe street vendors deserve a fair system.
We as restaurant owners and community members have to reject the myth that street vendors are our competition or that they aren’t contributing their fair share. Overhead, payroll, inflation, bureaucratic red tape, the utility companies — these are our obstacles, not the woman selling mango and watermelon on the corner. I’m here to call on the City Council and the restaurant community:
Pass Street Vendor Reform,” said Eric See, twice James Beard Award Nominee chef and owner of Ursula.

“Street vendors are part of the heart and soul of New York City. Intro 431 moves us toward a fair and dignified system that finally recognizes vendors as workers who deserve safety, stability, and a legal path to provide for their families. As immigrant communities face heightened fear and uncertainty, passing this reform shows that our city stands with them. It is time for a system that reflects the values of the New York we believe in,” said Husein Yatabarry, Executive Director, Muslim Community Network.

“Street vendors are the backbone of New York’s small business community and an iconic presence in our local landscape. Whether it’s their hot dogs, shawarma, or candied peanuts, every New Yorker has a favorite vendor, and every tourist seeks them out when they arrive. Yet, street vendors face an unfair bureaucratic system that makes it nearly impossible to obtain permits, forcing them to operate on the margins, work irregular hours, and risk conflicts with law enforcement. Intro 431-A will increase the number of licenses and offer technical assistance to vendors, focusing on compliance rather than punishment. The City Council must pass Intro 431-A immediately to ensure that no New Yorker is penalized for simply trying to make a living and provide food for their families. Intro 431-A is a smart investment in our smallest businesses and New York’s economy,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition.

“With 31 Council sponsors, CM Sanchez’s bill, Int. 431, is gaining the broad support it deserves. Street vendors are essential to the life of our neighborhoods, and these bills move us closer to a streetscape that is safe, equitable, and welcoming for all.  The New York City council must pass this bill,” said Jackson Chabot, Director of Advocacy & Organizing at Open Plans.

“Years have passed and the City continues to unjustly work against our street vendors. The time to permit a reform package that has the opportunity to provide protection and stability to these small business owners is long overdue. Street Vendors help keep our New York City streets vibrant and safe, and they deserve the same from our City,” said Maryam Shuaib, Community Program Organizer at CAIR-NY.

BACKGROUND:

Following a marathon public hearing in May and months of discussions with a diverse set of stakeholders, bill sponsor Council Member Pierina Sanchez and colleagues worked to amend the bill to chart a path forward for this critical legislation. Now, there are 31 bill co-sponsors alongside a broad coalition of stakeholders who are pushing for Int. 431-A to pass before the end of session. 

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