Following requests by Council Member Sandra Ung and local community leaders to address the proliferation of unlicensed street vendors in downtown Flushing, inspectors from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) on Wednesday morning escalated its enforcement on repeat offenders.

“The City has engaged in extensive outreach and education efforts but unlicensed vending has continually increased, creating not only a quality-of-life issue, but also a serious public safety concern,” said Council Member Sandra Ung. “The intent was not to punish these vendors, but rather to ensure the sidewalks in Flushing are – and remain – clear and safe for all. I hope this new enforcement strategy acts as a deterrent. I want to thank Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga and DCWP for listening to our community and addressing the street vendors who have disregarded efforts to persuade them to comply with regulations.”    

DCWP inspectors first attempt to educate unlicensed street vendors, as well as licensed vendors with compliance issues, through extensive outreach efforts. Since June of 2021, DCWP has conducted more than 1,100 inspections in Flushing, issuing nearly 100 summonses. Of the 720 vendors DCWP inspectors have instructed to stop vending or correct violations, 695 of them have complied.

In light of the continued prevalence of unlicensed street vendors in Flushing and the concerns expressed by Council Member Sandra Ung and local community regarding the issue, the agency turned to stronger enforcement tactics.

Wednesday’s enforcement action was led by DCWP in conjunction with the NYPD. Unlicensed vendors are able to reclaim their confiscated goods at the 109^th Precinct.

The intersection of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue is the third busiest intersection in New York City, and has the highest number of bus-to-subway transfers in the five boroughs. The numerous people selling goods on the sidewalks has created a serious safety issue for first responders and pedestrians, especially seniors, individuals with disabilities, and parents with strollers, as well as a quality of life issue for the many local residents who have difficulty simply walking down the sidewalk.

In April, Council Member Ung invited Commissioner Mayuga on a walking tour of Main Street to discuss the issue and possible solutions. In May, the Council Member sent a letter to the commissioner asking her to direct DCWP inspectors to undertake a more robust enforcement strategy.

Flushing community leaders and residents reacted to Wednesday’s enhanced enforcement.

“Since being founded in 1982, the FCBA has worked tirelessly to foster small businesses in Flushing while promoting and supporting entrepreneurship in the immigrant community,” said Peter Tu, Senior Advisor for the Flushing Chinese Business Association. “Unfortunately, the explosion in street vendors on Main Street has had a dramatic and negative impact on this burgeoning commercial area – generating large amounts of garbage, creating extreme congestion on our sidewalks and making it difficult for law-abiding small businesses to compete with unlicensed vendors who do not follow health and safety regulations or pay taxes. The FCBA supports Councilmember Ung’s efforts to increase enforcement and make our streets safer and less congested.”

“Community Board 7 has had concerns for years regarding the amount of illegal vending that is being done in the downtown Flushing area,” said Community Board 7 Chair Gene Kelty. “In the past, we have worked with the Councilmember’s office and other City Agencies to perform educational outreach to the vendors and help them understand the legal process. Unfortunately, their operations continue to impact local businesses who pay taxes, salaries and rent, and do not have the same advantages as unlicensed vendors. The Board applauds the efforts of the Councilwoman’s Office in addressing this vending problem in the Flushing area and supports her efforts to ensure our streets and sidewalks are free of congestion.”

“The proliferation of street vendors in the downtown Flushing area has made it incredibly difficult for local residents to get around, especially seniors who may use walkers or wheelchairs,” said Kissena Boulevard resident Shirley Gilbert. “The vendors not only clog the sidewalks, but they often block the bus stops for the Q17 and Q27. Because of issues like this, I started avoiding going to Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue.”

“The illegal vendors on Main Street typically occupy from 5 to 20 feet of the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road and creating dangerous circumstances for drivers,” said Dian Yu, Executive Director of the Flushing BID. “Every day, the vendors also leave multiple garbage bags next to the BID-sponsored trash receptacles, and as a result, the street vendors consistently add more to the already strained workload of the BID Crew and the DSNY. They are also taking business away from local merchants who are still recovering from the impact of the pandemic.”