Councilmember Sandra Ung met with representatives from the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and New York Police Department (NYPD) in downtown Flushing on Thursday afternoon to discuss the need for ongoing enforcement of unlicensed vendors. 

Beginning at the intersection of 38^th Avenue and Main Street, the group walked south on Main Street with a slight detour to Municipal Lot #2 on 39^th Avenue, where they inspected one of the many locations where unlicensed fruit vendors store their produce on public property. 

Councilmember Ung thanked Antonio Whitaker, assistant director of Community Affairs, for a DSNY-led vendor enforcement sweep on Main Street last week that resulted in six inspections and four confiscations, including 100 pounds of fruit that was being sold illegally on the street. 

However, she also stressed the need for continued enforcement, and urged NYPD and DSNY to work with other relevant city agencies on a multi-pronged approach to address the persistent issue. 

“I want to thank the representatives from DSNY and NYPD for joining me on a tour of downtown Flushing, their time and attention to this matter are deeply appreciated,” said Councilmember Sandra Ung. “The unregulated vending we see here creates significant challenges for our community. I have heard from many constituents who feel unsafe or find it difficult to navigate the sidewalks because of the congestion caused by these vendors. I want to acknowledge the efforts made by the NYPD and DSNY in addressing this issue in the past. However, the situation continues to persist, and I urge both agencies to maintain a consistent and visible presence in Flushing to enforce the laws regarding unlicensed vending. This is not just about keeping our streets orderly—it’s about ensuring public safety and protecting the well-being of our community.”

Councilmember Ung has made addressing the rampant unlicensed vending in downtown Flushing a priority since taking office in 2022. In part through her advocacy, the Adams administration reversed a de Blasio-era transfer of vendor enforcement to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, a civilian-staffed agency with approximately ten enforcement agents for the entire city.

Today, that task is the responsibility of the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), a much larger agency with a staff of uniformed enforcement officers who have the authority to issue fines and confiscate goods. DSNY, which has a long history of keeping New York’s streets and sidewalks clean. 

Today, there is a dedicated street vendor enforcement team for each borough within DSNY that works collaboratively with the NYPD. 

In 2018, the City Council passed legislation designating a large area of downtown Flushing as a no-vending zone. General vending, even with a valid license, is prohibited in an area bounded by Northern Boulevard, Union Street, Sanford Avenue and College Point Boulevard.  

Flushing is one of the busiest neighborhoods in New York City and the primary bus-to-train transfer station in the mass transit system, with tens of thousands of commuters passing through daily. The intersection of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue is the third busiest intersection in the city. 

“This is a vital transportation hub and a key retail corridor, but it is also an area where unlicensed street vending has become a serious problem,” added Councilmember Ung. “Together, with continued enforcement and cooperation, we can ensure that Flushing remains a safe and vibrant neighborhood.”