On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 250 street vendors, elected officials, and allied organizations held a press conference on the City Hall Steps, ahead of a critical council hearing to advance the Street Vendor Reform Package. Vendors and their neighbors demanded City Council act swiftly to pass licensing processes that will allow small businesses to grow within a regulated, predictable, and enforceable system that bolsters the city’s business and hospitality sector overall—researchers with the Independent Budget Office estimate that passing the Street Vendor Reform Package could have a net revenue impact of $59 million to the city economy annually.
Elected officials in attendance supporting the platform included Council Members Pierina Sanchez, Comptroller Brad Lander, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., Majority Leader Amanda Farias, Councilmembers Crystal Hudson and Carmen De La Rosa, alongside Golden Diner restaurant owner Sam Yoo, dozens of community based organizations, and street vendors from across the five boroughs.
“I hear from vendors every day that they are confused, discouraged or afraid to interact with the system because there is no realistic path forward under the outdated and arbitrary permit cap. These small business owners and entrepreneurs are eager for a structure that allows their business to thrive within the broader economy. We have seen incredible success in our community education outreach–when we can equip vendors with information, tools and a clear path to follow, they know how to operate and can focus on what they love: making their food and serving their community. Vendors are eager to work together with city leaders to modernize this system so it efficiently serves all New Yorkers,” said Mohamed Attia, Managing Director, Street Vendor Project.
“Our city’s street vending system is not working for anyone—not for vendors, not for brick and mortar businesses, and not for communities where conflict on our streets is a daily reality. In my district alone, more than 80% of vendors operate without a license, due to an arbitrary cap and a waitlist that has since been closed. My bill, Int. 431, would mandate that the City issue more permits each year to bring existing vendors into the formal economy, while also providing education to ensure that vendors understand their rights and responsibilities. It would also establish clear enforcement standards that outline how a vendor can lose their license,” said NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez. “Last November, my team and I held several convenings for a wide range of stakeholders. What I heard was clear: we need a comprehensive approach that expands access to opportunity, creates clear standards for enforcement, and brings us closer to a city where our public spaces are shared and businesses of all shapes and sizes can thrive. Thank you to my colleagues who are championing critical reforms to our street vending system and to the Street Vendor Justice Coalition for holding us accountable to deliver a fair and balanced approach that delivers for our neighbors.”
“Street vendors are a huge part of our identity as a cosmopolitan city. Through cuisine, they’re able to spread culture and diversity, an integral part of the identity of who we are in New York, and what we represent as New York. We need to be enabling this, not putting up more red tape. I went to Stuyvesant High school just a few blocks from where we are standing today at City Hall, and as a young 15 year old, I was exposed to experience Indian, Middle Eastern, Chinese cuisines (to name a few) all at an extremely young age. To be exposed to these flavors is what has shaped what I do today as a chef and business owner. I support the Street Vendor Reform Package, and am testifying in support of Intros 431 and 408 today. I call on all restaurants and New Yorkers to do the same,” said Sam Yoo, Restaurant Owner of Golden Diner, Golden Hof & NY Kimchi.
“This hearing is a monumental step in the direction of common sense and necessary reform. 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. I proudly sponsor Intro 408, a bill that would create a division within Small Business Services to provide resources, training, and educational materials to street vendors – one of several vital bills being heard today. These services are essential in keeping both street vendors and consumers safe. I look forward to passing these much needed reforms to an unfair system, and to creating a thriving, regulated street vending environment in our neighborhood” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams.
“Our street vendors are an essential part of our economy and communities, and they deserve to be treated as such,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. “That’s why we must pass Intro 408 and 431, two bills that would support our street vendors directly by creating systems that not only legalize their work, but also help them get the resources they deserve from the city. I stand with our street vendors in Queens and beyond, now and always.
“Street vendors are the heart of our local economy and a proud reflection of the Bronx’s entrepreneurial spirit—many of them immigrant New Yorkers who work tirelessly to create a better future for their families and our communities. These bills will create a more just, accessible, and functional system—one that gives our smallest businesses a fair shot at success and recognizes the vital role vendors play in the vibrancy of our city. I want to thank the Street Vendor Project and the NYC Council Consumer and Worker Protection Committee for pushing this legislation forward and prioritizing our vendors,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.
“Street vendors are vital to New York City’s economy and cultural identity. As Majority Leader and the prime sponsor of Intro 1251, I am proud to stand with the Street Vendor Project, my Progressive Caucus colleagues, and the thousands of vendors who bring our neighborhoods to life every day. These are entrepreneurs, job creators, and culture bearers, but they’ve been trapped in a broken, discriminatory system for far too long. Intro 1251 ensures the city fulfills its commitment under Local Law 18 by issuing real food vendor licenses, not just applications. I’m also proud to co-prime Council Member Pierina Sanchez’s Intro 431 because meaningful reform requires a comprehensive, coordinated approach. This is about immigrant justice and economic opportunity. Our vendors have waited long enough; now is the time to act,” said Majority Leader Amanda Farias.
“The Street Vendor Reform Package of legislation offers our street vending entrepreneurs new opportunities. It grants new justice to the immigrants, people of color, and women, who comprise the majority of street vendors. By lifting the license quantity limit it eliminates the need for our smallest businesses to rent from a limited pool in a high cost illegitimate market. With this measure the City will capture full revenue from street vendor demand while giving those same vendors a better deal. It will assure all New Yorkers a wide range of affordable food and merchandise choices” said Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala.
“The City’s street vending system and rules are a bureaucratic nightmare. Instead of working hard to issue the new licenses required by law, the Adams Administration has engaged in a brutish enforcement-only approach, trashing vendors’ property and telling them to file claims with my office. For over a YEAR, this administration has refused to answer basic questions from my office on their enforcement policy. I’m proud to stand with Street Vendors and the New York City Council to demand justice and a fair, orderly system for our city’s smallest businesses” said Comptroller Brad Lander.
“Street vendors are our city’s smallest businesses. However, because of an artificial cap on the number of licenses available, many vendors who are simply looking to provide for their families are criminalized. I am proud to support today’s important hearing of the Street Vendor Reform Act. Together, we will fight for a clear, fair, and regulated vending system,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan.
“Street vendors own our smallest businesses, and vending has served as a tool for upward mobility for generations of immigrants. Many of our systems need reform, and the street vendor systems of enforcement, licensing, and citing are not an exception,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “New York City is renowned for its diverse and dynamic street life, with vendors contributing to that energy. With this package of street vendor legislation, we are creating a new path forward for our hot dog vendors, halal carts, and habichuela con dulce ladies Uptown.”
“I am proud to support this package of legislation that will finally offer real economic opportunity for street vendors—New York City’s smallest businesses,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “Street vendors are a vital part of New York culture, they sustain families and communities, and they have been operating as part of a shadow economy for far too long. With this legislation, the City Council will empower a workforce of 23,000 New Yorkers who are mostly immigrants, women, and veterans with a real opportunity for growth and economic justice.”
“There are over 23,000 street vendors in New York City, helping generate nearly $300 million in local economic activity each year. Entrepreneurs deserve a predictable and accessible system to pursue economic opportunity and the chance to build wealth and stability. City leadership has a responsibility to overhaul the system’s vending program that keeps the door shut for too many, and fuels an illicit market. I commend my colleagues for advancing sensible legislation to support our city’s smallest businesses, and for the advocates who continue to shine a light on systemic failures that hold too many behind,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera.
“At a time when our immigrant communities are under attack, we need to do everything we can to protect our city and communities. Street vendors are a vital part of NYC and our economy—one of the many industries that are largely sustained by immigrant families. By passing Intro 431 and 408, the NYC Council will show our commitment to strengthening our local economy, worker protections, and our small business network. I look forward to joining my colleagues in passing Intro 431 and 408 to make legal compliance easier for street vendors. And I look forward to continuing to patron the street vendors that make my neighborhood so vibrant!” said Council Member Alexa Aviles.
“I am proud to support the Street Vendor Reform Package, an important step in ensuring every New Yorker has the tools to run a small business in their community,” said State Senator Zellnor Myrie. “Growing up, my mom sold jewelry and other necessities on Flatbush Avenue, and struggled to navigate the city’s red tape in place for small business owners. These bills will make the system easier for entrepreneurs to get the licenses they need for their businesses to thrive.”
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said: “Street vendors are iconic in New York City. From hot dog vendors to halal and mango carts, they are our smallest business owners and represent the heart of our economy. Most of them are immigrants and small business owners who are continuing to be harassed and criminalized instead of celebrated because our local laws aren’t keeping up with the need for increased licenses for our smallest businesses. Instead of resolving the situation, Mayor Adams launched a ridiculous “quality of life” crackdown, which is now destroying immigrant livelihoods and putting families at risk of separation and deportation. Vendors shouldn’t pay the price for a broken permitting system that the City has refused to fix for decades. Today, we call on the City Council to act boldly and pass Intro 431 and Intro 408, along with the rest of the Street Vendor Reform Package. The New York Immigration Coalition is proud to stand with the Street Vendor Justice Coalition to demand justice, dignity, and opportunity for the immigrant vendors who help make our City thrive.”
“Now is the time for elected officials to be intentional about upholding New York City’s strengths and values,” said Jackson Chabot, Director of Advocacy and Organizing at Open Plans. “Street vendors are iconic to our public realm and represent the hardworking, can-do spirit that makes New York so special. But they struggle under unclear regulations, lack of available licenses and permits, and criminalization that makes it nearly impossible to run a thriving business. City Council must pass this legislation to protect street vendors and give them the tools to focus on enlivening public space through their cuisine and culture.
Eliana, a street vendor and Make the Road New York member, said, “Street vending is not just a job for me. It is my independence. It’s my lifeline. We don’t rely on government help. We pay taxes. We contribute to the economy. We want to follow the law, but the city will not let us. Even after all these years, I still receive fines because I don’t have a permit. But the truth is: we can’t get one. That’s why we are demanding that the City Council approve the street vendor reform bills. These bills would finally give street vendors a path to work legally and without fear. Behind every cart or stand, there is a person. A story. A struggle. And a dream.”
“Street vending is how many of our community members make a living in New York City. These vendors are not only vital to our local economy but also woven deeply into the city’s cultural fabric. As a 60-year-old organization dedicated to social and economic empowerment, CPC proudly stands with street vendors and community partners at City Hall to call for the passage of the Street Vendor Reform Package, including Intros 431 and 408. These bills are a critical step toward a fair, regulated system that protects vendors from criminalization and recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit which defines our city,” said Wayne Ho, President & CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC).
“The innovation our street vendors bring into our city is worth over 70 million dollars in taxes to our city. This is money built by immigrants, BIPOC, and others who seek to support their families, which is not a crime. A more just and enforceable regulatory system is packaged with Intros 431 and 408. The NYC Council needs to support these bills without further delay” said Maryam Shuaib, Community Program Organizer at the Council of American-Islamic Relations.
“We are very glad that Speaker Adams and the City Council have finally called these crucial bills for a hearing. Vendors have suffered for decades under NYC’s arbitrary and unjust vending regulations, and now with ICE — a present-day Gestapo — ramping up their incursions into our neighborhoods, it is more vital than ever that we formalize the industry and bring tens of thousands of immigrant small business owners into the fold of legalized vending,” said Josh Bloom, JFREJ member.
Background on the Street Vendor Reform platform
Approximately 23,000 street vendors—majority immigrants, people of color, military veterans and women—work as small business owners supplying food and other goods across New York City. Despite contributing millions of dollars annually to the city’s economy, most of these vendors are blocked from acquiring permits for their business due to an arbitrary, decades-old cap on the number of licenses and permits in circulation. Recent reporting reveals that only one-quarter of mobile food vendors have been able to secure a permit for their business and women vendors are especially likely to be blocked from obtaining a license. When forced to make their living without formal recognition, vendors are not only less likely to make enough profit to sustain their livelihood, they are subject to fines, harassment, police raids and violence, and property confiscation, with little opportunity for recourse.
The “Street Vendor Reform” platform includes the top four top needs of NYC’s smallest businesses: (1) Ensure all vendors can access licenses (2) Repeal criminal liability for vendors (3) Create a division of NYC Small Business Services with educational services for street vendors (4) Open more legal vending locations. It is supported by the NYC Street Vendor Justice Coalition, a group of organizations representing small businesses, public space, labor and immigrant rights advocates including the Arab American Association of New York, Open Plans, United for Small Business, the New York Immigration Coalition, and the Street Vendor Project, who advocate for a fair vending system in NYC, one that treats our city’s smallest businesses with dignity.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
