A bad measure for vendors

If allowed to proceed, a bill introduced in New York's state senate could criminalize street vendors.

The bill, sponsored by Brooklyn State Senator Daniel Squadron, would require the fingerprinting of vendors charged with violating certain New York City administrative codes. Squadron said the bill is meant to create an enforceable system by allowing illegal vendors to be tracked.

Squadron emphasizes that the bill, which is backed by the Bloomberg administration, would not change the penalty for a violation. But it does lump in vendors with people who solicit prostitutes and those who commit felonies, for example.

Organizations like Esperanza del Barrio say that any measure that would fingerprint vendors is a way to intimidate and exclude them. Rather than try to target vendors, they say that the city should address the problem of the insufficient number of vending licenses.

The bill may respond to retailers annoyed by competition from unlicensed vendors—particularly repeat violators. Their concerns are legitimate, but in neighborhoods like El Barrio and Washington Heights, residents rely heavily on vendors who, in turn, contribute critically to the local economy.

This is why the Councilmembers who represent those neighborhoods—Melissa Mark Viverito and Miguel Martínez—oppose the bill and have appealed to state legislators to do the same. “This is a contradiction of everything we’ve done in last eight years in the City Council in terms of protecting immigrants from being processed as criminals,” Martínez said.

The city must address the concerns of businesses, but should not do so by criminalizing an occupation that functions as an entrepreneurial lifeline for those struggling to survive, especially during an economic crisis. Albany should not buy into this bad measure.

If allowed to proceed, a bill introduced in New York's state senate could criminalize street vendors.

The bill, sponsored by Brooklyn State Senator Daniel Squadron, would require the fingerprinting of vendors charged with violating certain New York City administrative codes. Squadron said the bill is meant to create an enforceable system by allowing illegal vendors to be tracked.

Squadron emphasizes that the bill, which is backed by the Bloomberg administration, would not change the penalty for a violation. But it does lump in vendors with people who solicit prostitutes and those who commit felonies, for example.

Organizations like Esperanza del Barrio say that any measure that would fingerprint vendors is a way to intimidate and exclude them. Rather than try to target vendors, they say that the city should address the problem of the insufficient number of vending licenses.

The bill may respond to retailers annoyed by competition from unlicensed vendors—particularly repeat violators. Their concerns are legitimate, but in neighborhoods like El Barrio and Washington Heights, residents rely heavily on vendors who, in turn, contribute critically to the local economy.

This is why the Councilmembers who represent those neighborhoods—Melissa Mark Viverito and Miguel Martínez—oppose the bill and have appealed to state legislators to do the same. “This is a contradiction of everything we’ve done in last eight years in the City Council in terms of protecting immigrants from being processed as criminals,” Martínez said.

The city must address the concerns of businesses, but should not do so by criminalizing an occupation that functions as an entrepreneurial lifeline for those struggling to survive, especially during an economic crisis. Albany should not buy into this bad measure.

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