The purpose of today s meeting is to discuss a proposal that was submitted to the City Council by the Street Vendors Project and how it would impact the veteran vendors they fail to include. Street vending in New York State have been going on for over 300 years. Back in 1894, the City granted Civil War vets, who were coming home after the war, the ability to be their own businessmen by allowing them to vend on the streets. This was detailed in the General Business Law, Article 4 Sections 32 and 35. In 2013-14, the Street Vendors Project submitted a proposal and a list of ideas in regards to lifting the caps on city vending licenses and permits. It wasn t until July/August 2015 that they included one item that was specific for veterans vending in the streets (the V permits). According to Urban Justice Center s Street Vendor Project, there are 20,000 vendors in the street. As of this year, the Department of Consumer Affairs reports that there are 2,555 licensed vendors in the street, 1721 of which are veterans. According to SVP: CURRENT CONDITION Permits are sold in the black market for upwards of $25,000, when they initially cost $75-$200 License-holding vendors are not able to be self-employed because they cannot obtain a permit Unlicensed vendors risk legal penalties WE WANT CITY COUNCIL TO: Eliminate the cap on food vending permits and general vending licenses Allow Green Carts to Vend in Any borough of NYC Allow vending within 3 feet of the curb Allow vendors to store supplies ON their food carts Allow vending 12 feet from building entrances and exits Allow vendors to be 20 feet from a bus stop sign Allow vending 50 feet from hospital entrances Allow vendors to sell from vehicles Allow vending in metered parking spots If reactivated, create 5 positions for vendors on the Vending Review Panel None of these ideas mention the needs of veterans vending in the streets. As you see in the coming pages, are the ideas that veterans would like to see considered as well as voiced opinions from a poll. November 17, 2015
Office of Council Member Eric Ulrich New York City Council 250 Broadway Suite 1555 New York, NY 10007 RE: Proposed Vending Bill Council Member Ulrich, We are writing in regards to the proposed bill submitted to you by Urban Justice s Street Vendors Project. In that proposal, there is a brief mention of veteran preference when it comes to the Specialized Mobile Food Vending Permits (V Permit). As an organization created for veterans actively vending in New York City, we are seeking veteran preference for any and all laws that would affect the nearly 900 veterans currently vending throughout the five boroughs. As described in New York State s General Business Law Article 4 Section 35 (written in 1894), veterans have been granted the rights to vend in New York City due to their involvement in the Civil War. Amending or changing any City laws regarding vending without mentioning veterans will do a disservice. Attached to this letter is a petition we have collected from New Yorkers who favor the inclusion of veteran preference. Of the nearly 200 and growing signatures, most came from veterans actively vending in the street. Sincerely, Howard Dalton President
Petition Summary and Background Veterans 4 Veterans NYC, Inc. Petition to Uphold and Honor Veterans in Reforming New York City Vending Laws Action petitioned for: Veterans4Veterans is a veteran based non-profit created to assist and improve the lives of New York City veterans. Our current mission is to improve the current conditions of veterans vending throughout New York City. Currently, there are hundreds of veterans actively vending throughout the five boroughs. These veterans have faced harassment from local police departments in regards to where and when they can vend. According to New York State s Article 35 (circa 1894) and 35a (circa 1991, revised in 2004), veterans are allowed to vend actively. The City have imposed limitations that contradict the State law. This petition is to request the city to abide by the state law and that if there are in changes or amendment to local vending laws, that veterans will be given acknowledgement, preference and protection. We the undersigned, urge our leaders to: (a) Abide by New York State s General Business Law Article 4 Sections 32, 35 and 35a (b) Provide veterans acknowledgement, preference and protection when it comes to the changing and amending of vending laws in New York City (c) Provide a panel of vendors that would include veterans (disabled and non-disabled), to discuss issues and changes in the vending community Name Address Phone Number Veteran Civilian Date
As a veterans organization, we have come up with ideal proposals we would like to have taken into consideration. 1. Any proposals submitted in regards to changing/amending active street vending laws, veterans should be given protection and preference/priority (in accordance to NYS General Business Law Article 4 Sections 32, 35 and 35a) a. Priority and Colored (White, Yellow and Blue) licenses 2. Expand V Permits (Mobile Food Vending Permits): a. To become citywide (currently limited to city parks perimeter) b. To food trucks 3. Veterans on current waiting lists for permits must be given permits before any other populations on the lists a. Veterans to be exempt from any waiting lists citywide 4. Create a vending board that would include veterans (disabled and non-disabled) in accordance to NYS General Business Law Article 4 Section 35a 5. Provide a required entrepreneurship/business training for all veteran street vendors a. State and City vending laws b. Financial Assistance and Management (grants and loans) c. Police Education (Training police on veteran vending laws and regulations, and training veterans on how to communicate peacefully and respectfully with police) 6. Tickets from the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene should be $50 for veterans (food carts and trucks). 7. Disabled veterans should be able to vend within five feet from any entrance
Vending by the Numbers* Total Number of Venders: 2555 Total Number of Veteran Venders: 1721 Total Number of Non-Veteran Venders: 834 (General License Holder) Total Number of General Venders-Veterans (White License): 1851 Total Number of Specialized License-Disabled Veterans (Yellow License): 599 Total Number of Midtown Specialized License-Disabled Veterans (Blue License): 105** Food Permits: Unknown at this time*** Specialized Food Permits (V Permits): 136**** *Data from Department of Consumers Affairs (DCA). Total number reflects all licenses expiring on September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2016. **In the 1990s, DCA offered a number of the Midtown Specialized License to non-veteran vendors. Total number of non-veteran Midtown Specialized License hold not yet known. ***Food permits were not included with this total. In order to get a food permit, one must have a vendor s license (DCA), complete a food handler s course, register for a permit through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Carts/trucks/vehicles used to sell food from must be inspected before being allowed onto the streets. ****Specialized Food Permits (V Permits) are restricted to the parks. These permits are granted to anyone (disabled veterans, non-disabled veterans and non-veterans).