OUNCIL

ITY OF

ORK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 23, 2009Contact: Dan Pasquini, (347) 263-3806,dpasquini@council.nyc.gov

Officials Call for Overhaul of Street Vendor Laws

Council Member Dan Garodnick Offers Proposals for Greater Clarity andEnforceability of Ineffective Vendor Rules

Council Member Dan Garodnick and other local elected officials gathered today in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where there has been a recent proliferation of illegalvending activity, to call for an overhaul to the hodgepodge of ineffective vendor rules.Joining Garodnick were Borough President Scott Stringer, Council Member Gale A. Brewerand Harold Holzer, senior vice president for external affairs at the Met.Vending violations, which have been a persistent and growing concern on Manhattan’scongested sidewalks and streets, became worse this week in front of the Met, where as manyas seven food carts set up shop in the middle of the walkway, despite receiving numeroussummonses from police officers. The problem at the Met highlighted the shortcomings in thelaws that cover vending citywide.“The City needs rules it can enforce, rules with teeth,”

said Council Member Garodnick

.“We appreciate that there should be some level of commercial activity on the street—foodcarts are part of New York City’s identity. But we cannot have a situation where vendorsoperate as they please, and tickets from the police are treated as a small cost of doingbusiness.”Garodnick announced a package of legislation to enhance the clarity and enforceability of vendor rules, including:

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The creation of a centralized vendor bureau to issue and renew licenses and to enforceapplicable laws;

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Reforms of the Environmental Control Board, which adjudicates vendor violations, sothat vendors with multiple offenses can be given escalating fines and have theirlicenses suspended or revoked; and

DANIEL

GARODNICK

COUNCIL

MEMBER,

DISTRICT

4DISTRICT

OFFICE:

211

43RD

ST.,

SUITE

2004