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November's ballots will give New Yorkers chance to vote on street vendor regulation

However, the question does not mention street vending, and only mentions expanding the New York Department of Sanitation's powers to clean streets and other property.

Noelle Lilley and Adolfo Carrion

Aug 15, 2024, 2:14 AM

Updated 98 days ago

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This November, New Yorkers will vote on a ballot question to expand the powers of the city's Sanitation Department when it comes to regulating street vending.
However, the question does not mention street vending, and only mentions expanding the New York Department of Sanitation's powers to clean streets and other property.
In 2023, DSNY stepped up enforcement of illegal vending in parts of the Bronx like Fordham Road.
The NYC Independent Budget Office discovered at the start of 2024 that 20,000 people are on a waitlist for a general or food vendor license, and city law limits non-veteran general permits to just 853.
Groups like the Street Vendor Project are raising their voices to call on the city council to raise the cap on permits and offer more support to those who need them to run their businesses in line with the law.
News 12 reached out to the city's Board of Elections and DSNY for clarity regarding the ballot question and is awaiting responses.
To read the ballot question that voters will see, click here. For the entire ballot abstract that specifies street vending enforcement in places like parks and street medians, you have to visit another link. The bills included in the Street Vendor Reform Package can be found below:
  1. Increase the number of licenses issues and lift the cap on licenses available,
  2. Reduce penalties for general and mobile food vendors,
  3. Create a Division of Street Vendor Assistance within NYC Small Business Services,