NOW: We're in Hudson Yards w @votejgr @Fernandez4NY @galeabrewer @JFREJNYC @TransAlt to demand @NYCMayor get NYPD out of street vending once and for all!

Stop criminalizing NYC's smallest businesses! They're just trying to make a living and feed our city! #MoreChurrosLessCops

Tune in to our FB live of the press conference here: https://fb.watch/5l360EVfbm/ 

Live tweet thread below

“4 months after @NYCMayor decision to move street vendor enforcement out of NYPD, we see NYPD still harassing vendors to satisfy a billionaire developer's desire

It's time for City government to stop these bullies from acting like they own the City” - SVP Director @Mo__Attia

The baseless tickets given to our vendors are false. Take a look

"I've been here since 2013. I have 3 pushcarts here legally and they've made me move over and over. the city is suppose to help us recover, not to put us out of work. I'm not going to give up."

Mohamed Awad, SVP member who's been enduring endless harassment & tickets from NYPD

"I'm here because that the mayor said that street vendors will only be enforced by the DCWP. The NYPD are out giving out tickets that they're not supposed to give out. Street vendors are the backbone of the city."

Manhattan Borough President, @galeabrewer

"You're are essential. You have fed us, kept us going, you don't deserve to be treated like this. Our street vendors continue to be treated unfairly. Each and every one of you should be able to work and live with dignity."

Assembly member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas @votejgr

"Street vendors are the heart and soul of NYC. The bill-Intro 1116-we passed said NYPD enforcement was supposed to stop in Jan 15th but it has not. The 12 ft of the sidewalk belongs to the people of this city."

CM Brad Lander @bradlander

"They push every day to get us to leave. We will not give up. During the pandemic, we lost all our income but received no support. This is wrong, this is unfair. I demand the city respect our right to work."

Elshaimaa Gendy, SVP member who received tickets & harassment by NYPD

Look at this tale of two cities here. The man in the blue shirt is an inspector from the Dept of Health. Related Companies have been calling around the clock to harass and penalize our vendors.

"This issue is not new. Vendors have been here since long before Hudson Yards. Hudson Yards does not regulate street vending, Intro 1116 does & NYPD has no part in this. They don't work for Hudson Yards, they work for the city."

Josh Bloom from @JFREJNYC

"This is public space. Public space belongs to all New Yorkers. And the best thing about street vendors is that they feed everyone: they don't exclude anyone. We need more space for vendors."

Erwin Figueroa, Director of Organizing of
@TransAlt

"The public sidewalk is 13 ft wide. It only needs to be 12 ft wide for vendors to operate legally. NYPD said the vendors had to move because the sidewalk there is 11 ft wide is FALSE."

Our Legal Director, Matt Shapiro explains. See map below again

We're here. We're coming back everyday to make sure vendors are able to work. # #MoreChurrosLessCops

This planter was placed here illegally. Hudson Yards had to obtain a revocable consent from the DOT. They don't have a permit to place that planter there. Guess how many tickets Hudson Yards got for this illegal planter? ZERO. Double standard at its finest.

We need to hold @NYCMayor accountable-that NYPD is no longer involved in street vending enforcement. We need to hold the NYPD officers who issued the tickets accountable. Why did they listen to Hudson Yards & ignore the actual law? We demand @NYCParks revoke the tree pit permits

Lastly, we want to thank our allies and elected officials for coming out today to support our members and street vendors! @galeabrewer @votejgr @bradlander @TransAlt @JFREJNYC thank you for supporting what's good for the city-hardworking immigrant workers who embrace everyone!