Directs cities having a population of two million or more to establish a vendor policy commission to review and make recommendation on the laws and rules applicable to street vendors

BILL NUMBER:S4425 Revised 04/17/15

Title of bill

An act to provide for the establishment of a vendor policy commission in cities having a population of two million or more

Purpose

This bill directs all cities with a population of over 2 million to establish a street vendor policy commission for the purposes of evaluating subjects, including but not limited to: (1) the lifting of caps on street vendor permits; (2) establishing and enforcing a process to rescind licenses of licensees who illegally rent out credentials; (3) establishing pertinent zoning regulations and incentive structures; (4) create a letter grading system for mobile food vendors; (5) implementing a system of fines for minor violations while focusing on serious violations; (6) establishing community spaces where vendors may congregate to sell food without exacerbating congestion; and (7) creating a mediation process whereby street vendors and adjacent businesses can resolve conflicts.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 enumerates persons to be named to requisite street vendor policy commission(s).

Section 2 enumerates procedures of requisite street vendor commission(s), while also outlining policy issue areas to be studied and recommended upon by commission(s).

Section 3 enumerates the powers of requisite street vendor policy commission(s).

Section 4 sets forth the effective date.

Justification

This bill directs the formation of a long overdue street vendor policy commission in order to review policy and recommend changes relative to the current prevailing issues among street vendors and concurrently, traditional storefront businesses.

While traditional storefronts have long complained of the interference of street vendors upon sales of their businesses, regulations have been slow to protect these business interests. Simultaneously, street vendors have become an essential presence to consumers and are a part of the vibrant fabric that builds neighborhoods throughout New York City. With the growth of New Yorkers working as street vendors, regulation has also failed to address a cap on street vending licenses that has allowed a dangerous and financially crippling black market of vending licenses to thrive. Often, the enforcement powers of oversight agencies are unclear and decisions to wage fines upon street vendors, or to wholly revoke their licenses, are based on less than adequate regulatory guidance.

A new street vendor policy commission, composed of pertinent government officials and community advocates for all involved interests, is the right next step in modernizing the regulations that govern street vending.

Fiscal impact

None to be incurred by the State.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Effective date

This act will take effect ninety days after it becomes law.