Recent arrests of Chicago fruit vendors have exposed bad communication between city departments, but also an opportunity to update old street vending laws.
Why it matters: The arrests and tickets have sent vendors to criminal courts where some have been apprehended by federal agents and faced detention and deportation, immigrant advocates report.
Driving the news: Ald. Andre Vasquez and other Immigrant and Refugee Rights committee members recently questioned police about why they’ve taken this new approach to street vending.
- The main explanation: “a lot of calls … to 911” — about fruit selling.
What they’re saying: “The main area that I received phone calls and 911 calls are along Michigan Avenue as well as Museum Campus during events at Soldier Field in Northerly Island,” 1st District CPD commander Sheamus Mannion told the committee.
The other side: “There are things you could be working on [like] violent crime as opposed to somebody trying to sell a mango to someone,” said Vasquez, who chairs the Immigrant and Refugee Rights committee…