Though the street vendor movement made history on Thursday, Dec. 18, with a supermajority (39/51) of the City Council voting “aye” to pass bills 431-B, 408, and 1251 after years of advocacy and with what was described as a broad coalition of support, former Mayor Eric Adams vetoed the bills, along with around 16 others, on the last day of his term on Dec. 31.
Known as the “Street Vendor Reform Package,” Council Member Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14) said the package allows New York City’s smallest businesses to grow within a regulated, predictable, and enforceable system that bolsters the City’s business and hospitality sector overall.
Sanchez, advocates and elected officials had gathered at City Hall ahead of the vote to call for the passing of the bills, saying they had the support of a broad coalition of street vendors, brick-and-mortar businesses, public space advocates, and elected colleagues…