(RIVERSIDE, Calif.) – Every morning before leaving his modest apartment and going to the street to sell corn and Mexican snacks, Mauricio Rivera bows his head and whispers a prayer for protection. For Rivera and dozens of families across Southern California, street vending is not just a job – it’s a lifeline. Yet, for many vendors, each day brings the risk of harassment, confiscations, and even violence, regardless of whether they follow the law.