The Brief
- Oakland advocates filed a lawsuit on July 9 against the city over their enforcement of street vending policies.
- The City of Oakland says it comes down to the community following the rules.
- Needa Bee, who is a long-time street vendor, wishes Oakland’s policies were better communicated.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland community members are taking legal action against the city to demand that officials stop what they’re calling harmful raids on street vendors, alleged in a lawsuit filed by local advocates last week.
Legal advocates are suing on behalf of vendors to obtain public records about the alleged property destruction – including a street vendor’s equipment allegedly being thrown into trash compactors.
“It’s concerning to see the City of Oakland claim it has no paper trail for what are clearly highly coordinated operations against street vendors,” Robert Powelson, who filed the lawsuit on vendors’ behalf, said in a statement. “The summary destruction of street vendors’ property raises serious constitutional issues.”
Oakland street vendors being raided, advocates say
What we know:…