The NYPD raided an illegal open-air "flea market" in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s district, confiscating counterfeit goods, but vendors have returned to the streets. The area, reportedly overrun by migrants, is described as resembling a Third World country with unsanitary conditions and rampant prostitution. Despite the recent police sweep, illegal vendors continue to sell their goods, prompting concerns from local residents and politicians about lawlessness and neglect in the area. Mayor Eric Adams blamed the situation on the inability of illegal immigrants to work, while a spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez did not respond to requests for comment.
Starting Monday, San Francisco will implement a 90-day ban on street vending on a portion of Mission Street due to safety concerns caused by large-scale fencing operations. The ban has sparked controversy among vendors, with some arguing that it will negatively impact their ability to provide for their families. The city has secured indoor marketplaces for legitimate vendors to sell their goods, but the Mission Street Vendors Association is calling for the ban to be postponed until after the holidays. A protest is planned for Monday at the 24th Street BART plaza.
San Francisco is implementing measures to clean up its streets ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, including cracking down on street vendors and getting homeless people into shelters. City employees have been offered bulletproof vests to enforce street vending rules, and additional shelter beds will be opened. The city aims to improve its image before hosting world leaders at the summit, while also addressing rising crime rates and the homelessness epidemic.
The Aftershock music festival in Sacramento has provided a boost to various industries, including towing companies, restaurants, and street vendors. Many attendees are parking a few miles away to avoid getting towed, leading to increased business for local establishments along the way. However, some vendors, like Luis Alvarez who traveled from L.A. to sell hot dogs, have not seen as many sales as they had hoped.
A SoFi Stadium employee has been fired after allegedly knocking over a hot dog stand and injuring a 12-year-old girl. The incident occurred after a concert, and witnesses said the worker was telling street vendors to move back, but eventually took matters into his own hands. SoFi Stadium officials said they are aware of the incident and are working with police to “look into the matter.” The fired worker was identified as Marvin Carroll, who vowed to apologize during a news conference Wednesday morning. The organization Project Islamic Hope is calling for a city and county-wide effort to support street vendors, especially in areas like South Los Angeles, where Latino vendors have been the victims of robbery, assaults, and harassment.
Hawkers are returning to the streets of China as the country's economic recovery remains uneven, with jobs and wage growth sluggish. For decades, street stalls and hawkers have been banned or tightly regulated in many Chinese cities, but there are signs that local governments are giving them more leeway. Economic pressure is forcing hawkers to risk fines or having their products confiscated, but some local governments are trialling street vending as they face great pressure in stabilising local economies and the job market.
