Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed a bill passed by the City Council that would have ended criminal punishments for unlicensed street vendors, raising worries about public safety and neighborhood well-being.
Mayor Adams Ties Street Vending to Public Safety
The legislation, referred to as Intro 47-B, proposed removing misdemeanor charges from street vending infractions, though civil penalties such as fines would remain. Backers said the change would shield immigrant vendors from deportation threats linked to misdemeanors.
“Since day one, our administration has been committed not just to making New Yorkers safe, but to making them feel safe, too — and that includes addressing persistent quality-of-life issues like illegal street vending,” Adams told the New York Post. “Our law enforcement officers play a vital role in keeping our streets clear of unlicensed vendors and protecting small business owners who follow the rules from being undercut by those who don’t.”
The council backed the bill with a strong veto-proof margin—40 in favor, eight against, and three abstentions—paving the way for a possible override.
Supporters Say Criminal Consequences Go Too Far
Presently, city code makes illegal vending a misdemeanor offense. Critics claim this unfairly harms immigrants and low-income residents, potentially impacting their housing, education, and career prospects.
“While leaving in place the enforcement tools of violations, fines, and civil offenses, the bill simply removed the excessive criminal misdemeanor penalties,” explained Julia Agos, spokesperson for the council. “The council negotiated this bill in good faith with the Administration, only to have the mayor disregard the work of the advisory board and his own staff with this veto.”
Advocates Consider Overriding Veto
Advocacy groups for street vendors denounced the move as a blow to marginalized populations.
“Choosing to veto a bill that simply removes the excessive criminal misdemeanor penalties that can block New Yorkers’ access to educational, housing, and immigration opportunities is nothing less than an attack on our city’s most vulnerable, hardworking families and entrepreneurs,” said the NYC Street Vendor Justice Coalition.
Lawmakers are now debating whether to move forward with a veto override at an upcoming session.
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