Vend without end
Pol seeks unlimited street permits
It’s a falafel free-for-all! New legislation proposed in Albany would bar the Big Apple and other Empire State cities from capping the number of street-vendor permits they issue — paving the way for food carts to crowd the sidewalks.
“We need to start seeing street vendors for who they are: small business owners and, often, people of color,” said Sen. Jessica Ramos, sponsor of the state Senate bill.
The Queens Democrat’s district includes part of bustling Roosevelt Avenue, home to many of the roughly 5,000 vendors licensed by City Hall — as well as several scofflaws who operate illegally rather than wait on a list longer than the shelf life of a street-cart soda can.
The proposal won’t see the floor until the state Legislature’s next session begins in January, but should receive reasonable consideration, with backing from representatives of vendor- and immigrant-heavy communities, insiders told The Post.
A spokeswoman for Mayor de Blasio said that City Hall is “reviewing the legislation.”
But opponents — including some vendors themselves — say that Ramos’ logic is as twisted as a classic New York pretzel.
“We don’t need more competition,” groused one halal vendor near Columbus Circle who gave his name as Omar. “Every corner has a food cart. How are we going to have business?”
Added Andrew Rigie, executive director of the nonprofit NYC Hospitality Alliance, “You have people selling bagels and coffee for half the price in front of a brick-and-mortar store.”
But not all are opposed to welcoming a new slew of souvlaki slingers.
“The problem is that permits are limited,” said Khalid Hassan, 50, another vendor in the area.
“A lot of people are on the waiting list. I have a lot of friends and family on that waiting list.”