Legalizing Street Vendors

For years it’s been said that Los Angeles should set a policy regarding access to healthy, affordable food. Two measures in the City Council should bring the city closer to that principle.

In August, the city lifted the ban on growing vegetable gardens in green spaces between sidewalks and curbs, committing to set guidelines for it. Last week, the City Council passed a motion by members José Huízar and Curren Price, to study how to legalize sidewalk vending of food and other products.

It is no coincidence that these two Council members represent districts where the presence of fruit merchants, ice cream vendors and hot dog sellers is a major stimulus for the economy. In these neighborhoods, a coalition of groups that support the legalization of street vending has spent months organizing meetings to find out residents’ feelings about this important issue.

The city currently issues fines for any street vending. Even if food vendors obtain a health permit from the county, they are exposed to being fined and having their merchandise confiscated if they are detained—a tough blow for any small vendor.

The measure by Huízar and Price responds to the urgent needs of street vendors. Now, the city must find the way to legalize street vendors.

To regularize street vendors, the city must particularly take into account the sanitary condition of the products, in addition to issues of security, cleanliness and accessibility of public sidewalks. Vendors must pay taxes and reasonable fees for their permits; in addition, obtaining them should be easy and not involve excessive paperwork.

There are about 10,000 street food vendors in Los Angeles County, most of them in the city. They represent an undeniable source of income—and nutrition—for many Angelenos.