Street Vendor Project
Last nite I attended the Street Vendor Project monthly meeting. As some of you know, I’m working on Street Food photo series so I thought it’d be a great way to meet some potential portrait subjects. The meeting was a total eye-opener. It was mentioned that there are around 10,000 vendors in NYC. You see them everywhere selling food, books, clothes, paintings in Times Square. I never realized that amount of police harasment they endure, the fight to make a living, $1,000 fines, lack of City interest (Mayor Bloomberg) and the immigrant nature of the business.
Take this story for instance. Mohammed Liaket Ali has sold hot dogs for years and his preferred location is on Cedar Street near Broadway. Well one day he shows up and finds a Greenmarket in his location with no prior notification. There’s a conflict, the police come, his cart is confiscated along with all the food. To top it off, the police apparently threw away $1,200 worth of food and drinks. What?!? Now he’s suing the City for loss of business and damage to his cart. Mohammed will also be speaking out at the Manhattan Community Board 1 meeting March 25th.
On a more positive note, it was great to meet the vendors and Sally and Joe from Pratt!
