Are street vendors an economic, cultural and social advantage? Or are they a nuisance? Well..it depends on who you ask. If you ask the regular citizen, they are more likely to say that street vendors are a welcomed addition to the urban environment, and that their operations provide some convenience in their busy lives. If you ask some of the wealthier elite, they might say that street vendors are a nuisance that lower the perceived value of certain locations and obstruct pathways. In the tale of varying opinions about street vendors, those against street vendors are making the business of street vending difficult to sustain.
Street vendors and street vending has been a part of various societies for many centuries, and the high level at which people engage in street vending is evident in many developing countries and countries with rich ancient histories. Street vendors play an important role in urban spaces, they energize quiet and boring streets, provide a huge economic profit, create jobs and opportunities for immigrants, and help to establish a cultural exchange of foods, peoples and ideas through their interactions with their local consumers. The battle between street vendors and the governing bodies or those that don’t want them operating in, or near the streets, has seen many losses for street vendors who either lose their businesses or are fined heavy fees. It has also begun to see some wins in support of their businesses.
Street Vendor in Namibia Street Vendors in India
Until recently, street vendors in New York City, New York were fined with fees, and met with heavy resistance whenever they were found to be operating a street vending service without permits or in a location where there were complaints against them. These vendors who likely amassed a consistent crowd and income from these locations and businesses would lose their locations, businesses, or both as a consequence of operating where they were not approved and or welcomed. New York City had a decade long cap on the amount of street vending licenses that would be authorized until recently, when Mayor De Blasio decided that the New York Police Department would no longer crack down on unlicensed street vendors, and that rather, regulations would be put in place to work with them, not against them. Street vendors in New York and elsewhere still have a long battle ahead to receive proper recognition and fair treatment, and seeing that one of the best attractions to New York is the availability of street vendors and ability to experience different cultures from that exchange of goods, I believe this is a first step in the right direction in New York’s approach to street vendors.
Another city that has taken productive steps towards street vendors is Los Angeles, California. Before 2016, street vending was criminalized in Los Angeles, street vendors were harassed, and there were confiscations and arrests made when they clashed with authorities or those who did not welcome them. After decriminalizing street vending in 2016, Los Angeles officially made it legal for street vendors to engage in their businesses in 2018 after a considerable amount of advocacy and effort from a partnership between street vendors and a campaign group focused on legalizing street vending. The road for street vendors is still not as cleared, because they have to pay a hefty fee to adhere to new regulations set in place by Los Angeles, but many are hopeful that the legalization of their business is a step in the right direction.
So to the question of whether ‘Street vendors are a nuisance or a welcomed social, cultural and economic advantage ?’ I would, without a doubt say that I believe they are a welcomed social, cultural and economic advantage, and that just as it was done for cyclists, and pedestrians, appropriate adjustments in our society should be made for the inclusion of street vendors in cultures where they are an integral part of the experience.