Mayor Suggests Targeted, Citywide Approach to Street Vendor Enforcement

Mayor de Blasio suggests a targeted, citywide approach to enforcing unlicensed street vendors

One week after the New York Police Department made headlines by shutting down unlicensed street vendors in the Bronx, Mayor Bill de Blasio has suggested taking a targeted approach to street vendor enforcement across the city, the New York Post reports.

At a meeting with Bronx business leaders on Tuesday, de Blasio reportedly committed to targeted reviews — throughout New York City — of unlicensed street vending, homelessness, public drug use, and other issues, according to Michael Brady, head of the Third Avenue Business Improvement District.

“The mayor indicated that City Hall would establish a corridor-by-corridor walk-thru with agency commissioners to address specific concerns, first handling ‘hot spots’ in the five boroughs,” Brady tells the Post. “The mayor also indicated that the civilian response could only do so much for [unlicensed] vending and that enforcement and joint operations are the next step.” It’s not clear at this time what constitutes a “hot spot” or how unlicensed street vending will be enforced.

In a statement to Eater, a spokesperson for the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection said, “Our goal is to hear concerns from everyone involved and strike a balanced approach that is equitable for all, which includes ongoing education coupled with scaled, strategic enforcement, especially in problematic areas.”

Last week, de Blasio sent the NYPD to shut down a collection of unlicensed street vendors who had set up shop at Webster Avenue and East Fordham Road in the Bronx, prompting elected officials and local organizations to speak out. The mayor previously announced the NYPD would no longer oversee the enforcement of street vendors. Earlier this year, the City Council passed a bill calling for the creation of a specific vendor enforcement unit trained in vending laws, which is expected to be up and running by September.

In other news

— After operating as a general store for the last 15 months, Hart’s in Bed-Stuy will reopen for indoor and outdoor dining on Thursday, July 29. Gillian Graham, the former sous chef at Cervo’s on the Lower East Side, is now heading the kitchen. No reservations to start.

— International all-day cafe and wine bar chain Cafe Kitsuné is headed to Boerum Hill for its second New York City location. The new spot will take over the building formerly occupied by Building on Bond, which closed last September after close to 13 years of business.

— Of the more 400 Manhattan restaurants participating in Restaurant Week this year, not one is located in Washington Heights, AMNY reports.

— Masala Mama, a company that makes vegetarian Indian sauces, is operating out of Michael and Ping’s in Gowanus as part of a summer pop-up.

— Ahead of One White Street’s opening next week, the three-story Tribeca restaurant is accepting reservations through Resy.

— Just because you can get married at Katz’s Delicatessen doesn’t mean you should.

— Alas: