LOS ANGELES (CNS) - On the heels of recent moves to support street vendors, City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez Friday introduced a motion to address what she says are longstanding gaps in the services available for these individuals.
"Sidewalk vendors are part of the fabric of Los Angeles and they play a critical role in our culture and local economy," Hernandez said in a motion. "There have been important wins in recent years that have decriminalized sidewalk vending but the city needs to do more to open up pathways for these entrepreneurs to be able to thrive."
According to Hernandez, her 1st District, covering swaths of downtown L.A. and northeast neighborhoods, is home to a large concentration of popular vending areas. While in the last year, she says she has allocated resources to improve infrastructure such as regular power washing, increased trash services and financial assistance to keep vendors in place, more needs to be done.
Her motion aims to make it easier for street vendors to navigate what can be a "complex web" of city and county requirements.
If approved by the full council, city departments would be instructed to conduct listening and resource sessions for sidewalk vendors in the 1st District, with the intent of providing information about local rules and regulations. Street vendors would also be able to provide feedback about their experiences and issues, which would then be used to improve the city's sidewalk vending policies.
Additionally, the councilwoman would look to allocate $20,000 to cover the cost of the city sidewalk vending permits for vendors, who may be referred by city staff during some of these educational sessions.
The Bureau of Street Services and Bureau of Engineers would be tasked with building an interactive and accessible map to highlight clearly identified areas where sidewalk vending can occur along high-volume foot traffic and businesses.
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On Feb. 6, the City Council rescinded so called "no street vending zones." The council voted unanimously to amend the city's street vending laws and eliminated seven zones where street vendors were prohibited from operating: the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Bowl, Dodger Stadium, LA Live/Crypto.com Arena, Universal Studios/City Walk, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument and Exposition Park.
Council members also lowered the annual fee for permits to conduct business -- from what would have been a cost of $541 to $27.51. The City Attorney is set to bring forward an amendment to the city's Sidewalk and Park Vending Program to officially make that change at a future date.
The same day, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors gave final approval to a pair of ordinances regulating sidewalk food vendors, and also adopted a subsidy program to offset some costs related to its permitting process.
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