City Officials Eye Plan To Legalize LA Street Vendors
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A committee gathered Tuesday to consider a proposal that would allow street vendors to sell food and wares in Los Angeles.
The plan would legalize business for an estimated 10,000 food vendors and 40,000 non-food vendors doing business along city sidewalks and in parks, according to officials.
As part of the proposed framework (PDF) under consideration by the Economic Development Committee, the city would take steps to regulate vendors, including permit fee amounts, possible caps on the number of permits issued, and locations to allow vending.
Food vendors also would need to obtain permits from the Department of Public Health, and the Los Angeles Police Department will play an enforcement role, under the proposed deal.
Members of the Los Angeles Street Vendor Campaign have long backed the proposal introduced by Councilmen Jose Huizar and Curren Price, with some vendors complaining they have spent far too long looking over their shoulders and operating without permits.
"It gives people a chance to be entrepreneurs," Wo'se Kofi said.
Rudy Espinoza of the Leadership for Urban Renewal Network agreed with Kofi.
"We want the streets lit up and we want entrepreneurs making a living," he said.
But opponents of the proposal fear legalizing street vending will lead to unsanitary food sales and other problems, according to KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta.
A final decision was not reached by the committee, which is set to revisit the issue in 30 to 60 days.
Sidewalk food vending is permitted in cities such as New York, San Francisco and Chicago.
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