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As recently discussed, street vending has a major presence in the SoHo Broadway District. The Initiative views street vendors as the district’s smallest businesses and are supportive of those who follow the City’s vending rules, including operating in allowed locations. That said, we are aware that vendors operating in illegal locations, such as food carts sited too close to doorways or within crosswalks, food trucks vending from active metered parking, or vendors operating without licenses is a chronic issue in the district that has become more intractable in recent years. Still, we work to promote an orderly environment in which operators follow applicable rules and limit adverse impacts on other users of the district’s public space or those occupying adjacent buildings
SoHo Broadway staff, led by Field Operations and Engagement Manager Megan Diebboll, walk the district several times daily to evaluate and address street conditions including vending issues. In fact, of 367 311 reports Megan has filed since joining the Initiative in January, 76% were related to vending violations; not to mention additional communications with agencies on these issues which are not captured by this number. The most commonly observed violation is food or general vendors operating too close to a crosswalk (under 10 feet) or doorway (under 20 feet). Food trucks vending from parking while meters are in effect, vendors operating without conspicuously displaying a valid license and general vendors occupying too large of a footprint (over 8 feet long x 3 feet wide) are also regularly seen in the SoHo Broadway corridor.
While Initiative staff can observe and report issues, as well as educate vendors about rules and request improved practices, ensuring compliance falls on City agencies, with the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) being primarily responsible for enforcement of most vending rules, supplemented by others. We see many categories of street vending in the Broadway corridor, and work with different agencies to address these: food trucks (DSNY, NYPD), food carts (DSNY), general vendors (DSNY), and the separate but related issue of counterfeit sales (NYPD). While DSNY is the primary overall vending enforcement agency, we engage other agencies in relation to certain violations: idling/generator noise (DEP), propane safety/storage (FDNY), parking violations (NYPD).
On the afternoon of Thursday, June 26th, SoHo Broadway Field Operations & Engagement Manager Megan Diebboll and Deputy Director Brandon Zwagerman were joined by DSNY Assistant Chief Frank Lettera and Antonio Whitaker, DSNY Bureau of Community Affairs Assistant Director for a walkthrough of the SoHo Broadway District with a focus on street vending conditions. During the visit, staff were able to point out chronic vending violations such as locating improper distance from doorways & crosswalks, excessive size of footprint, and vending in active metered parking. We thank Frank and Antonio for taking the time to see firsthand key issues in the district, and look forward to increased attention in addressing these chronic issues to ensure SoHo Broadway’s busy sidewalks function in an orderly manner and serve as a welcoming and easily navigable environment for all users.
