The Ridiculous War on Street Vendors
Multilingual “No buying or selling merchandise” signs went up in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood recently. There is a thriving market for shoplifted (we prefer the term “boosted”) goods in the area, for sure - which is one reason why the laundry detergent is now under lock and key at the supermarket down the street. But what about the nice, harmless grandmas I see on the sidewalk selling produce?
There is a disturbingly racist subtext to this law and order clarion call to eliminate street vendors. Was in a more sane country last year at this time, in Mexico City, and just on the block we were staying at there were multiple street stalls selling groceries and great food and other stuff too. Imagine getting your food shopping done without leaving your block or getting into a car.
As someone pointed out on Twitter in response to a racist, anti-street vendor post: “white people have street vendors too - they are called farmer’s markets. That’s such a good take on so many levels due to the fact that farmer’s markets in the USA are mostly temporary pop up events that sell expensive, bespoke foodie gifts to rich people.
—Alex
We’re fighting illegal street vending to keep NYC clean and safe for all
“dozens of new sanitation police officers begin to hit the streets focused on illegal street vending — among the most visible challenges to cleanliness across the city”
Ex-Obama adviser Stuart Seldowitz arrested after Islamophobic rant
The former State Department official was filmed harassing a Muslim street vendor in New York, saying more Palestinian children should be killed in Gaza.