New York Street Vendors Battle Over Permits

A conflict is forming on the streets of New York City between legal and illegal food trucks and carts.

The city grants 5,100 food vending permits every two years. The permit is issued by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Most of the permit holders pay $200 to renew their permit every two years.

Some permit holders rent their license, or permit, for a profit. Some cart or truck operators pay more than $20,000 for a food vending permit.

Because there is greater demand than supply of permits, a black market for the licenses has emerged.

The Wall Street Journal reported that transferring or renting these permits to another vendor is illegal. But many vendors have turned to this illegal black market for permits.

Business owners who have legal permits, or who compete with the food carts and trucks, are against the black market.

“The people out there operating the carts are not the ones who have the permits,” said business official Dan Pisark. He questioned the permit owners’ motives.

The vendors say getting a cart or truck permit can take 10 to 15 years. Some vendors work the street unlicensed.

Vendors have protested at City Hall about the permit system. They call for vendors to be licensed. They say vendors should have a permit in their own name. Others call for more permits to be issued.

“People got to live. They’ve got families. They got kids, children,” said Bernard Thompson, a New York City street vendor. “You know, they’ve got to eat.”

I'm Mario Ritter.

Bernard Shusman wrote this story for VOAnews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.