CHIRLA

Street Vendors Education Campaign and Organizing

“This Don’t Let Your Dreams Melt”

Last year we stared an education process with Ice Pop vendors in Los Angeles especially at the San Fernando Valley in the Van Nuys area. The campaign name “Don’t Let Your Dreams Melt”  is a campaign that informs the ice pop vendors about two different ordinances existing in Los Angeles one that prohibits any kind of sale on any side walk of Los Angeles and the second one prohibits the sale of any kind of food 500 feet from the school door. Due to this ordinances the Ice pop vendors and other vendors of the city are getting tickets and some time being arrested, and this is a big problem because vendors arrested can get and immigration old and face a deportation Process.  Some of these vendors are already fighting their deportation and the CHIRLA Raid Rapid Response Team is helping them with their cases.   

Street vending has been a major part of Los Angeles for decades. Vendors such as paleteros, fruteros and hot dog vendors make up an integral part of the city’s economy, providing wages to a large number of families and households, as well as benefiting the larger community. Currently street vendors may obtain Health Code certification business and tax licenses in Los Angeles County. Unfortunately these very same vendors are penalized by contradictions in city laws resulting in the criminalization of the vendors. CHIRLA’s Street Vending Committee is developing a comprehensive street vending ordinance that will meet the practical needs of the city of Los Angeles. We are looking for researchers and interns to:  Review and analyze Health Code regulations, L.A. municipal codes etc.  Intake vendor grievances  Research street vending programs in various cities  Assist in developing a Citywide ordinance for street vending in Los Angeles.