Part 5/8:
The discussion took a deeper dive into the permit situation facing food vendors in New York City. The 1995 reforms, intended to eliminate monopolistic practices, did not achieve their goal. Instead, they created an environment where obtaining a citywide vending permit is akin to winning the lottery. The backlog of applications means that many hopeful vendors are left in limbo, often operating under rented permits, which come with their own risks and costs.
When I spoke with Muhammad Attia from the Street Vendor Project, he detailed how the system still favors those who have been in the game longer and entrenches barriers for newcomers.