HomeMy WebLinkAboutMariana Magana _ for 09_02_2020 - Open Session - re Sidewalk Vending Ordinance_redactedFrom:Mariana Magana
To:Public Comments
Cc:
Subject:09/02/2020 - Open Session - Public Comment
Date:Wednesday, September 2, 2020 12:18:13 PM
Attachments:SB StreetVending LetterofSupport.pdf
On behalf of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) we are writing to respectfully request
the San Bernardino City Council members postpone the vote on the proposed amendments to the
Sidewalk Vending Ordinance and municipal code.
Please view the formal letter attached.
As we continue to face COVID-19 we urge you and the Council to better support the street vending
community as they play a crucial role in a just recovery.
Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions.
Best,
--
September
2,
2020
San
Bernardino
City
Council
300
N
D
Street
San
Bernardino,
CA
92418
RE:
Request
to
Postpone
Street
Vending
Ordinance
Amendments
On
behalf
of
the
Coalition
for
Humane
Immigrant
Rights
(CHIRLA)
we
are
writing
to
respectfully
request
the
San
Bernardino
City
Council
members
postpone
the
vote
on
the
proposed
amendments
to
the
Sidewalk
Vending
Ordinance
and
municipal
code.
Founded
in
1986
CHIRLA
is
a
California
leader,
with
national
impact,
made
up
of
diverse
immigrant
families
and
individuals
who
act
as
agents
of
social
change
to
achieve
a
world
with
freedom
of
mobility,
full
human
rights,
and
true
participatory
democracy,
fully
inclusive
of
refugees
and
immigrants.
CHIRLA
prides
itself
in
its
work
to
serve
the
immigrant
community
through
civic
engagement,
community
education,
organizing,
the
provision
of
legal
immigration
services,
and
advocacy.
In
San
Bernardino
CHIRLA
serves
a
large
immigrant
base,
some
of
who
are
street
vendors,
and
form
a
part
of
the
social
and
economic
fabric
of
the
city.
As
demonstrated
through
time
street
vendors
are
essential
to
our
communities.
For
the
last
35
years
they
have
brought
fruit,
cultural
and
healthy
foods
to
food
deserts
throughout
the
city.
Street
vendors
are
an
asset
to
the
City
of
San
Bernardino,
not
a
burden.
In
recent
days
there
has
been
instances
where
street
vendors
have
faced
harassment
for
simply
working
to
better
provide
for
their
family.
They
have
faced
policies
that
opt
to
scale
enforcement
and
criminalize
their
actions,
which
have
come
as
a
result
of
the
negative
beliefs
and
stereotypes
towards
racial
minorities
and
working-‐class
immigrant
families.
By
enforcing
these
discriminatory
policies
the
city
is
choosing
to
enact
on
racist
and
classist
sentiments
toward
valued
immigrant
entrepreneurs.
On
the
contrary,
the
City
should
build
and
support
immigrant
entrepreneurs
who
call
San
Bernardino
home.
As
COVID-‐19
continues
to
impose
further
harm
on
the
community,
with
immigrants
being
hit
the
hardest,
we
urge
you
to
support
the
street
vendor
community
instead
of
further
criminalizing
their
actions.
In
dire
times
like
today,
economic
mobility
for
all
residents
is
important
to
ensure
the
wellbeing
of
families
in
San
Bernardino.
We
urge
you
to
familiarize
yourselves
with
the
struggles
the
street
vendor
community
is
facing
and
most
importantly
urge
you
to
expand
educational
resources
for
vendors
who
are
working
to
formalize
themselves
in
our
economy.
We
need
street
vendors
here
now
more
than
ever.
During
the
pandemic
open
spaces
have
become
the
safest
for
our
communities,
hosting
people
in
the
open
air
of
our
beautiful
city
is
one
of
the
many
expertise
of
our
local
street
vendors
bring
to
the
table.
We
propose
you
work
with
local
groups
to
mediate
culturally
sensitive
education
without
resorting
to
enforcement
as
your
first
action.
Respectfully,
Mariana
Magana
,
CHIRLA
Policy
Advocate
Joseph
Villela
,
CHIRLA
Policy
and
Advocacy
Director