HomeMy WebLinkAboutBita Kavoosi_09_16_2020 - Open Session - Agenda Item No. 6_RedactedFrom:Bita Kavoosi
To:Public Comments
Cc:
Subject:09/16/2020 - Open Session - Agenda Item No. 6
Date:Tuesday, September 15, 2020 9:47:25 AM
Dear San Bernardino Council Members,
This is to express my support of our street vendor community, and ask that you work to invest
in education and outreach before you adopt the Code Amendment to Section 5.30.120 and
various Sections of Chapter 8.01 that criminalize Street Vendors.
Leading a program with enforcement is asking for it to fail. Vendors don’t have access to
compliant carts. They need INVESTMENT NOT TICKETS! Invest in the infrastructure
needed for them to be successful so they, too, can continue to contribute to our economy.
San Bernardino City must invest in street vendors, they need comprehensive education and
carts NOT criminalization. For the past couple of months city staff and police officers are
going out to cite vendors. The city staff and proper outreach team should be working with
vendors and community organizations. Street vendors are an important part of our history. For
the last 35 years they have fed our communities, including folks living or working in food
deserts throughout the city. It is time they receive investment like other small businesses.
The policy changes you are proposing only further criminalize and scale up enforcement, but
fail to properly address the real problem, which is that the proper cart required to be in
compliance DOES NOT EXIST, and therefore makes it nearly impossible to receive permits.
By enforcing these discriminatory policies, the city is choosing to enact racist and classist
policies that target and criminalize valued immigrant entrepreneurs.
Economic mobility for all residents is important and I urge you to expand educational
resources for vendors who are working to contribute to our economy. Please VOTE NO on
Agenda Item No. 6 this Wednesday!
Sincerely,
Bita