HomeMy WebLinkAboutNaomy V_09_16_2020 - Open Session - Agenda Item No. 6_RedactedFrom:Naomy V
To:Public Comments
Cc:
Subject:09/16/2020 - Open Session - Agenda Item No. 6
Date:Wednesday, September 16, 2020 12:10:53 PM
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. Sincerely, Naomy