{"id":20654,"date":"2025-10-29T01:36:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T01:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/20654\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T01:36:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T01:36:35","slug":"street-vendor-reform-package-could-have-deep-impact-in-queens-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/20654\/","title":{"rendered":"Street Vendor Reform Package could have deep impact in Queens \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Cleotilde Ju\u00e1rez began serving her traditional chalupas on Junction Boulevard in Queens, after the COVID-19 pandemic left her unemployed in 2020.<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of the Street Vendor Project<\/p>\n

Around the streets of Jackson Heights<\/a>, Elmhurst<\/a> and Corona<\/a> in Queens, the large community of Latino residents that call these neighborhoods home is evident. It is also visible that street vendors are a staple of the neighborhood, and the smell of various traditional dishes is a common sense appeal among the streets.<\/p>\n

As the food gives residents a good taste of their native countries, street vendors serve a bigger purpose than making a living. Many of the vendors take a risk, as they may work without a license. However, when their livelihoods become dependent on providing this service, it is a sacrifice that they are willing to take.<\/p>\n

In May, a New York City Council hearing was granted regarding the Street Vendor Reform Package. The proposed package received a breakthrough on Sept. 10, as Council Member Shekar Krishnan<\/a>, who represents Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst<\/a> and Woodside<\/a> in Queens, passed Intro 47-B<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The bill was enacted after the City Council voted to override Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 veto<\/a> of Intro 47-B. Under the act, street vendors will no longer receive criminal misdemeanor charges as a penalty for street vending violations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not the same when you hear it directly from the person who is living through it,\u201d said Cleotilde Ju\u00e1rez, a small business owner in Queens and Leadership Board member with the Street Vendor Project<\/a>. \u201cMany of us are mothers, and even single mothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Cleotilde Ju\u00e1rez participating in a Street Vendor Reform rally at City Hall. Photo courtesy of the Street Vendor Project<\/p>\n

Ju\u00e1rez worked as a street vendor for about five years, before she opened up her own restaurant in April. Her restaurant, Chalupas Poblanas El Tlecuile<\/a>, in Corona, was something she had envisioned as a 14-year-old.<\/p>\n

Still a teenager, she recalled a woman who sold chalupas at her village, San Mat\u00edas Cocoyotla, in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. Ju\u00e1rez received the privilege to work with the woman\u2019s daughter-in-law, where she observed the woman at work firsthand. She recalls \u201cfalling in love\u201d with her dishes, and at 19 years old, Ju\u00e1rez began selling chalupas herself.<\/p>\n

She has served the dish for over 25 years, but it wasn\u2019t until 2020 that she introduced her chalupas to the Queens community. As the COVID-19 pandemic left her unemployed, and her kids were ineligible for government aid, Juarez sold chalupas on Junction Boulevard in Queens.<\/p>\n

During her time as a street vendor, Ju\u00e1rez went through similar struggles as many others who sell food to make a living. Over the years, she had received many fines. But she stated the fines weren\u2019t all that vendors had to look out for. Encounters with authorities were \u201cvery terrible,\u201d which often led to arrests or vendors having their food thrown away.<\/p>\n

\"\"As a Leadership Board member with the Street Vendor Project, Cleotilde Ju\u00e1rez has actively called for the passing of the Street Vendor Reform Package. Photo courtesy of the Street Vendor Project<\/p>\n

\u201cYou couldn\u2019t do anything against the authorities,\u201d said Ju\u00e1rez. \u201cYou were left with frustration. Feeling afraid. Feeling sorry. Left in tears. They take away your livelihood. The livelihood that puts food on your table, and pays your rent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fines went as high as $1,000, and Ju\u00e1rez says the degree of stress was \u201cenormous.\u201d She recalled seeing fellow food vendors who suffered from facial paralysis. There are also vendors who are diabetic, and their glucose levels were affected due to distress. As many are elderly and unfit to work, they prefer to sell food to pay for their expenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t realize how important we are to this community,\u201d said Ju\u00e1rez. \u201cIf you received a fine, you went to a criminal court. We aren\u2019t assassins or rapists. We are hard-working women. It\u2019s very disrespectful that they viewed us in that manner and treated us horrendously.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ju\u00e1rez became a street vendor out of necessity, but says has it has since become a more \u201ccaring connection\u201d to her fellow country people. She has served families who haven\u2019t returned to Mexico in over \u201c20 to 35 years.\u201d They\u2019ve expressed their appreciation for her dishes, which made them feel closer to home. As many of the families have children who are first-generation Americans, they also become more familiar with the culture of their roots.<\/p>\n

As the community has a large immigrant and working-class demographic, Ju\u00e1rez emphasized that street vendors also play an important role in providing economical dishes.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I were to die tomorrow, I would die happy,\u201d said Ju\u00e1rez. \u201cBecause I did something for the people of my country. Who haven\u2019t been able to return home, and enjoy our food.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

After criminal misdemeanor charges were removed as a penalty for street vending violations, the Leadership Board member of SVP maintains hope that the remaining bills under the reform can be passed. The reform can bring many benefits to the city\u2019s economy, in addition to the street vendors\u2019 livelihoods.<\/p>\n

Ju\u00e1rez pointed out that street vendors would pay for the granted licenses, and any required vendor courses. There would also be a significant increase in tax revenue, as 75% of street vendors currently operate without a license.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere would be nothing more dignifying than to work in peace and tranquility,\u201d said Ju\u00e1rez. \u201cIt\u2019ll be a sense of peace and tranquility that words can\u2019t describe, priceless. After many years of being persecuted. And so many years of being threatened.\u201d<\/p>\n

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