For the past decade, Vivien Grullon has set up a table on Roosevelt Avenue almost everyday.

The Peruvian immigrant sells jewelry. But she doesn’t have a street vending permit — so she’s constantly looking over her shoulder, in fear of being fined.

What You Need To Know

  • Dozens of street vendors rallied for more permits and less enforcement in Corona, Queens, Wednesday

  • Vivien Grullon, a Peruvian immigrant who sells jewelry on Roosevelt Ave., says she's been waiting eight years for her permit   

  • Currently, there are roughly 2,000 vendor licenses. In January, the city council passed a bill that would create 4,000 new street vendor permits over the next decade, but vendors argue that's not enough 

  • The city says it spent several months educating vendors about their legal responsibilities — before shifting to enforcement

  “I am feeling so sad. Because I come here for my dream, my USA dream,” said Grullon. "I am working hard here. I no bother nobody."

Grullon is one of thousands of unlicensed street vendors in the city. She says she’s been on a waiting list for a permit for almost eight years.

 

She says it took her 85 year-old mother 25 years to get her permit because the city placed a cap on the number of street vending permits it issues annually decades ago.

“I can’t wait 25 years,” said Grullon.

Grullon and dozens of other street vendors rallied in Corona Wednesday, calling on the city to eliminate the cap on street vendor permits.

Currently there are roughly 2z,000 of those vendor licenses. Back in January, the city council passed a bill that would create 4,000 new street vendor permits over the next decade.
But advocates say it's not enough.

The Street Vendor Project — a group representing the workers — estimates vendors have lost 90% of their income during the pandemic, and maintains the city makes things harder with heavy fines for minor violations.

“People didn’t have any relief, any support from the government. And now they are back to work, trying to survive. But now they are being threatened by several departments, several agencies that they will be ticketed and they will be evicted from the locations they work on,” said Mohamad Attia, the managing director of the Street Vendor Project.

Back on Roosevelt Avenue, Grullon says on an average day, she’ll make $100. But once you factor in the cost of merchandise and cab fees to bring her wears to her sidewalk shop, she’s left with about $30 in her pocket at the day’s end.

“Here this space, I pay university for my daughter. I pay college for my other daughter. A little money for my mother,” said Grullon.

The city responds saying it spent several months educating vendors about their legal responsibilities — before shifting to enforcement.