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Yang: More enforcement
needed against unlicensed
NYC street vendors
BY MARK HALLUM
New Yorkers
gathered in support
of the “Churro
Lady,” otherwise
known as Elsa, on
Sunday after mayoral
candidate Andrew
Yang called
for greater enforcement
action against
unlicensed street
vendors.
ANDREW YANG
The November 2019 incident in which
Brooklyn cops seized Elsa’s churro cartin
the Broadway Junction subway station
broke hearts an provoked a decision in the
City Council in January 2021 to offer more
permits and less enforcement of some of the
city’s poorest entrepreneurs.
“You know what I hear over and over again
— that NYC is not enforcing rules against unlicensed
street vendors. I’m for increasing licenses
but we should do more for the retailers
who are paying rent and trying to survive,”
Yang tweeted.
While a Yang spokesman did not elaborate
as to what the candidate’s statement calling
for enforcement entailed, he did explain that
he was in support of legislation expanding
opportunities for legit sellers and that he
was endorsed by Councilwoman Margaret
Chin who sponsored the legislation formally
passed in January to hand out more permits.
“Andrew emphatically supports the latest
legislation passed in January by Council
member Chin and advocated for by the Street
Vendor Project that will help bring people
into the legal market,” said Jake Sporn, a
campaign spokesman for Yang’s campaign. ”
While Chin expressed during the Jan. 28
City Council meeting that the bill was “not
perfect,” it was celebrated as an end to punitive
measures against unlicensed vendors
which has often ended in their property being
confiscated by NYPD or health officials
never to be seen again.
Another added benefit to the bill is that
it will end black market dealings in vendors
permits in which holders are known to
charge exorbitant amounts from those they
are transferring their license over to.
Detractors to the bill included Councilman
Mark Gjonaj, who argued that increasing the
number of street vendor permits would lead
to conflict over sidewalk space between brick
and mortars and kiosks as commerce makes
its way outdoors due to the pandemic.
NYC comptroller candidate Weprin
calls for congestion pricing delay
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | APRIL 16-APRIL 22, 2021 11
NY Teachers for Choice
endorses Adriana Aviles in
District 19
NY Teachers for Choice endorsed
Adriana Aviles to be the
first Latinx female to represent
Queens District 19 in City Council.
“Adriana is principled, fearless,
truthful and independent,”
NY Teachers for Choice wrote in
a statement. “She is a Democrat
who has not abandoned the party’s
roots of defending civil liberties,
and she does not cater to any special
interests other than the pressing
concerns of her constituents
and all New Yorkers.”
NY Teachers for Choice are an
emergency union caucus made up
“Until we completely recover from
COVID-19 and its aftermath, I do not
believe this is the time to tax small
business owners and outer borough
residents driving into Manhattan.”
— NYC comptroller candidate
financial troubles is not
only irresponsible, it’s
plain wrong,” said Assemblyman
William Colton.
“The idea that congestion
pricing should begin now
— during a still-raging
pandemic — is a poorly
timed, poorly executed effort
to fix a problem without
thinking about all the
effects it will have on New
York City’s families and
I urge the governor to rethink
the timing.”
Assembly members
Erik Dilan and Jennifer
Rajkumar joined in the
chorus as well.
of teachers and parents opposed to
forced medical mandates for any
American to keep their job, especially
educators.
Meng endorses Linda Lee in
District 23
Democrat Linda Lee, candidate
for City Council in the 23rd
District, announced the endorsement
of U.S. Rep. Grace Meng.
“Congresswoman Meng has
been at the forefront of so many
critical fights for our communities,
from standing strong against
anti-Semitism and AAPI hate to
working to get women a seat at the
table to fighting to protect social
security and expand Medicare.
There’s no stronger advocate for
David Weprin
Weprin’s opposition to
congestion pricing was a
point of friction between
his allies and members
of Transport Workers
Union Local 100, who
swarmed a press conference
at Tramway Plaza
in March 2019.
A study released over
the summer by Cornell
University found that only
5.7 percent of drivers in
northeast Queens assembly
district neighboring
that which is currently
represented by Weprin
would be significantly
impacted by the toll.
women, seniors and families and
I’m humbled to have her support,”
Lee said.
This was Lee’s biggest endorsement
from a Queens elected
official since launching her campaign,
her campaign said.
“I’m endorsing Linda Lee for
City Council because no one is
better prepared to deliver for our
neighborhoods. As the director
of a large nonprofit, Linda has
provided meals for homebound
seniors, mental healthcare, and
successfully fought to open the
only vaccine site in northeastern
Queens – all while juggling remote
learning and childcare for her two
boys. No one will work harder or
deliver more for our families than
Linda Lee,” Meng said.
BY MARK HALLUM
David Weprin, candidate
for city comptroller,
is continuing his longstanding
opposition to the
state’s congestion pricing
plan which would create a
dedicated revenue stream
for the MTA alongside
other members of the
state Assembly.
Weprin issued a statement
on Thursday calling
for the Cuomo administration
to delay the plan
for two years after the
pandemic comes to an official
end as a means of
relieving a financial burden
on a small percentage
of motorists traveling into
Manhattan.
“One year ago, New
Yorkers became patient
zero in a global pandemic
that spurred job losses
and business closures,”
Weprin said. “Now, we
are being asked to incur
an even greater financial
burden while the virus is
still not completely under
control. Until we completely
recover from COVID-19
and its aftermath, I do not
believe this is the time to
tax small business owners
and outer borough
residents driving into
Manhattan. I am calling
on the governor and the
mayor to delay congestion
pricing for two years and
urge all New Yorkers to
stand behind me in fighting
for what makes the
most sense.”
This call comes after
the federal government
under President Donald
Trump held congestion
pricing back by not providing
the MTA with criteria
needed in an environmental
review anddays after
Transportation Secretary
Pete Buttigieg offered the
information needed for
the plan to move forward.
“Expecting working
men and women from
boroughs outside of Manhattan
to pay for the city’s
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