Drug-fueled peddlers in East Village create
block-long flea market selling junk
Passing through the market. PHOTOS BY DEAN MOSES
BY DEAN MOSES
East 14th Street in the East
Village has become a haven
for homelessness and
drug use as unlicensed vendors
fi ll the sidewalk peddling trash
and broken items, according to
local merchants and residents.
Before the pandemic, Immaculate
Conception Church, located
at the corner of First Avenue and
East 14th Street, continuously
held their weekend fl ea market in
their parking lot. This house of
worship would allow parishioners
to sell clothing, jewelry, and even
electronics, such as record players
and video games.
But when the COVID-19 pandemic
hit in early 2020 the church
was forced to shut down the community
event. In the wake of this
closure, a homeless community
moved onto the block — spreading
out blankets and cardboard
boxes on which they peddled
everything from pirate DVDs
to used food items, sometimes
even going so far as to sell open
seasoning containers and tangled
extension cords.
Tattered shirts and jackets are
hung on the closed shutters of
businesses while free newspaper
dispensers have been turned on
their sides and used as seats.
Worst of all, the remnants of
unsellable wears like underwear
are left strewn in the roadway.
What began as a few vendors
piggybacking off a neighborhood
staple in order to make a quick
buck, has now transformed into
a block-wide market, overfl owing
with litter and all out debauchery.
Since these makeshift merchants
overtook the sidewalk, they have
terrorized the neighborhood,
especially local business owners.
Many residents feel that the
area could swiftly become a
COVID-19 hotspot due to the
ever-growing cluster of maskless
individuals rooting themselves
along the sidewalk.
“They are selling garbage; they
are trying to feed off the real fl ea
market,” said one local store
owner, who asked to be identifi ed
as Kim. “One guy was puking in
the street; another guy was masturbating
in front of my store. It
happens every weekend! I have
seen drug use, people sleeping,
fi ghting… you name it!
Kim further said that police
have been regularly called on
weekends to address the problems,
but “they come and they do
absolutely nothing.”
Jimmy Jiang, owner Hawa
Smoothies and Bubble Tea juice
bar, also feels helpless about the
whole situation. He has now
been forced to close his shop on
weekends since customers say it’s
just too dangerous for shoppers.
“We tried to call 911, the
cops say they are not going to
do anything,” Jiang said. After
continuously reaching out to the
NYPD for help, he asked the offi
cers why they can’t do anything
to stop these peddlers. “The
mayor told offi cers they cannot
touch vendors and can’t remove
the homeless.”
This bootleg fl ea market goes
on all weeklong, but on weekends,
it hits its peak, barely allowing
room for foot traffi c. Still, it is not
much better during the few times
these dealers are not on the street.
“Since they are not real business
vendors, they leave all of
their garbage because they can’t
carry it. We get a ticket for the
trash,” Jiang said.
When Jiang attempted to
confront the unlicensed vendors
setting up on damp, torn-up
chunks of cardboard in front of
his juice bar, he recalled, a peddler
punched him. Jiang sought
aid from the NYPD, identifying
his assailant who had fl ed to the
L train station on Avenue A, but
instead of following him, he says
offi cers got in their patrol car and
drove in the opposite direction.
After reaching out for comment,
Council Member Carlina
Rivera’s offi ce gave amNewYork
Metro a statement, saying that she
is aware of the issue at hand.
“We’ve been working with local
businesses, constituents, other
elected offi cials, and City agencies
regarding the uptick in individuals
on 14th Street between 1st
Avenue and Avenue A who are
selling miscellaneous items outside
of the Church of Immaculate
Conception Flea Market.
Councilwoman Rivera certainly
understands the serious health
risks regarding the lack of social
distancing posed by increased
numbers of individuals on any
city street, which is compounded
by those who also reside in the
area and may be experiencing
homelessness without access to
adequate resources,” said Jeremy
Unger, spokesperson for Councilwoman
Carlina Rivera.
In response to the issue, Rivera’s
offi ce says they have worked
with church offi cials to resume
their regular fl ea market within
the property and off the sidewalk
to regain some semblance of normalcy
to the area while creating
a controlled environment.
Unger also stated that the
Councilwoman urged the church
to consider creating clear identifi
cation for those registered to be
a part of their fl ea market.
More at amny.com.
Jimmy Jiang points to the garbage left behind by the flea market vendors.
6 Oct. 15, 2020 Schneps Media
/amny.com
