It doesn’t sound like Nick is an SVP member, but I’m not surprised. We have about 1,200 members but there are ten times that many street vendors in NYC.

We have people in the streets every week doing outreach but its a big city, we only have 2 paid staff, vendors move around, some are just not interested, etc.

FWIW, 98% of our members have never heard of Twitter. But don’t take my word for it. If you want to see who our members are, and maybe get more involved, come to any of our monthly meetings, which take place the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at our office.

And please invite any vendors you know. Nick, if you are reading this, I hope you can make a meeting! Sounds like you have the kind of experience and input we could use. We talk a lot about inter-vendor relations, pending legislation, and other issues of concern to the vending community.

If meetings are not your thing, friend us on Facebook so you can keep tabs on what we’re doing.

Thanks.

Mike
http://hotdogstandbusiness.org

They cut their own throats with infighting, they often refuse to follow the rules, they do NOT contribute their share of revenue to the City’s tax coffers (such as brick and mortar restaurants), and their “products” are often questionable.

The food cart operators, most often recent immigrants, had better find another line of work, because their days are numbered.

Of course, they MAY be able to find work at State Fairs and other such carnie events.

Carrion, please.

I see what you’re doing and I think it’s the correct approach. All of the vendors should know this and should have the same mindset when working their stations next to others. With more education, we wouldn’t have to resort to this ‘dog eat dog’ mentality that doesn’t benefit anybody.

You should definitely express you concerns to the Street Vendor Project as well. They’ve already touched upon this subject but, from what I understand, they also have volunteers who visit vendors in person. Perhaps they can relay your message.

Make food, not war…