Street Vendors Need Our Help!

In July, the Mayor’s office presented a draft ordinance to limit where and when street vendors could conduct their business to the City Council’s Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations (EDIR) committee.

This draft ordinance came after the State of California decriminalized street vending, but allowed local jurisdictions to create regulations to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Some cities, like Los Angeles, are pursuing local ordinances that ensure a thorough and fair public process and uplift the intent of Senate Bill 946, which is to “promote entrepreneurship and support immigrant and low-income communities.”

However, the City of San Diego did not hold any public meetings with street vendors before they crafted their draft ordinance. Street vendors have been largely left out from this public process and have been outnumbered by brick and mortar businesses and residents of beach communities who support the ordinance and the prohibition of street vending in most areas around the city. 

This is why we advised the City to hold a public workshop in City Heights. We encourage you to uplift the voices of street vendors by participating in this public process and providing comments to sidewalkvending@sandiego.gov, attending on Monday, October 21st at the Fair@44 (4350 El Cajon Blvd.) from 6-8 PM, and spreading the word to your favorite street vendors. 

Please visit sandiego.gov/sidewalkvending for more information on the proposed ordinance.