Mamdani tied the raids to the city’s failure to pass a package of street vendor reform legislation that would lift the cap on street vendor permits. Currently, there are over 10,000 people waiting for vending permits.
“What we need to do is actually pass the street vending reform bills that have been in the city council, some of which this mayor has actually overridden,” said Mamdani. “That’s an example of how we can both protect street vendors, ensure quality of life, and leave no stone unturned in delivering for the people of the city, as opposed to working with the president, who is looking to declare war on those same people.”