Championing street vendors out of the shadows
Inclusive Action for the City shares their work to legalize street vending in Los Angeles and the impact it’s had on the community.
In cities like Los Angeles, street vendors are a vibrant part of their community. Up until 2018, these entrepreneurs were cast in the shadows and legally unable to grow their businesses and find their place in the economy. Inclusive Action for the City (IAC) knew this was a problem not only for the vendors, but also the greater community.
When IAC was founded in 2008, one of their first initiatives took them to the streets of Los Angeles to survey the street vending community. This effort highlighted the many challenges street vendors faced as entrepreneurs including harassment and being illegally charged rent for sidewalk space. IAC has since become a leader in the citywide campaign to create a permit system for street vendors, which would legalize street vending in Los Angeles.
“We talked to so many wonderful and open street vendors,” says Rudy Espinoza, Executive Director for IAC. “They shared the challenges and told us they didn’t want to be afraid anymore. They were set back financially every time their property was confiscated.”
IAC worked with several organizations throughout the city to start the LA Street Vendor Campaign. After nearly 10 years of working with government officials, other organizations and street vendors, street vending was finally legalized in LA and sidewalk vending was decriminalized in the state of California.
“The journey was beautiful because of the people we worked with,” says Espinoza. “The campaign was led by street vendor leaders who are still active in their communities. What’s more, vendors are now able to take a formal step on the financial ladder because a permit protects and honors them within our economy.”
Since the legalization of street vending, nearly 2,800 entrepreneurs have received their permits from the city. In addition to legalization, the state of California recently passed a bill that will change some of the design requirements for street vending carts, making them much more affordable for these entrepreneurs.
“The legalization of street vending is great for the overall health of our communities,” says Espinoza. ”They provide access to affordable food in communities otherwise considered food deserts. They bring extra foot traffic and lighting to business corridors. They partner with brick-and-mortar businesses to mutually benefit one another. When street vendors find success, it’s better for everyone.”
Since IAC first started leading the campaign, there’s been a large shift in how the business community sees street vendors.
“A lot of brick-and-mortar business owners have told us they identify with the street vendors,” says Espinoza. “Maybe that’s where their business started. It’s great to see our street vendors getting recognition as small business owners by the larger business community. They are truly living the American dream.”
Espinoza shared the story of a local entrepreneur whose business started at the street vending level. With the legalization of street vending, they were afforded more opportunities, and their business was able to grow and eventually evolve into a popular restaurant. With continued investments and legislation, Espinoza is confident that we will continue to see this American dream lived out in LA and throughout California.
IAC is not alone in their efforts to invest in the street vendor community. In spring of 2022, JPMorgan Chase announced a three-year, $5 million commitment to support the Open Air Economy Collaborative. The collaborative is a joint effort that includes local community organizations such as IAC, the California Reinvestment Coalition (CRC), Public Counsel, and the East LA Community Corporation (ELACC). The commitment will help local Black and Latina street vendors strengthen their businesses, which provides economic opportunities for low-income and immigrant workers and promotes food access across Los Angeles County.
“The fact that an institution like JPMorgan Chase is investing this much into this community is a symbol of the maturity of their work,” says Espinoza. “It highlights that this community has always mattered and there’s a lot of opportunity. We need to invest in our street vendors so that they can grow and move up the economic ladder.”
Learn more about the work IAC is doing in Los Angeles here.
