The city’s government isn’t interested in helping more workers become vendors. The city capped food-vendor permits in the early 1980s; there are currently just over 4000 available, often only on the black market, where they might cost $25K (the city, by comparison, charges $200 for 2-year permits, which can be renewed indefinitely). And yet a 2015 report found that New York’s vendors contributed an estimated $293M to the city’s economy and $71M in taxes. “Street vending is an inherently New York City thing. I don’t know why there needs to be a cap on permits.”

you can only get a nyc food vendor license if you sell burnt pretzels. it’s the law. see also how the mob controls these licenses.

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