Proposal to waive fees for sidewalk vendors in Downey stalls

A vendor sells drinks and snacks in Los Angeles. (Photo courtesy Supervisor Hilda Solis)

DOWNEY – A push by Mayor Pro Tem Catherine Alvarez to waive fees for applying street vendors continued to struggle gaining any momentum Tuesday.

The City Council last discussed the potential subsidization for vendors last month, after Alvarez suggested the move in an attempt to make it easier – and subsequently more attractive – for vendors to apply for and obtain proper permits.

However, interim city manager Mark Scott suggested that doing so might not only make little difference, it might hurt the situation as well.

“I know that the mayor pro tem - in bringing this issue up - wasn’t trying to bring up an issue to put sidewalk vendors out of business, she was trying to make it possible for them to operate within the city legally and affordably,” said Scott.

“Yet, the other side of the issue is if we’re going to, say, we’re going to make concessions to allow it to be easier to get a permit, there’s an assumption there we will enforce those that don’t get a permit.”

“When you look at the fees, you can see the fees are substantial, and waiving our small portion of it is not likely in most cases going to result in somebody wanting to get a permit.”

According to City Staff’s report, street vendors spend anywhere from $1,173 to $1,552 annually to acquire the proper permits, licenses and other required documents, only $63 of which goes towards a City of Downey sidewalk vending permit.

The council is now considering holding a workshop for those interested in the permit process.

Sidewalk vending was decriminalized in 2019.