The DUMBO and Fulton Ferry neighborhoods of Brooklyn is facing an unprecedented crisis with illegal street vending that threatens public safety, quality of life, and the character of our historic district. Our narrow cobblestone streets, already challenged by high pedestrian traffic, have become nearly impassable due to the proliferation of unregulated vendors and creating hazardous conditions for residents, local businesses, and tourists.

The impact on our community has been severe and far-reaching. Health concerns have escalated as unauthorized food vendors, operating without proper permits or health department oversight, leave behind waste and attract vermin. In the past 12 months alone, the Dumbo community has filed 2867 DSNY Vendor Enforcement and DOHMH Mobile Food Vendor 311s for unsanitary or illegal vending practices. Despite this, the response  from city agencies has been fragmented and ineffective, leaving our community to deal with unsanitary vending, mounting garbage, and filthy street conditions. These illegal vendors block safety crosswalks during the day, and leave their food carts unattended overnight, creating hazardous and unsanitary conditions for the entire community.

We need the City to take action to help our community. We would like to request the immediate creation of a vending task force focused on DUMBO and Fulton Ferry that includes joint participation from the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks), and New York City Police Department (NYPD) to ensure 1) there is adequate space for pedestrians to get around in the narrow streets, 2) no food vendors stay in the community overnight, and 3) violators are ticketed, and repeat offenders are removed from the area.

In addition to this dedicated task force, we are also requesting that DUMBO's streets be added to the city's No Vending zone. Trucks’ regular illegal parking next to and even in crosswalks and next to schools creates safety hazards. Their generators’ noise and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) emissions permeates our homes and businesses. Traffic is snarled with their double parking and filling up metered spots illegally, some 'reserved’ illegally for them. We are a residential community in a wonderful location and want for ourselves and for visitors SAFE streets, without constant noise and pollution.

Let us be clear: our community supports legal vending and recognizes the vital role vendors play in New York City's vibrant street life. This petition is not anti-vendor; rather, it advocates for a sustainable balance between the interests of residents, visitors, and vendors. We seek enforcement of existing vending rules that protects both public safety and legitimate business operations. By establishing this dedicated task force, we can create a framework that allows legal vendors to thrive while preserving the safety, cleanliness, and accessibility of our unique neighborhood.