September 5th, 2021

Attn: NYC Parks Dept, Acting Commissioner Margaret Nelson
Cc: Ms. Crystal Howard, Mr. Alexander Han
Cc: Ms. Sue Donoghue, Mr. Edwin Falcon
CC: Ms. Meghan Lalor

Dear NYC Parks Department – Prospect Park Division,

As long-time and recent residents of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Prospects Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Park South, Ditmas Park, and other communities neighboring the Parkside entrance of Prospect Park, we are writing in support of Mr. Kwesi Donald’s permit application to remain a pillar of the corner selling fresh juices, fruits, and vegetables to the community. In a period when New York City has provided more than 4,000 permits to restaurants to expand and maintain permanent outdoor eating structures to adjust to the unusual circumstances, we do not accept a double standard for street vendors, Black street vendors in particular, like Mr. Donald who have similarly adapted under extraordinary circumstances, while improving access to fresh, organic, nutritious juice on a corner dominated by fast food and while brightening the corner with camaraderie, music, and a familiar face every day. We support and want to see small Black-owned businesses thrive n a historically Black and Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn. The threats to evict Mr. Donald without granting him the opportunity to follow through on the permit process which he has begun is not acceptable.

We understand that Mr. Donald has applied several times for a permit to remain on the Southeast corner of Prospect Park. Many of us were present on the day in late August that the Parks Department arrived to intimidate Mr. Donald into removing his stand.  We found it astonishing that even after decriminalizing street vending, your staff called the police on Mr. Donald. We understand that his stand remains under threat of eviction as the City regularly extends permits for similar permanent outdoor structures in other parts of the city, such as Vanderbilt Ave and 5th Ave in Park Slope, to more established businesses.

We are writing in support of Mr. Donald as a neighbor, as a pillar of our community, and as a symbol of what Brooklyn can be when it takes seriously the lessons of adaptability, cultural diversity, and equity for its residents. We request that you grant him a permit to operate permanently on this corner or within one block in any direction beginning March 1, 2022. We are watching, we are witnesses, and we will not stand by while the neighbors who helped this neighborhood recover from a terrible year get thrown away.

We also encourage you to try some of his juice.

We are writing in support of Mr. Donald as a neighbor, as a pillar of our community, and as a symbol of what Brooklyn can be when it takes seriously the lessons of adaptability, cultural diversity, and equity for its residents. We request that you grant him a permit to operate permanently on this corner or within one block in any direction beginning March 1, 2022. We are watching, we are witnesses, and we will not stand by while the neighbors who helped this neighborhood recover from a terrible year get thrown away.