Dear Commissioner Donoghue of Parks and Recreation,
 
We are writing to express our support for the street vendors who work in Hudson Yards, and calling on the Parks Department to allow the longtime street vendors of Hudson Yards to be able to continue to operate. 

Since 2014, more than 15 Egyptian street vendors who are members of the Street Vendor Project, along with disabled US military veteran vendors, have operated three mobile food cart businesses on the far west side of Manhattan, anticipating their clientele would grow when the Hudson Yards mega-development came to life in 2019.

Yet since Day 1, security guards hired by Hudson Yards management have harassed the vendors, even though they are in a legal location on public property. Related Companies has worked to displace the vendors from their location, using coercive tactics like placing planters in their spots, extending sidewalk tree pits, even calling the NYPD to harass the vendors. 

On April 26th, 2023 the Parks Department and NYPD displaced several longtime, legally operating street vendor carts to expand the tree pit. Additionally, they replaced another longtime vendor with a food cart holding a permit owned by the local Business Improvement District. Since then, more than 15 street vendors who have served the area for nearly a decade have been out of work. 

It is unjust for the Parks Department to landscape longtime street vendors out of their business location. The Parks Department is choosing to work at the behest of Related Companies, owned by billionaire Trump donor Stephen Ross, and the local Business Improvement District - rather than with the hard working disabled military veterans and immigrant street vendors who serve affordable food to the neighborhood.
 
We urge Commissioner Donaghue to take action to support the street vendors of Hudson Yards by doing the following:

1. Remove or modify the tree pits along the sidewalks in Hudson Yards so that vendors can continue to operate their businesses
2. Stop the daily harassment of street vendors by enforcement authorities, and work to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect
3. Do not displace long-time food vendors in the area through any concession agreements with the Parks Department.
 
We believe that by taking these steps, you can help ensure that street vendors in Hudson Yards are able to continue their important work, and that they are able to do so in a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment. 

The Street Vendor Project (SVP), a grassroots organization that advocates for the rights of street vendors in New York City is working hand in hand with vendors in Hudson Yards to ensure that vendors’ livelihood is not taken away. SVP provides legal assistance, advocacy, and community organizing support to address the challenges and barriers that street vendors face.

We appreciate your attention to this matter.