Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed a City Council bill that would have eliminated criminal penalties for unlicensed street vendors, citing concerns over public safety and quality of life.
The legislation, known as Intro 47-B, aimed to remove misdemeanor charges from street vending violations while preserving civil enforcement tools, such as fines and penalties. Supporters argued it would protect immigrant vendors from potential deportation risks tied to criminal records.
“Since day one, our administration has been committed not just to making New Yorkers safe, but to making them feel safe, too — and that includes addressing persistent quality-of-life issues like illegal street vending,” Adams told the New York Post. “Our law enforcement officers play a vital role in keeping our streets clear of unlicensed vendors and protecting small business owners who follow the rules from being undercut by those who don’t.”
The bill was passed by the City Council with 40 votes in favor, eight against, and three abstentions. This happens to be a veto-proof margin that could allow lawmakers to override the mayor’s decision.
Under current city law, illegal vending can carry misdemeanor charges. Advocates and council members argue that such penalties disproportionately harm immigrants and low-income New Yorkers, with lasting consequences on housing, education, and employment opportunities.
“While leaving in place the enforcement tools of violations, fines, and civil offenses, the bill simply removed the excessive criminal misdemeanor penalties,” said Julia Agos, a spokesperson for the council. “The council negotiated this bill in good faith with the Administration, only to have the mayor disregard the work of the advisory board and his own staff with this veto.”
Street vendor groups criticized the decision, calling it an attack on vulnerable communities.
“Choosing to veto a bill that simply removes the excessive criminal misdemeanor penalties that can block New Yorkers’ access to educational, housing, and immigration opportunities is nothing less than an attack on our city’s most vulnerable, hardworking families and entrepreneurs,” said the NYC Street Vendor Justice Coalition.
The City Council is now weighing its next move and may seek to override the veto in an upcoming session.