By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) on Friday announced that he has been working with the City Sanitation Department to clear up the unlicensed, illegal fruit-vending operations that have become a blight on the 15th Senatorial District.
Based on the feedback from community members, Addabbo, along with his governmental and community colleagues, sent a letter back in November to DSNY, the City Department of Transportation, the City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the NYPD, reporting the situation and asking for immediate action to be taken. Since then, DSNY has worked expeditiously to issue violations and confiscate the unlawful produce, Addabbo noted.
Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo
n illegal fruit-vending operation on Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard.
The target locations thus far have been: Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard; Jamaica Avenue/Forest Parkway and Lefferts Boulevard; Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard to 112th Street.
DSNY conducted several vending inspections along the Jamaica Avenue corridor totaling 45 visits. Summonses were issued and thousands of pounds of Illegal produce were seized and later donated or composted, if appropriate.
Addabbo still contends that to properly solve the issue of illegal street vending, many City agencies need to act in concert with each other over a consistent period of time.
Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo
Addabbo said that unlicensed vendors create “dangerous situations in the community like blocking sidewalks, crosswalks and bus stops, selling illegal goods, among other offenses.”
“I applaud the DSNY for their speedy action in beginning to eradicate the illegal vending operations that have been creating dangerous situations in the community like blocking sidewalks, crosswalks and bus stops, selling illegal goods, among other offenses,” the senator said. “My office team and I will remain vigilant in monitoring the status of this progress to ensure that it continues until all illegal street vending operations have ceased. I want to also take a moment to also thank the NYPD for dealing with open flame issues along Jamaica Avenue—combating the scourge of illegal vending operations requires a multi-agency effort to make it happen.”
