On Thursday, December 12, the Committee on Civil and Human Rights held an oversight hearing on discrimination in the workplace. The Council heard testimony from JoAnn Kamnuf Ward, Deputy Commissioner of Policy and External Affairs at the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), who addressed the challenges of running city programs that attempt to address workplace and housing discrimination and provided the processes, trends, and findings of research on discrimination in the city. 

The Committee was particularly interested in exploring ways to combat discrimination in the workplace through transparency initiatives. Chair Williams discussed the need for greater data collection and analysis, accountability for employers, and finding avenues for more people to access CCHR’s services and information to help combat workplace discrimination.  

Members of the public testified about the need to continue New York City’s progress in battling workplace discrimination through better pay transparency and holding employers accountable to transparency initiatives. Additionally, many members of the public cited concerns about the upcoming Trump administration’s changes to discrimination legislation and initiatives and urged the Council to be proactive in matters to protect against discrimination against women, minority communities, and immigrants. Some members of the public voiced suggestions for the Council to consider in proposed bills. 

The Department believes this temporary vending license represents an unnecessary step for street fair vendors because it does not add any new requirements for vendors at street fairs that are already overseen by the Street Activity Permit Office, and that this license can create confusion for vendors who otherwise require a regular general vendor license to vend in public outside of the street fair context. Repeal of the Department’s temporary general vendor license requirement aims to streamline the street fair application process and remove an extra administrative step.

There are other related amendments related to nonprofit association street fairs that you can read about in the full document HERE.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to licensing hotels

Int 0947-2024, by Public Advocate Jumanee Williams: This bill would require the Office of Street Vendor Enforcement, in conjunction with the New York City Police Department and any other relevant agency, to issue quarterly reports containing information about enforcement interactions with street vendors. This bill would also make technical and conforming changes to a section of the City Charter related to street vendors.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to permitting street vendors to vend within two feet from the curb.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to safety standards for powered bicycles and powered mobility devices used for food delivery services.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to an exemption from the commercial rent tax.

A Local Law in relation to a temporary exemption from the payment of the commercial rent tax for certain businesses.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring third-party food delivery services to agree to reimburse third-party food delivery workers for certain costs related to vehicle crashes that happen during deliveries.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring certain retail food stores to post notices on the food donation web portal concerning the availability of excess food, and arranging for the transportation and retrieval of such food.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a clause in commercial leases that obligates the parties to engage in good faith negotiations during certain states of emergency.

A Local Law in relation to the creation of a retail resurgence taskforce.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to lease agreements concerning storefront premises.

A Local Law in relation to establishing a pilot program to match small businesses with social media content creators for assistance with marketing and advertising, and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to ensuring business licensing and regulatory compliance of all mobile food and general vendors.

Int 408-2024, by Public Advocate Williams: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to creating a division within the department of small business services to assist street vendors and requiring the commissioner of small business services to update the department's programs to facilitate street vendor access

Int 0047-2024, by Council Member Krishnan: This bill would remove all misdemeanor criminal penalties for general vendors and mobile food vendors. Vendors who violate such vending requirements would be subject to an offense and civil penalties.

Int 0049-2024, by Council Member Menin: This bill would allow mobile food vendors to display or store goods on top of their carts, and it would simplify the display requirements for general vendors. Additionally, this bill would remove bookkeeping requirements for general vendors and mobile food vendors.

Int 0050-2024, by Council Member Menin: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the requirement of food vendors to obtain a certificate of authority to collect sales tax, to repeal sections 17-310 and 20-457 of such code, relating to tax clearance and minimum tax payments for the renewal of mobile food licenses and permits and general vending licenses, and to make other technical corrections