San Francisco, CA - Today, a 90-day ban on street vending goes into effect on a section of Mission Street, sparking outrage among local vendors and their allies. The ban, which extends along a significant stretch of Mission Street from 14th Street to Cesar Chavez Street, aims to address concerns regarding safety and the sale of stolen goods. However, members of the recently formed Mission Street Vendors Association believe the ban is unjustified and will significantly impact their livelihoods.

Despite calls by vendors to delay the ban, the city is moving forward with the plan, championed by Supervisor Hillary Ronen. Vendors who continue to sell goods on the street risk having their items confiscated. The ban, set to last for 90 days starting from today, may be extended based on health, safety, and welfare concerns.

On Wednesday, dozens of street vendors gathered at the 24th Street BART Plaza for a press conference organized by the newly formed Mission Street Vendors Association. This association, consisting of over a hundred street vendors, called on the city to postpone the ban until the new year. They argue that the ban is particularly unjust given the upcoming holiday season, which could negatively impact vendors' earnings.

Kevin Ortiz, co-president of the San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club, expressed his dismay, stating, "It is deeply immoral and unconscionable to take away what, for many folks, is their only livelihood before the holidays." The ban has been met with strong opposition, with vendors and their allies emphasizing that it disproportionately targets their community.

Supervisor Ronen, in a community newsletter last month, cited "measurable hazards" caused by uncontrolled vending and incidents of vendors selling stolen goods. The ban aims to combat these issues, linking the sale of stolen goods to a rise in crime in the neighborhood. However, street vendors challenge this assumption, asserting that they are not responsible for increased crime rates.

Deldelp Medina, co-president of the Latinx Democratic Club, argued, "Safety does not equal the lack of vendors. Having a safety plan is what gains safety. Having people be economically viable is what creates safety." Vendors believe that a more comprehensive approach, focusing on safety measures and economic support, would be more effective without impeding their ability to earn a living.

Furthermore, vendors emphasized that the ban attempts to address a problem they have nothing to do with, as sidewalk vending was decriminalized in the state through Senate Bill 946 in 2018. Sofia Lopez, a permitted vendor, shared her frustration, stating, "[Ronen] wants to take away the vendors in the Mission because she says vendors sell stolen items. We are not part of the problem."

The decision-making process surrounding the ban has also prompted criticism. Members of the Mission Street Vendors Association expressed frustration at being excluded from the discussions. Vendor Rodrigo Lopez urged for more transparency and for vendors to be active participants in the decision-making process.

Supervisor Ronen has attempted to mitigate the impact of the ban by identifying off-sidewalk spaces where vendors can continue selling their products. However, vendors argue that these designated spaces, such as a storefront on Mission Street and a portion of a parking lot on 24th and Capp streets, are not sufficient and may not accommodate all 116 members of the Mission Street Vendors Association.

As the ban comes into effect, vendors like Luz Ledesma, who has sold jewelry on the street for over a decade, feel blindsided by the sudden changes. The debate surrounding the ban on Mission Street vending continues, with vendors and their allies calling for a reconsideration of the decision and a more inclusive approach to addressing community concerns.