The city of Los Angeles has settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of street vendors, agreeing to repeal bans on vendors near schools and farmers markets and drop citations issued to vendors selling in restricted areas, attorneys representing the vendors announced Friday.
The lawsuit, filed in late 2022, alleges that city ordinances that create no-sale zones and prohibit street vendors from working within 500 feet of schools, farmers markets, swap meets and pop-up events violate state law.
“The ban has been lifted and the vendors have been vindicated,” said Merlín Alvarado, a street vendor and plaintiff in the lawsuit who has been selling fruit and hot dogs on Hollywood Boulevard for 17 years. Alvarado, other vendors and community advocates gathered on Hollywood Boulevard Friday morning with the pro bono attorneys who filed the lawsuit to celebrate the settlement.
“Street vending is one of our city’s great traditions and resources, and we look forward to our role as community contributors being fully recognized,” she said.
In February, the Los Angeles City Council voted to eliminate no-vending zones, including high-crowded areas such as the Hollywood Bowl, Crypto.com Arena and Universal Studios.
Doug Smith of Inclusive Action for the City, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said the settlement builds on that decision by opening up more space for vendors and guaranteeing refunds for vendors who received tickets in no-sale areas. payment.
“Los Angeles loves street vendors, but historically our laws have not shown that love,” Smith said. “That’s why this is a very important win.”
Public counsel for one of the companies representing the plaintiffs said that although the settlement agreement has been signed by representatives of both parties and submitted to the court, the city council and mayor must still formally approve the agreement. The plaintiffs said in a news release that they expect approval when the City Council returns from its August recess.
A request for comment from Mayor Karen Bass went unanswered. Representatives for City Councilman Hugo Soto Martinez, who has been an outspoken supporter of the vendors, said the councilman could not comment on the settlement.
Under the terms of the settlement, vendors who paid no-sale zone citations within the past five years will be refunded and any unpaid citations will be cancelled.
Ruth Monroy, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said many street vendors risk citations by selling in high-traffic areas such as Hollywood Boulevard.
Vendors can now set up shop in areas with high concentrations of customers without fear of violating city laws or fines, she said.
Smith said the settlement also sends a message to other cities in the state that may impose vending machine restrictions.
“The days of redlining suppliers are over and the old exclusion tools are no longer legal,” he said. “Now other cities in California are taking notice that vending bans are illegal and they can and will be challenged.”
The settlement says vending activities remain prohibited under state law “in the vicinity” of swap meets and farmers markets. Smith said more work needs to be done to develop specific policies that would allow street vendors to do their jobs while complying with city regulations.
“We’re excited to roll up our sleeves and show that policy is better if it’s developed with the expertise of the communities most affected,” he said. “The lawsuit doesn’t end our work, but it does It laid the foundation for us.”
