The City Council is finishing out it’s 4-year term, which ends December 31, with a flourish passing dozens of bills at its final meeting on December 19. Of those bills, there is at least one notable absence: Intro. Number 1303, which would have greatly expanded the number of permitted food vendor carts and vehicles over the next decade, did not make the list. We teamed with our allies at the BIDs and with other groups with shared interests to advocate against moving forward at this time, and we greatly thank the Council for hearing and acting on our concerns. We have no doubt that this issue will continue to percolate in the next term, and we stand ready to work for policies that reduce impacts of food cart and vehicle vendors on buildings, tenants, brick and mortar food establishments, and other infrastructure.
With the rapidly-approaching end of the term, we would like to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who will be leaving the Council due to term limits, for her leadership and vision. She and her staff were generous with their time and efforts in listening to BOMA/NY’s concerns and suggestions related to proposed legislation, and we greatly appreciate that. Thanks, also, to the other Councilmembers who have finished their tenures for their service and dedication to New York City.
