Illegal Food Street Vendors

You may love those delicious tacos, quesadillas, and pupusas sold from street vendors, but that person you just paid for your meal is considered a criminal.

There are two types of street vending, the selling of food and merchandise (non-edible products). Both are illegal on the streets of the city of Los Angeles.

In South Central, seeing street vendors is completely normal because so many people sell their food this way.

These entrepreneurs face the threat of being fined and having their merchandise and supplies confiscated by the city. These people face being charged up to $1000 and serve up to six months of jail time.

Eighth grade student Alexis Velez shared his opinion. He said, “…it is not fair that innocent people…get treated like criminals, because they are trying to help themselves. Not may be the best thing to do for a living but at least they doing what they can do for a living.”

There are serious consequences to being street vendors, but why should these people be fined for working? They aren’t being delinquents, they are just trying to make a living for themselves and their loved ones in this terrible economy. Is it really wrong to make a living for your family when they won’t hire you because you are illegal?

A criminal is “a person guilty or convicted of a crime.” Is it a crime to go out and make a living for yourself? Is it a crime to sell a variety of food from tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and huaraches? Is it a crime to sell beverages like fresh orange juice, horchata, and tamarindo?

On Olympic and Central on Saturday and Sundays in the city of Los Angeles, many people fill the sidewalks by selling all types of food. One of these is Enrique “Henry” Peralta. He sells Chicharron which is fried pork skin.

Peralta said, “…I do not sell drugs, do not steal anything, I just work.”

This year Peralta has received three tickets. He said, “They also take the broom to sweep, the city is serious.”

Peralta constantly said that kids were the key to the difference. He said, “You make the difference, I’ve always said that one of your ancestors was illegal. Everyone born here has an ancestor, either your grandmother, your great-grandmother, your mom, that was illegal. No Latino was born here, only Anglo-Saxon, therefore, is assumed that if you have an antecedent that was illegal, you have to fight for these people, because if not what is the point of being born here.”

Peralta also discussed that if los angeles decided to legalize food street vendors, it would make a big difference for him and he would come out of being poor at least a little.

It is up to the community to speak up and make a difference.