Idalia Lopez, a street vendor in the Mission, wakes up early to advocate for a new bill, SB 276, which aims to address rising illegal street vending and associated violence. Joined by other vendors and Sen. Scott Wiener, they argue that unpermitted vendors have increased harassment and danger in their community. The bill would allow police to ticket and eventually jail repeat offenders, reinforcing the need for safety among permitted vendors, who experience threats and violence in their daily work environment. The bill advanced with unanimous support in committee, indicating a stronger legislative push compared to previous attempts.
"Those who are not street vendors don't know what we go through as we stand there for hours," said Lopez, who works at the 23rd and Mission intersection six days a week.
"I had a man once demand my tablecloth for permitted vendors... He said he was going to come back and punch me if I didn't give it to him. It was scary."
"I feel great. We have a unanimous vote from the local government committee," said Wiener after the bill advanced.
Unpermitted street vending has exploded on the corridor since the pandemic, and violence has followed: There were at least three killings at both Mission BART plazas between August 2022 and July 2023.
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