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Customers wait in line for the quick chopping skills of Mendoza

Unable to enter the formal economy due to poor education or lack After Jan. 1, 2019, authorities will be limited in their ability to
of English skills, vendors have no choice but to enter the informal regulate sidewalk vendors. Gluba said it is still unclear exactly how
economy. The lack of investment in city programs has fueled the rise in involved the city will be as the bill is very short. Other than some
street vending. provisions limiting hours of operation, located directly outside of
Huerta understands the position city officials are in, noting it is impos- restaurants and safety concerns, vendors will have the freedom to sell
sible to please everyone. Arguing for compromise instead of divide, he wherever they wish.
believes officials can do more to work with street vendors to educate Mendoza and his father have gone to the city in the past to ask for
them on proper food preparation and to also help them better under- permits and welcome the new policy. Mendoza hopes the permits
stand residents concern with traffic safety will offer some leniency in how the fruit is prepared, as business is
“Just let them be,” said Huerta, “because they aren’t doing anything heavily reliant on the client’s ability to customize their plates. If the
wrong.” permit requires the fruit to pre-cut, like current Los Angeles permits
do, customer satisfaction could decrease which could lead to less
According to Pomona Deputy City Director Mark Gluba, there have
been resident complaints about vendors causing traffic issues, specifical- profitability.
ly after leaving church. Unable to provide direct information about the Despite being born here and coming from a family that is considered
number of incidents, Gluba insisted the city is no longer citing vendors middle-class, Mendoza is still unsure if he will attend college after he
due to negative backlash but rather are asking vendors to leave. finishes high school.
Gluba shared that the state of California recently passed SB-946, a new “I mean school’s not for everyone,” said Mendoza. “There’s a lot of
law legalizing sidewalk vending throughout the state. Citing the impor- money movement selling fruit.”
tant entrepreneurship and economic development vending provides Hoping to continue the success his family has seen in America,
low-income and immigrant communities, the bill declares that vending Mendoza hopes to open his own cart business when he graduates
contributes to a safe and dynamic public space. high school, expanding on the American dream his dad started all
“This ordinance will be adopted by the city,” said Gluba. “Our city those years ago.
code right now prohibits the activity, but under the new requirements
and regulatory laws, there would be likely be minimal interference from
the city.”

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