Sears Calls For 'Vendor Free Zone' In Jackson Heights

"While it is natural that most vendors want to set up business in areas with high traffic volume, locating in these creates multiple problems for pedestrians and local businesses..." City Councilmember Helen Sears wants to make the quality of life for her fellow Jackson Heights residents as pleasant as possible. One way to achieve this goal, she says, is to create an area totally free of food vendors whose carts now crowd sidewalks and generally block access to streets.

Sears (D- Jackson Heights) says she is "fighting for the day when our neighbors can walk freely down streets free from pushcarts and refuse in a zone that will prevent vendors blocking streets and overcrowding sidewalks".

"If Mexico City can do this, so can we," the lawmaker declared, referring to the Vendor Free Zone that has been established in Mexico City's historic town center.

The veteran lawmaker and civic and political leader has the area picked out to create this unique zone. It runs from 72nd Street and 35th Avenue and south to Roosevelt Avenue then extends east to 82nd Street on the north side of 37th Avenue and 78th Street on the south side. The area is presently one of the busiest shopping areas in Jackson Heights.

Sears pointed out, "While it is natural that most vendors want to set up business in areas with high traffic volume, locating in these creates multiple problems for pedestrians and local businesses. Oftentimes the size of the carts either forces pedestrian traffic to narrow on the sidewalk, which in turn leads hurrying pedestrians to spill out into the street. This creates a definite safety hazard as well as impacting motor vehicle traffic."

Another serious safety risk, Sears said, is the use of propane tanks, particularly those tanks that are left on the corner of a cart at the edge of a street corner. "This is a potentially huge threat, as any errant driver could ram into it at any moment," she pointed out.

In addition to these factors, there are also sanitation issues involved, primarily with food vendors. Given the high density of both foot traffic and commercial businesses, Sears pointed out, "The added trash creates a greater likelihood of rodent infestation. This problem is particularly prevalent along Roosevelt Avenue."

Summing up her proposal Sears stated, "This vendor-free zone can be accomplished the same way it was accomplished in other cities. Through hard bargaining and working together the results can be a neighborhood transformed."

Sears said she also has a plan to establish a community task force that would monitor summonses and illegal vendors. One aspect of this plan, she added, would be stopping the reissuance of licenses to vendors who have outstanding summonses upon their reapplication to the Department of Consumer Affairs.