Summer fruit cups, aguas de horchata, bacon-wrapped hot dogs and savory tacos from local street vendors have been a part of the cultural fabric of California for decades. But despite their prominence in food culture, street vendors have been marginalized to the sidewalk of policymaking and protection.

The year 2022 unveiled a double edge sword for vendors. June and July brought two of the highest monthly totals ever where a street vendor was a victim of crime in Los Angeles County . The increase is based on reported crimes agaisnt vendors. The actual number of attacks may be higher because not every vendor will file a report. The year also brought an overdue win for vendors with the passing of SB 972: A bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that updated laws around regulations and permitting for street vendors across the state. However, as state law has become more favorable, many vendors are facing a new, more troubling problem.

The increase is based on reported crimes (Courtesy of Crosstown.)

Every time a street vendor sets up their rainbow-colored umbrella, begins chopping watermelon, flipping tortillas or setting up hats and keychains to sell for a few dollars, they risk their livelihood and even safety. Being out in the community with cash in their pockets makes them vulnerable targets. Especially because many vendors do not report incidents to authorities in fear of legal repercussions. But for many, vending is a way of life, a risk worth taking. Now, activists, city council members, social media influencers, senators and vendors from Santa Ana, Long Beach and Los Angeles are fighting for added protection of street vendors.

Tito Rodriguez, also known as the “Hood Santa,” dedicates himself to providing protective gear to vendors and raising money for those who have been attacked. Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez of Santa Anna works with local law enforcement to investigate vendor attacks as hate crimes. In Long Beach, Sen. Lena Gonzalez, who introduced landmark bill 972 , works alongside vendors to lead policy change. In Los Angeles, grassroots activist Edin Enamorado works alongside attorneys in legal matters pertaining to street vendors.

Up until 2018, street vending was banned across the state. Once it became decriminalized and legalized by bill SB 946, vendors could no longer be charged with hefty fines and jail time if they followed regulations and obtained city permits. But, SB 946 did not offer vendors the full promise of the right to peaceful entrepreneurship. The bill allowed local governments to set their own jurisdictions and rules. Street vendors were excluded from policy discussions. The entire legal framework evolved around food trucks. Regulations were incompatible with small-scale sidewalk vendors and as a result, inherently criminalized them – making them more susceptible to policing.

Street vendors are at the heart of the movement

On the weekends, street vendor and activist Merced Sanchez sets up at the Piñata District in East LA. She sells hats, glasses, baby clothes, and dulces poblanos (traditional candy from the city of Puebla in Mexico). Originally from Mexico, Sanchez has dedicated 20 years of her life to selling goods on the sidewalks of Los Angeles. In an interview, Sanchez said being a vendor is a way of life. “I enjoy coming here [to the piñata district] on Saturday and Sunday. “We have built a little family. We interact and take turns bringing food for one another; it is a community.”

Street Vendor press conference in Los Angeles City Hall (Photo Courtesy of Merced Sanchez.)

Sanchez is also a prominent figure who has been involved in street vending advocacy groups for over a decade. Sanchez’s interactions with local police fuel her work. She vividly recalls the year 2010, when police threw away her merchandise. She has been part of the movement way before SB 946 was passed by Gov. Jerry Brown and now she says that SB 972, has been the biggest milestone she has witnessed in favor of vendors like herself.

Policy makes its way from Long Beach to Sacramento

Prior to SB 972, street vendors faced numerous barriers to accessing a permit, including incompatible cart design standards, exorbitant permitting costs and dizzying city guidelines. For example, prior to SB 972, the California Food Code stated that a taco cart must have three compartments. Such a cart would weigh almost 1,200 pounds making it nearly impossible to operate on a sidewalk.

Gonzalez of Long Beach, said in an interview that regulations were inequitable. “I authored SB 972 to provide a pathway for street food vendors to actually be permitted, thrive in the formal food economy and provide peace of mind for vendors that their investment and livelihood is not threatened by an inequitable food vending permitting system. Gonzalez was inspired to create such legislation after seeing vendors pop up in record numbers around the Long Beach community. In Sep. 2022, Govenor Newsom signed SB-972, making it a state law.

The Hood Santa appears all year long in communities

Tito Rodriguez, Director of the Local hearts foundation, a nonprofit that aims to create a culture of love and prosperity by helping those in need, has been a street vending activist for over twelve years. Rodriguez has raised thousands of dollars for vendors who have been victims of crime and collects shoes to hand out to vendors. Given the rise in attacks against street vendors, Rodriguez has even raffled bulletproof vests.

Tito Rodriguez, also known as The Hood Santa, talks about what inspired him to make bulletproof vests for vendors. (Photo Courtesy of Rene Rodriguez)

Rodriguez acknowledges that grassroots efforts are not enough for sustainable long-term change. That is why he has teamed up with vendors and Gonzalez of Long Beach to inform policymaking. The Hood Santa is not a fictional Christmas character but an everyday person making an appearance all year round in the community.

The Hate Crime Division of Santa Ana responds to attacks on street vendors

Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez explains the culture around street vendors in Santa Ana (Photo Courtesy of Johnathan Hernandez)

Congressmember of Santa Ana Johnathan Hernandez says that when he became a policymaker, he saw an increase in street vendor attacks. He also noticed that no elected officials were protecting them. Hernandez then introduced an ordinance that would make crimes against street vendors a hate crime. Hernandez explained, “In talking to hundreds of street vendors, whether it be from Orange County to Long Beach to LA, it was always a monolingual Spanish-speaking person on the receiving end of the attack.”

Although the hate crime proposal did not pass, the District Attorney's office contacted Hernandez’s office with support. Now, the hate crime division of Santa Ana responds to attacks on street vendors. “Local government worked together and adjusted accordingly,” said Hernandez.

Los Angeles: Influence on and offline

Former Bernie Sanders Staff Director Edin Enamorado has been an activist for over thirteen years. With over 135 thousand followers on TikTok, Enamorado provides a platform of support for street vendors on and off TikTok. Enamorado has been a part of street vending advocacy for multiple years but says he has recently become even more involved because of “the influx of attacks on street vendors since the pandemic.” Having deep ties to the South Central vending community, he keeps a database of vendors he meets so that when something occurs, he is able to assist them as efficiently as possible. Enamorado also raises funds for street vendors with the help of his social media followers.

Enamorado, explained that the passing of SB 972 was a step in the right direction but that there is still a long way to go. “This was a great moment, but each city has its own jurisdictions so if you have a city like South Gate or Bellflower that doesn't want to corporate with the state law, they can do literally do whatever they want.” As the city commissioner for Cudahy and a research coordinator with the department of social work at USC, Enamorado is committed to the mobilization of street vendors.

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Street vendor activist Edin Enamorado gets haircut to show support (Photo Courtesy of Edin Enamorado.)

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Enamorado uses his social media following to create a community of support for vendors (Photo Courtesy of Edin Enamorado.)

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The Hood Santa wearing bullet proof and knife proof vest which was donated to local vendor (Photo Courtesy of Tito Rodriguez.)

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Policy and protection coexist: Vendors do not stand alone

From grassroots efforts addressing safety threats against vendors to the passing of new legislation that would allow vendors an equitable path to permitting has molded the reality of what it means to be a street vendor in Southern California. But still, with systematic barriers stacked against them and the daily threat of violence, the street vending community is resilient and proud. Alongside vendors, stand activists and policymakers that are committed to helping them reach the right to peaceful entrepreneurship.