The city of Los Angeles has settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of street vendors by lifting a ban on vending near schools and farm stands and dropping charges issued against them for selling in restricted areas, an attorney representing the vendors announced Friday.
The lawsuit, filed in late 2022, argues that city ordinances that set up no-vending zones and prohibit street vendors from operating within 500 feet of schools, farmers’ markets, swap meets and temporary events violate state law.
“The ban has been lifted and the vendors have been vindicated,” said Merlyn Alvarado, a street vendor who has been selling fruit and hot dogs on Hollywood Boulevard for 17 years and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Alvarado, other vendors and community advocates, along with the lawyers for the lawsuit, gathered on Hollywood Boulevard Friday morning to celebrate the settlement.
“Street vending is one of our city’s great traditions and resources and we look forward to being fully recognised for our role as a community contributor,” she said.
The Los Angeles City Council voted in February to lift gambling bans, which include crowded areas such as the Hollywood Bowl, Crypto.com Arena and Universal Studios.
The settlement agreement builds on that decision, opening up more space for vendors and guaranteeing refunds to vendors who are ticketed in no-sale zones, said Doug Smith of Inclusive Action for the City, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
“Los Angeles loves its street vendors, but historically, our laws haven’t shown that love,” Smith said. “That’s why this is such an important victory.”
Mayor Karen Bass did not respond to a request for comment, and a representative for City Councilman Hugo Soto Martinez, who has been an outspoken supporter of the contractor, said he could not comment on the settlement.
Under the terms of the settlement, dealers who have paid tickets for no-sale zone violations within the past five years will have the fines refunded and any outstanding tickets cancelled.
Many street vendors risk prosecution by selling in high-traffic areas like Hollywood Boulevard, said Ruth Monroy, a street vendor for seven years and a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Vendors can now set up shop in high-traffic areas without worrying about violating city laws and being fined, she said.
Smith said the settlement sends a message to other cities around the state that may be regulating vending machines.
“The days of regulating vendors are over and the old methods of exclusion are no longer legal,” he said. “Other cities in California now know that arbitrary bans on sales are illegal and can be challenged.”
According to the settlement, state law still prohibits vending “in the immediate vicinity” of swap meets or farmers markets, and Smith said there is still work to be done to develop specific policies that would allow vendors to operate while complying with city regulations.
“We will do everything in our power to demonstrate that policies are better when they are crafted with the expertise of the communities most affected,” he said. “Litigation won’t get the job done, but we’re ready.”