Numerous souvenir vendors, ousted from the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walkway on January 3, have now set up shop on Washington Street in DUMBO, aiming to attract the throngs of tourists making their way from the bridge to the waterfront neighborhood.
Following the ban, the stretch alongside Anchorage Plaza has transformed into a ceaseless array of T-shirts, keychains, imitation license plates, and miniature Statues of Liberty. This bustling scene, complete with congested sidewalks, gas generators, and overnight encampments, has raised concerns among some DUMBO residents.
Jimmy Ng, a member of the steering committee of the DUMBO Action Committee, voiced his apprehension, stating that while vendors possess licenses, their use of the sidewalk violates regulations. According to city rules allowing for an 8’x3’ table, some vendors have tables measuring 12’x5’ feet, obstructing pedestrian pathways. Ng emphasized the public safety aspect, noting that people are forced into the streets due to the crowded sidewalks.
The DUMBO Improvement District has also expressed worry about the surge in vendors, with Alexandria Sica, the president of the district, emphasizing the need for vendors to adhere to the law like any other business. She expressed hope that city enforcement would swiftly address the situation.
Ng highlighted a positive development stemming from a group call organized by Councilmember Lincoln Restler’s office with the NYC Department of Sanitation’s Street Vending Enforcement unit and the Mayor’s Office. DSNY committed to dispatching an enforcement team on Friday to assess the situation and take appropriate action. Over the next two weeks, they pledged to intensify enforcement efforts, specifically focusing on DUMBO.
While some residents reported recent enforcement activities, Ng expressed concern about the post-two-week period, likening the issue to a “whack-a-mole” problem. He questioned the long-term strategy that the Department of Sanitation would adopt in addressing the ongoing situation.
Bill Stein, a board member of the Fulton Ferry Landing Association, suggests that a proposal to introduce a new concession at Anchorage Plaza could offer relief in managing the vendor situation.
According to Stein, the Parks Department’s recently issued Request for Proposals (RFP) for Anchorage Plaza outlines that the concessionaire could operate up to three mobile food units. This might involve vending on the east side of the plaza, extending to the Washington Street sidewalk. Stein pointed out that Parks intends to permit three food carts on the very sidewalk currently obstructed by other vendors. He sees potential benefits in this plan, provided there is effective enforcement of regulations.
Stein commented, “It appears that the designated concessionaire would also have a stake in keeping illegal vendors at bay, potentially including those near the Brooklyn Bridge staircase. This could ultimately serve the best interests of the community residents.”
