Street vendors at the intersection of 24th and Mission streets are continuing their normal activities. The vendor selling chopped fruit continues to attract her customers, while the man selling shampoos continues to offer products at discounted prices. 

Maybe these sellers will continue doing business with the new legislation that will help street vendors obtain the proper permits. Or maybe not.

On March 8, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation that requires a permit for anyone selling merchandise on the street. In order to be eligible, the seller will have to prove that the merchandise was legally acquired. Without this verification, the authorities may confiscate the goods and after three months, they will be donated if the seller cannot prove they are the legal owner of the merchandise. 

“There’s no way to tell those who bring us the merchandise to give us a receipt,” a street vendor told El Tecolote, who has been trying to get a permit. For safety reasons, El Tecolote is keeping this vendor anonymous.

At 42, this vendor has been selling on the street without a permit for nearly two years. He worked  as a construction worker and day laborer before becoming a street vendor. Unfortunately, he suffered an infection in his foot that later required surgery. This, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to him stopping work as a day laborer. 

Originally from Mexico City, he has lived alone in the United States for eight years while his family and four children remain in Mexico. He tries sending money to them, but admits that lately it has been difficult to support his family and pay for the education of his four children. He lived for six months in a tent between South Van Ness and 24th Street.  

“I have to send them money because they are studying and for them to eat because nothing is free there. Here you get a little help but there they don’t.” 

He has asked Calle 24 about new legislation that seeks to help sellers get a permit as long as the sellers have proof the merchandise was obtained legally. He admits that he gets his merchandise on the black market because he doesn’t have enough money to buy wholesale merchandise.

From his earnings, he sends his family approximately $200 a week, but says that there are times when he runs out of money for his own needs. Some of his family members require expensive medical services. His wife has cancer and his mother has arthritis and memory problems. He is also diabetic and has been unable to receive medication. 

“It’s heavy for me because there are times when I don’t have a job and here the sales are sad…I sometimes run out of money. Cancer is expensive,” he said.

Martha Regidor sells fruit, dried fish and candy at the corner of 24th Street and Mission. Regidor lost her job packaging food for the airlines at the beginning of the pandemic and so her family started selling on the street. She applied  for a seller’s permit in August of last year at City Hall. She says that on that occasion, she could not obtain the permit because during the pandemic the services were not available. 

Martha Regidor, sits at her post on the corner of 24th Street and Mission. She stares into the busy crowd, awaiting the next customers. Photo: Jeremy Word

Regidor reapplied for the permit online on March 15 of this year. She received help at the offices to fill out the form that comes with the option to be filled out in Spanish. According to the application, she will receive the permit in 30 days by mail, with it being renewed every year. 

“I feel good because one can now be a little more sure that if they come to ask me for a permit, then I will already have the permit,” Regidor said.

Permitted vendors are now concerned about the new number of non-permitted street vendors taking over spaces designated specifically for licensed vendors. 

Martha Regidor’s family unloads their tent, tables and merchandise from their white pickup truck. Chips, raw honey, medicine and other items are being sold on her corner. Photo: Jeremy Word

Rafael Fernandez has been selling in the Mission for 21 years. His hat stand is located at 23rd Street and Mission. In 2013, Fernandez obtained his vendor’s license. The police department issued a permit to him in 2015. 

He says that at first, he put his merchandise on the floor in front of the businesses, but that he did not put a table because it was considered disrespectful, since at that time he did not have a permit. Fernandez started setting up a table as soon as he received his permit.

“There are a lot of people who set up tables and they don’t even have permission, that’s disrespectful,” Fernandez said.

Street vendor, Rafael Fernandez, shows his vendor permits as he explains how and when he obtained them. His hat post is located on 23rd Street and Mission. Photo: Jeremy Word

Some vendors needed to move out of their booths because they have been taken over by other unlicensed vendors. Luis Ledesma is a jewelry vendor located next to Fernandez’s stall. 

Ledesma has the same permit as Fernandez and has been selling on the street for eight years. He has heard about the Calle 24 project, “Calle Limpia, Corazón Contento,” which seeks to clean the streets and help vendors get the proper permits and hopes this initiative can solve the problems seen at the intersection of 24th and Mission streets. 

“It is very good because that is how they can have us organized where we should be and who should be where. Also when we get robbed or mugged…I hope there is some kind of security,” Ledesma said.

Jewelry vendor, Luis Ledesma, shows his chains and bracelets to an interested customer. His post is located next to fellow licensed vendor, Rafael Fernandez. Photo: Jeremy Word

Susana Rojas is the Executive Director of Calle 24 and is working with Hillary Ronen of District 9 to help implement this new legislation. She encourages vendors to register with Calle 24 so they can receive help applying for a permit. Especially if the individual is in a difficult situation regarding their legal status within this country. 

As for the vendor that El Tecolote spoke with, he plans to one day return to Mexico and reunite with his family. He says that he misses them more than anything else.

“Take care of yourselves and God willing, maybe we’ll see each other over there soon,” he said.  

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For more information about how to obtain permit application assistance, you can go to the Calle 24 office located at 3250 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110. You can visit their website: https://www.calle24sf.org/en/