Sanitation Police Crack Down on 13th Avenue Street Vendors Ahead of Sukkos Season

By BoroPark24 Staff

This afternoon, sanitation police were spotted on 13th Avenue, particularly around the Shomer Shabbos area, posting numerous signs warning street vendors against setting up shops and tables on the street without a proper permit.

The enforcement action appears to be in anticipation of the annual Sukkos "shuk" that takes over the avenue, offering esrogim sets, sukkah decorations, and other essentials at low prices. The signs were strategically placed in the center of these vendor areas and specifically around "reserved" spots that vendors saved ahead of the busy season.

BoroPark24 reached out to the New York City Department of Sanitation to understand why this neighborhood was targeted, while there are hundreds, if not thousands, of street vendors throughout the city. The DSNY provided the following statement:

"Our enforcement work around street vending is rooted in the belief that all New Yorkers, across every neighborhood, deserve clean, safe sidewalks. We enforce with a warnings-first approach, and these particular warning signs are in response to community complaints about excessive setups on 13th Avenue. As part of our citywide enforcement of street vending laws, we will focus on situations where vending has created dirty conditions, safety issues, items left out overnight, and setups that block curbs, subway entrances, bus stops, sidewalks, or store entrances."

As the Sukkos season approaches, it remains to be seen how the enforcement will impact the traditional street market atmosphere on 13th Avenue.

reporting and photos by: Zevi Klein