Food workers are the heartbeat of New York City, embodying the tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit that drives the city’s economy and culture. From bustling food trucks and corner carts to restaurants and grocery stores, these workers form the backbone of the hospitality industry.
Many are immigrants, juggling long hours and multiple roles to sustain their families while feeding the city that never sleeps. Despite their vital contributions, they face systemic inequities, including low wages, limited benefits, and precarious working conditions.
Street vendors, in particular, symbolize the intersection of struggle and opportunity. For many immigrants, vending offers a path to independence. Yet the system is stacked against them: New York City’s cap of 5,100 mobile food vending permits—against a demand with over 10,195 on the waiting list—severely restricts opportunities, forcing thousands of vendors to operate without permits and risk fines. This imbalance reflects broader challenges faced by all food workers, from dishwashers and line cooks to grocery clerks and delivery drivers, who often endure grueling conditions with little recognition.
New York City’s cap of 5,100 mobile food vending permits—against a demand of with over 10,195 on the waiting list—severely limits opportunities.
“The second generation of people who had to witness the injustices that our families had to go through, we want to see something different – we want to see something better.”
Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, Deputy Director, Street Vendor Project
immigrants live in New York City
of the 2 million New Yorkers living below the poverty level are Hispanic
Community-based organizations are stepping up to address these inequities and empower workers. These organizations are often helmed by second and third-generation individuals, empowered by higher education, who are using their platforms to dismantle systemic barriers to economic prosperity. Understanding the challenges of food vending, bussing tables, and dishwashing from their families’ experiences, they advocate for policy reforms and better working conditions
The Street Vendor Project, for instance, provides training and legal support to vendors while advocating for expanded permits and fair treatment, while second-generation immigrants are establishing businesses like The Migrant Kitchen that are creating fair-wage jobs and upward mobility for immigrants in need of reliable work.
By building on the efforts of past generations, these advocates and entrepreneurs are reshaping their urban landscape, ensuring that their families’ struggles translate into lasting opportunities and equity for future generations.