Opening Chicago Streets to Delicious Eats

March 15, 2013

Who We Are• Beth Kregor

Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship• Brooke Fallon

Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship• Vicky Lugo

Asociación de Vendedores Ambulantes

Our Presentation• Policy Goals• Current Policy• Policy Problems• The Solution– Policy Reform– Street Vendors Justice Coalition– Little Village as a Model

• Action Items• Q & A

Policy Goals

• The City of Chicago and its policy advisors espouse goals of:– Supporting small businesses– Supporting healthy food systems– Alleviating food deserts– Developing strong neighborhood communities– Promoting economic growth– Enhancing vibrant public spaces

Policy Goals

• On March 13, 2013, in a press conference introducing the City Hall Small Business Center, Mayor Emanuel said: – "Small businesses are the backbone of our

economy and the lifeblood of our neighborhoods, accounting for nearly half of Chicago's jobs. Yet too often City Hall can get in the way instead of supporting their success. That stops today."

Policy Goals• Chicago adopted a food plan on January 24, 2013– A Recipe for Healthy Places

• “Support businesses and social enterprisesthat produce and distribute healthy food– 3.1

Support the expansion of businesses involved in theproduction, processing and distribution of healthy food

– 3.2Expand the number and variety of healthy foodretail options”

Policy Goals

Policy Goals• Last year, Mayor Emanuel called 26th Street in Little Village

Chicago’s second Magnificent Mile– “Little Village — this two-mile [stretch] — creates more sales

[tax] revenue for the city of Chicago than any other place outside of the [real] Magnificent Mile.… I keep hoping — I don’t know if anybody’s listening — that we would market it as Two Magnificent Mile because people from around the region come here to do their shopping for the goods they cannot get [elsewhere]. It reminds them of their … country of origin and they can only get it here. This is the lifeblood of the city…. And we have to invest in everything that happens — whether it’s on Michigan Avenue or whether it happens here on 26th Street.”

Policy Goals

• Sun Times photo of 26th Street when Mayor Emanuel visited.

Policy Goals

• According to a study by Gallup and the Knight Foundation, communities like Little Village grow economically when there is a sense of community attachment.

• Key components for community attachment:– Social opportunities or gathering places– Openness to all people, including seniors,

immigrants, minorities, and women

Policy Goals

• The Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago is developing “placemaking” initiatives to create positive, multi-use public spaces in Chicago:– “Great public spaces are where celebrations are

held, social and economic exchanges take place, friends run into each other, and cultures mix.”

Policy Goals

Policy Goals

• Time Out Chicago recommended taking the Pink Line to Little Village to sample Mexican flavors, with this picture:

Current Policy

Sidewalk vendors are allowed to sell frozen desserts or uncut, raw produce and no other foods.

Current Policy

It is illegal to sell tamales, fruit salad, granola bars, yogurt, corn on the cob (elotes), soup, dumplings, or the Chicago hot dog from a sidewalk cart.

Current Policy

Policy Problem

• The most affordable option for someone who wants to earn an honest living selling traditional or innovative foods in the community is illegal.

• The most affordable business model for selling healthy ready-to-eat foods in food deserts is banned.

• Chicago outlaws entrepreneurs who create diverse, vibrant, safe public spaces and connect communities.

Solution

• Proposed reforms• Street Vendors Justice Coalition• Little Village as a model of how a community

makes vending work

Proposed Reforms

• Step One: Change the frozen desserts vendor law to let food carts sell a wide variety of prepared food that is held at the proper temperature.– Why limit vendors to frozen desserts?– Vendors’ food must be made in a licensed kitchen.– Inspectors must approve carts and menus in

advance, but should not hang up carts with unpredictable or overbearing requirements.

Proposed Reforms

• Step Two: Change the produce merchant law to let produce stands sell cut fruit and vegetables that appeal to more customers on the go.– Schoolchildren are more likely to choose ready-to-

eat fruits and veggies.– Some fruits and veggies (watermelon, pineapple,

broccoli) can be snacks only when cut.

Proposed Reforms

• Step Three: Create a license for food carts where food is prepared.– Vendors can sell affordable, fresh food in a wide

variety of neighborhoods.– Some foods are just better (and better for you)

when prepared fresh.– The scents and sounds of street food give a city

character.– It’s called the Chicago hot dog, after all.

Street Vendors Justice Coalition

Mission: To create jobs, empower individuals, connect communities, and welcome fresh flavors into Chicago, the coalition will open Chicago’s sidewalks for food vendors by advocating for policy changes, organizing grassroots support, and connecting vendors to resources.

Street Vendors Justice Coalition

• How we plan to do this:– Research and draft an amendment to City Code

allowing vendors to sell all prepackaged foods like they can currently sell frozen desserts.

– Mobilize grassroots support from individuals and community organizations

– Develop creative ways to bring current vendors up to code, and provide affordable solutions for carts, kitchens, and commissaries.

Street Vendors Justice Coalition

Our current members include representatives from • Asociación de Vendedores Ambulantes• Enlace• Universidad Popular• Instituto del Progresando Latino• Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights

Collaborative• IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship.

Little Village as a Model

Little Village as a Model

• Possibilities for the future• Challenges

Take Action

• Visit our website to learn more www.streetvendorsjustice.org

• Sign up for our email list to receive updates and information about upcoming events

• Spread the word on social media• Contact your alderman• Sport your “Legalize street food” sticker around

town• Be an ambassador for legal reform

Looking to get more involved? Join our coalition to help us:• Connect with vendors around the city• Develop ideas for solving the shared kitchen

issue in Little Village• Research the economic benefits of vendors• Find affordable solutions for carts• Organize grassroots support for legal reform

Take Action