Street vending is common on Hollywood Boulevard, despite the no vending zones that have been in place since 2018. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 6 to eliminate seven no-vending zones across the city, including zones on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and around the Hollywood Bowl.

The move was spearheaded by City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, 13th District, and Council President Paul Krekorian, 2nd District, and brings the city into compliance with state law that has decriminalized street vending. The council also eliminated no-vending zones around Dodger Stadium, LA LIVE/Crypto.com Arena, Universal Studios/Citywalk, El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historical Monument and Exposition Park.

Vendors praised the council for removing the zones, stating they had been targeted for harassment since the zones were established in 2018. Many of the vendors are immigrants who said they were unfairly and arbitrarily singled out for enforcement.

“As the son of street vendors, I’ve seen how hard these folks work, and how harassment and ticketing can threaten their ability to provide for their families,” Soto-Martínez said. “What we’re saying with this law is that we see you, we value your hard work and we want to collaborate with you on rules for vending that can work for everyone.”

The motion approved by the council maintains existing health and safety regulations for street vending. However, vendors cannot be targeted for enforcement for simply being in a specific location.

“Street vendors, sensibly regulated, can play a vital role in the life of a vibrant commercial district,” said Krekorian, who mentioned that his grandfather was a street vendor when he first immigrated to the United States. “Street vending often provides new immigrants with an opportunity to become entrepreneurs. I know this personally because my grandfather sold melons on Sunset Boulevard when he first came to this country. The measures we’ve taken bring us into full compliance with state law while providing for sensible regulation of street commerce and preserving that essential point of entry to entrepreneurship.”

The new law will take effect in approximately one month. Representatives of the Hollywood business community said they are ready to work with the city to ensure people are treated fairly and health and safety regulations are enforced.

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce stands committed to a diverse and vibrant business climate in Hollywood,” Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Steve Nissen said. “Now that the city has determined a path forward on street vending zones, we look forward to working with our city officials to develop a comprehensive approach that ensures consistent health and safety in an equitable manner for all businesses in Hollywood.”

The Board of Directors of the Hollywood Partnership, which oversees the Hollywood Business Improvement District, has not yet taken a stance on the issue. However, administrators plan to work with Soto-Martinez’s office to ensure members of the Hollywood community can provide feedback on any future plans involving street vending.

“Hollywood is a bustling area with a high volume of foot traffic and a concentration of popular attractions, making it a prime location for street vendors of all types. Despite the no vending zones that have been in place for the last five years, unregulated street vendors continue to set up shop on the Boulevard. The city of L.A. should consider looking at other large cities such as New York, where vendors are beloved and have been successfully regulated for years,” Hollywood Partnership president and CEO Kathleen Rawson said. “However, any new legislation around this activity must involve further discussion with the Hollywood community. The Hollywood Partnership is committed to engaging in this all-important conversation.”