Statement on Resolution Calling for Vote of ‘No Confidence’ in District Bridges as Vending Zone Manager
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At the ANC 1A’s November 13, 2024 Public Meeting, I introduced a measure [https://tinyurl.com/333zfkvp] to express 'no confidence' in the Columbia Heights-Mount Pleasant Vending Zone Manager and urge more significant action and coordination to address the ongoing challenge of street vending in Columbia Heights. This measure points out that something is wrong with the current process following the passage of the Street Vendor Advancement Act of 2024 and that we must act to correct course. My colleagues, unfortunately, chose to postpone this measure rather than hear the pleas and concerns of our constituents and take action now, claiming we need more information. We have all the information we need to know something is broken and needs to be fixed, starting with a new vending manager.
In its current chaos and disorder, street vending has beleaguered our neighborhood’s public space, economic vitality, quality of life for residents and visitors, and the success of large and small businesses in central Columbia Heights. The 14th St corridor should be a vibrant, thriving hub of commerce and culture. However, with the ballooning of unregulated vending, residents and visitors are contending with obstructed sidewalks that create hazards for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities, many of whom often encounter vendors who entirely ignore their asks for them to move or reorganize their displays and tables so they can get by. Cyclists using the bike lane along 14th St. in front of DCUSA are also impacted by unregulated vending, with loading ramps often left unattended across the bike lane or strewn with debris that can cause accidents. These things can and should have been immediately addressed by the Vending Zone Manager.
It has become increasingly clear that the current Vending Zone Manager cannot adequately address these challenges, even with the supposed administrative lag at the Department of Licensing & Consumer Protection (“DLCP”) and DC Department of Health (“DC Health”) in getting vendors adequately licensed and permitted. This failure not only undermines the vibrancy of our neighborhood but continues us on a course that threatens our public spaces and neighborhood values, as residents and businesses have rightfully expressed increasing outrage over the inaction.
This measure is not to vilify street vendors—many of whom are genuinely hardworking individuals simply trying to make a living—but to demand that the Vending Zone Manager step up to do its job or step aside so we can pursue better management solutions. This resolution also calls for immediate intervention from DLCP and DC Health to ensure this pilot program gets back on track if the success of vending zones across the District depends on its success.
As a Commission, we are obligated, along with the Council of the District of Columbia, to ensure that community-based organizations that receive District contracts and funds are closely and continually scrutinized to deliver what they say they can. Collaboration should also be sought to reach shared goals and address neighborhood needs. These are steps that I have taken and will continue to take to deliver results for Columbia Heights.
