BILL NUMBER: S4300
SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to the disposal of seized perishable or canned foods
 
PURPOSE:
To prohibit perishable or canned food from being discarded in the event
that these items are seized from a street vendor.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 Section 20-468 of the Administrative Code of the City of New
York is amended by adding a new subdivision (g) to prohibit certain
items from being discarded if seized and provides definitions for
perishable food, canned food and a food relief organization.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
 
EXISTING LAW:
N/A
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The city capped the number of permits for street vendors at 3,000 in
1983. The waiting list for new permits is in the thousands. As a result
of this cap, we have witnessed vendors having their items seized and
sometimes discarded.
In September 2021, there was an instance in the Bronx where the New York
Police Department (NYPD) and the New York City Department of Sanitation
threw out boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables that were taken from a
street vendor. In the event of a seizure, food should be donated to the
nearest pantry or shelter. There are nearly 1.2 million New Yorkers
experiencing food insecurity, including one in five New York City chil-
dren. Those numbers surged during the pandemic and show no signs of
receding. There is no reason fresh food should be seized and thrown out
during a food insecurity crisis.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S. 7415 of 2021-22: New Bill, Referred to Cities 1, Committed to Rules
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately