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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                  APRIL 03, 2026    |  The Indian Eye 24

              NYC Mayor, SBS Commissioner Name Carina

                  Kaufman-Gutierrez as First-Ever Executive

             Director of The Office of Street Vendor Services

             Executive Director Kaufman-Gutierrez brings more than a decade of experience supporting

                                                     small businesses and street vendors

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            nity-based  organizations,  and  local
                                                                                                                  stakeholders  at  the  table,  we  can
            NEW YORK, NY
                                                                                                                  build a more vibrant, and equitable
                    ayor Zohran Kwame Mam-                                                                        street vending ecosystem across the
                    dani and New York City De-                                                                    five boroughs.”
            Mpartment of Small Business                                                                               “We’re thrilled  that  SBS  cre-
            Services (SBS) Commissioner Kenny                                                                     ated  the  first  ever  Office  of  Street
            Minaya have announced the appoint-                                                                    Vendor  Services  and  hired  an  ex-
            ment  of  Carina  Kaufman-Gutierrez                                                                   ceptional  Executive  Director,  Cari-
            as the first Executive Director of the                                                                na Kaufman-Gutierrez. For  nearly
            new Office of Street Vendor Services                                                                  7 years Carina has worked with the
            (SVS) at SBS. The Mamdani Admin-                                                                      vendor  community,  created  pro-
            istration is launching the SVS more                                                                   grams that provided essential ser-
            than four months ahead of schedule,                                                                   vices to thousands of vendors and
            following the New York City Coun-                                                                     led strategic initiatives that made
            cil’s passage of Intro 408-A.                                                                         substantial marks in the street ven-
                    SVS  will  advance  economic                                                                  dor movement. We’re so thankful for
            justice  by  serving  as  a  central  hub                                                             the agency and their selection of such
            for citywide street vendor education                                                                  a phenomenal leader to run the of-
            and  assistance  within SBS. As the                                                                   fice and looking forward to the great
            Mamdani Administration plans im-                                                                      work this office will accomplish un-
            plementation of the “Street Vendor                                                                    der  Carina’s  leadership,”  said  Mo-
            Reform Package” and issues the first                                                                  hamed  Attia,  Co-Director  at  the
            new street vending licenses since the                                                                 Street Vendor Project at the Urban
            cap set in 1979 was lifted, the office                                                                Justice Center.
            will launch a citywide outreach cam-                                                                      Kaufman-Gutierrez will lead
            paign to ensure vendors are aware of                                                                  New York City’s first dedicated team
            opportunities to transition into the   and their customers alike.”  and they deserve a city government   to support street vendors and will
            formal economy.                       “Street vendors  may  be some   that works for them.  I’m  proud to   build the office from the ground-up
                The office will also work closely   of our smallest businesses, but they   partner with Executive Director   within  SBS.  The  office  will  provide
            with  interagency  partners,  commu-  have an outsized impact on our lo-  Kaufman-Gutierrez as we build this   education,  outreach  and  program-
            nity-based  organizations,  and  local   cal economies and the cultural fab-  office  and  ensure  street  vendors   ming and coordinate across agencies
            stakeholders  to support a more vi-  ric of our city. As we build a more   across  all  five  boroughs  have  the   to better serve both food and gener-
            brant and  equitable  street vending   just  economy,  street  vendors  play  a   tools they need to succeed.”  al vendors citywide. The executive
            ecosystem across all five boroughs.  vital role by creating jobs and offer-  “From  the  tamaleras  of  Coro-  director  will  also work  closely with
                “Our street  vendors are  not  a   ing affordable goods for New York-  na to  the portrait  artists of Times   the partner agencies to recommend
            problem to solve — they are a com-  ers. This new office marks a new era   Square, street vendors fold our city’s   policy,  legislative  and  rule  changes
            munity to support. They feed us, they   in  how  City  government  supports   unrivaled diversity into our streets   to reduce unnecessary penalties and
            employ us, and they give our streets   them,” said Deputy Mayor for Eco-  and  sidewalks.  Today,  more  than   advance fair enforcement.
            life at every hour. Many New York-  nomic Justice Julie Su.         ever,  our  city’s  smallest  businesses,     “Street vendors are the heart-
            ers’ fondest memories are of grab-    “Street vendors are essential to   96% of whom are immigrants, need   beat of neighborhoods like Park-
            bing late-night food at their local   the fabric of New York City, power-  resources,  advocacy,  and  protec-  chester and communities across
            taco truck or halal cart. But City Hall   ing our local economy, shaping our   tion,” said Carina Kaufman-Gutier-  New  York  City—working-class  en-
            has too often made their work hard-  culture,  and  bringing  vibrancy  to   rez, Executive Director of the Office   trepreneurs who contribute to our
            er instead of helping it thrive. That   our commercial corridors,” said SBS   of  Street  Vendor  Services.  “Street   economy and culture every day. The
            changes  now,”  said  Mayor  Mam-  Commissioner Kenny Minaya. “With   vendors have long fought for both   creation of the Office of Street Ven-
            dani. “With this office and with Ca-  the  launch  of  the  Office  of  Street   recognition and support from city   dor  Services,  and  the  appointment
            rina’s leadership, we will fundamen-  Vendor Services within SBS, we will   government, and I’m honored to join   of Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez as its
            tally transform the relationship that   deliver  long-overdue  support,  re-  SBS and the Administration in cen-  first  Executive  Director,  is  a  major
            street vendors have with the City. By   sources, and guidance street vendors   tering the needs of our city’s smallest   step  toward  bringing  structure,  dig-
            streamlining bureaucracy and work-  deserve. Many vendors are immi-  businesses at Office of Street Vendor   nity,  and  opportunity  to  this  work-
            ing closely with street vendors them-  grants and entrepreneurs working   Services. Together with street ven-  force,” said Council Member Aman-
            selves, we can lower costs for vendors   tirelessly  to  support  their  families,   dors, interagency  partners,  commu-  da Farías.

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