In a show of solidarity with immigrants facing violent crackdowns, art galleries and cultural organizations across the country have decided to close their doors today, January 30. This decision comes in the wake of recent events in New York City, where a group of Tribeca galleries gathered to address the issue of street vendors in the area.
The meeting, which took place two weeks ago at Alexander Gray Associates, was prompted by concerns about safety and accessibility due to the increasing number of street vendors on Broadway. Representatives from several galleries in Lower Manhattan’s Canal Street area came together to discuss potential solutions to the problem.
One of the outcomes of the meeting was a suggestion to file complaints with 311 to draw the city’s attention to the issue. Additionally, there were talks of drafting a letter to city officials to seek support in dealing with the influx of street vendors.
However, it seems that not all gallery representatives were on the same page. PPOW, a gallery in the area, distanced itself from the initiative and disavowed the suggestion to call 311 on vendors. In a statement, PPOW directors Wendy Olsoff and Penny Pilkington expressed their commitment to learning from the experience and collaborating with artists and community leaders to find a more inclusive approach.
In response to the situation, PPOW plans to work with NYC vendor rights groups to educate their staff on how to support migrant vendors in the neighborhood. This move aligns with their values as a gallery and demonstrates a willingness to grow and change.
Despite the initial meeting, a follow-up gathering scheduled for January 27 was postponed. Alexander Gray, whose gallery hosted the initial meeting, emphasized the importance of finding equitable solutions that benefit everyone, including vendors. He stated his opposition to ICE enforcement practices and any actions that harm immigrant communities.
A spreadsheet listing 12 Tribeca galleries interested in joining the effort was revealed, with some galleries clarifying that they had not taken action or necessarily supported the proposed initiatives. The discussions around street vendors highlight the complex intersection of economic, cultural, and social issues in the area.
The situation on Canal Street is further complicated by the fact that most street vendors in New York City are immigrants, many of whom are undocumented. Recent incidents involving ICE raids and police intervention have created a climate of fear among vendors who rely on their businesses for survival.
As the dialogue continues among gallery owners, city officials, and community members, the need for a comprehensive and compassionate approach to addressing the challenges faced by immigrant vendors becomes increasingly apparent. The hope is that through collaboration and understanding, a solution that respects the rights and dignity of all individuals can be reached. The Department of Sanitation, the primary agency enforcing vending regulations in New York City, does not collaborate with federal immigration agencies, according to a spokesperson for the department. However, despite sanctuary city laws in place, municipal intervention in vending regulations could potentially lead to federal engagement, as explained by Mohamed Attia, managing director of the Street Vendor Project.
Attia raised concerns that vendors who receive criminal tickets from the NYPD are at risk of arrest if they fail to show up to their court date, potentially making them targets for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Once a vendor is arrested, their information becomes accessible to enforcement agencies nationwide, posing a significant risk to immigrant vendors.
Although the NYPD no longer leads street vendor enforcement under the Adams administration, the agency has responded to complaints about street congestion in Lower Manhattan by arresting vendors and confiscating their goods. Multiple city departments, including the NYPD, have the authority to issue citations for vending violations.
It is important to note that the Department of Sanitation has its own armed police force, which is visually indistinguishable from NYPD officers except for a badge. Attia emphasized that street vendors are also small businesses and should not be targeted by other businesses or city agencies.
The news that galleries in the area had discussed street vendors and potential city intervention sparked outrage within the arts community. Cindy Hwang, a member of the Lower Manhattan anti-gentrification group Art Against Displacement, expressed her disappointment in businesses considering involving the NYPD in addressing vendor-related issues. Hwang suggested that there are alternative ways to improve street life without resorting to law enforcement measures that could potentially harm immigrant vendors.
Artists Ming Lin and Alex Tatarsky, co-founders of the art collective Shanzhai Lyric, highlighted the historical context of street vending in New York City. They traced the criminalization of street vending back to Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia’s “War on Pushcarts” in the 1930s, which targeted unlicensed peddlers for posing risks to traffic and sanitation. Lin and Tatarsky described street vendors on Canal Street as valuable members of the community and criticized galleries for complaining about safety concerns when vendors are facing threats from both the NYPD and ICE.
Despite the challenges faced by street vendors in obtaining vending licenses, City Council recently approved a bill to increase the vending license cap to 10,500 general vending permits by 2027. This measure aims to address the long waiting list for vending licenses and the limited availability of permits for non-veteran vendors.
In response to the national anti-ICE economic shutdown, several galleries in New York City closed their doors in solidarity. However, the participation of galleries in such actions raises questions about how arts organizations can support immigrant communities on a consistent basis. Lin and Tatarsky criticized galleries for capitalizing on the cultural richness of neighborhoods like SoHo, Tribeca, and Chinatown while disregarding the livelihoods of immigrant vendors on Canal Street.
Attia suggested that galleries and businesses should engage directly with vendors to address their concerns and build relationships with them. By fostering communication and collaboration with street vendors, businesses can support the local immigrant community and contribute to a more inclusive and vibrant neighborhood environment. The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has been rapidly evolving in recent years, with new advancements and breakthroughs being made on a regular basis. One of the most exciting developments in AI is the emergence of deep learning, a subset of machine learning that is inspired by the structure and function of the human brain.
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