1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to get connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven Light FM. 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 2: Good morning, and thanks for listening to get connected. There 5 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 2: are over twenty thousand street food vendors in New York 6 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 2: City iconic city small businesses. The Street Vendor Project advocates 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: on behalf of this very hard working group of men 8 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 2: and women, and is behind an initiative to improve air 9 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 2: quality for both vendors and residents with the Street Vendor 10 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 2: Electrification Project, converting carts from fossil fuel to rechargeable batteries. 11 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 2: Mohammed Atiya is Managing director of the Street Vendor Project. 12 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: Thank you for being on. 13 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 3: The show, Sure, thanks for having me. 14 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 2: The website is streetvendor dot org. The Street Vendor Project 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: is a program of the Urban Justice Center advocating for 16 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: New York City's twenty thousand plus street vendors, championing the 17 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: rights of vendors as small businesses to earn a living 18 00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 2: and contribute to the culture and life of New York City. Mohammed, 19 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 2: most of us have a favorite street vendor halal food, 20 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 2: coffee fruit, but I would bet that most New Yorkers 21 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 2: don't know very much about the community or what the 22 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 2: work is like. So I thought we'd start there. As 23 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: the Street Vendor Project, you represent nearly three thousand members 24 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 2: of the twenty thousand plus food vendors. There's a lot 25 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: of you, a lot of them. Who are they and 26 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 2: what kind of work do street vendors do? What are 27 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 2: they responsible for? 28 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 3: Sure? 29 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 4: Street vendors across New York City are a reflection of 30 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 4: New Yorkers. It's a community that is as diverse as 31 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 4: New York City is. Mostly immigrants, people of color, working 32 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 4: class individuals, single mothers, you know, veterans, military veterans who 33 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 4: are operating the cars and the trucks and the tables. 34 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 4: And they are the smallest businesses of our city. A 35 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 4: class of people who are the hardest of the working 36 00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 4: class community, running their cars, running their businesses, setting very 37 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 4: essential products and very affordable, delicious foods. 38 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 3: Receive them at every corner. 39 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 4: They hand you a dollar water bottle or an umbrella, 40 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 4: and it's raining subtly and you don't have the umbrella 41 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 4: or a puncho, you're going to find the vendor there. 42 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 4: And it's really important for people to know who they 43 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 4: are and where they come from and what they go 44 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 4: through to run their business and provide these services. 45 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 2: As you mentioned, most of the community or immigrants ninety 46 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 2: five percenter immigrants. You actually started out as a street vendor. 47 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: Can you talk a little bit about your story and 48 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 2: how you found yourself in this role. 49 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 3: Sure. I'm an immigrant from Egypt. 50 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 4: I came here in two thousand and eight, and very 51 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 4: soon after I arrived, I started meeting with Egyptian immigrants 52 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 4: like myself, and I found that a lot of people 53 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 4: are selling food in the streets. They sell coffee, they 54 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 4: sell alat food, hot dogs. So I got a food 55 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 4: vendor license and I started looking for the job and 56 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 4: I worked as a vendor for someone, and then soon 57 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 4: after that I started my own business to sell smoothies. 58 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 4: And that's where I really learned how challenging it is 59 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 4: to become a street vendor, looking at the very long 60 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 4: hours that it requires, the capital then I need to invest, 61 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 4: but also the barriers and the challenges that I have 62 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 4: to navigate and deal with when it gets to the 63 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 4: lack of licenses, the very difficult arbitrary rules that I 64 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 4: have to be in compliance with, but also the lack 65 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 4: of investment from the government. The resources are very limited 66 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 4: when it gets to sheet vendors, you know, there is 67 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 4: not much help. And that's how I really got in 68 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 4: touch with the Set Vendor Project and I joined the 69 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 4: Scha Vendor Project first as a member back in twenty twelve. 70 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 3: I joined as a member. 71 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 4: I've been, you know, pretty active in the work we do, 72 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 4: especially with a campaign to increase the number of permits 73 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 4: for food vendors because it was an issue that was 74 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 4: very close to me personally. And then in twenty eighteen, 75 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 4: when the founder and the director at the time of 76 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 4: the organization decided to step down, he basically broke me 77 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 4: in as. 78 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 3: A co director. 79 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 4: We worked together for about a year and then in 80 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 4: twenty nineteen he left completely and here I am somehow 81 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 4: they're relatively new director, but I've been here for quite 82 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 4: some time. 83 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: So the Street Vendor Project, you mentioned permits, In what 84 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 2: other ways do you offer assistance and guidance? 85 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 4: So the biggest thing is definitely the legal representation. So 86 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 4: sadly vendors are subject to receive a lot of tickets 87 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 4: by different enforcement agencies. We have our legal director who 88 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 4: represent the vendors in oath. This is the court where 89 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 4: you know the tickets are being sent to. But also 90 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 4: a lot of small business support to helping people with 91 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 4: a small business compliance in ensuring that they have their 92 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 4: paperwork ready when they can. Of course, helping people with 93 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 4: sales tax filing, giving them trainings and resources on how 94 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 4: to comply with the citing rules. You know, the rules 95 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 4: are very complex when it gets to where to set 96 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 4: up your card. You cannot just be anywhere you want. 97 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:54,359 Speaker 3: You have five. 98 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 4: Hundred rules and then you need to keep in mind 99 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 4: every time you want to set up your card, and 100 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 4: you want to be mindful of them and be in 101 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 4: compliance with them, want to be a good neighbor. But 102 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 4: also two to ensure that you're avoiding any unnecessary fines 103 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 4: by the different enforcement agencies. But besides that, you know, 104 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 4: we also offer small business support, like you know, connecting 105 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 4: people with loan and grants opportunities when they are eligible, 106 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,239 Speaker 4: helping people set up a Facebook or Instagram page. Social 107 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 4: media now is really important for any business, and a 108 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 4: lot of our members are not take savvy enough and 109 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 4: not really you know, catching up with this wave. A 110 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 4: lot of vendors are still operating their businesses as cash 111 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 4: only business and now they are realizing how difficult it 112 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 4: is to compete in the market given that a lot 113 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 4: of people. 114 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 3: Don't carry cash anymore. 115 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 4: So helping folks actually opening a bank account, set up 116 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 4: epayment systems, et cetera. 117 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 2: And now you're interested in this environmental project, let's talk 118 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 2: about that as soon as I remind everybody who we're 119 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: speaking with. Mohammed Atya is managing director of the Street 120 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 2: Vendor Project. They advocate for New York City's twenty plus 121 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,479 Speaker 2: street vendors and you can find out more at streetvendor 122 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: dot org. You're listening to get connected on one oh 123 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: six point seven light FM am Mina del Rio. So, 124 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 2: the Street Vendors Electrification Initiative, what is this? 125 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 4: We initiated the program that we called Environmental Justice for 126 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 4: Vendors by Vendors, and we started this program back in 127 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 4: twenty twenty one to basically get the vendors a seat 128 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,799 Speaker 4: at the table and make sure that their voices are heard. 129 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 4: When we're seeing a lot of conversations happening around environmental justice, 130 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 4: climate change, climate resiliency, how we can get the small 131 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 4: business community to also keep in mind the street vendors 132 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 4: as the smallest businesses when we're seeing all these incentives 133 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 4: on programs and infrastructure changes that are happening across our 134 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 4: city that sadly the vendors have been excluded from. So 135 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 4: we launched this program. We started with conversations with the vendors. 136 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 4: We surveyed more than two hundred vendors who really understand 137 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 4: the issue where things are at, why they have these practices, 138 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 4: why they use such equipment. And we gathered all this 139 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 4: information and we started having a lot of conversations with 140 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 4: several stakeholders across the city in different you know, sectors 141 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 4: to understand the issue. And everyone came together and they 142 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 4: were really in agreement that the one big issue that 143 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 4: could be addressed is replacing the gasoline generators that power. 144 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 3: These food carts and food trucks. 145 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 4: And yeah, as you probably know, any New Yorker who 146 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 4: walk in the street will see there's a big grid 147 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 4: engine attached usually to the food cart of the food 148 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 4: truck that is powering the cart. It's idling, it smells 149 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 4: really bad. It's using gasoline or diesel. But this is 150 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 4: the only way that most of the food vendors like 151 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 4: use to actually power their electrical equipment. 152 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 2: So those batteries are noisy, those batteries are dirty. Why 153 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 2: do vendors use them and what are the alternatives? 154 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 4: Of course, the reason why a lot of vendors up 155 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 4: to use these generators is that we have proven to 156 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 4: be reliable source of energy for the most part, at 157 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 4: least for the last two decades. But of course they 158 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 4: come with a lot of challenges. You talked about the 159 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 4: fumes and emissions. The emission numbers are just off the charts. 160 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 4: It is really harmful and of course to the air 161 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 4: quality to New Yorkers. 162 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 3: To residents, but also to the vendors themselves. 163 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 4: They also want to think about the health of the 164 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 4: vendor who stand next to that generator for ten twelve 165 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 4: hours every day. The other part, also when we look 166 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 4: at the alternatives to these generators we have learned over 167 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 4: the last couple of years is that there is no 168 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 4: one size fits all. 169 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 3: I really wish there was. 170 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 4: I wish there was just one product that can fit 171 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 4: everyone and make everyone happy and power their cards and 172 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 4: their trucks. Sadly that's not the case. So we started 173 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 4: with rechargeable batteries. Batteries that are usually used to power 174 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,960 Speaker 4: some events, to power you know, folks who are going 175 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 4: on camping and whatnot. We started using batteries like that, 176 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 4: and that model was successful for a very small group 177 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 4: of vendors. And then you have other group of vendors 178 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 4: who actually say, actually, my electricity needs are way higher 179 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 4: than what this one battery can provide me. 180 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 3: I need a. 181 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 4: Bigger battery, but I don't have space on my card. 182 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 4: That's why we need to come up with these creative solutions. 183 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 4: So we started talking with experts and a lot of 184 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 4: them said, the only solution that will be a reasonable 185 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 4: and practical alternative to the generator it does swap uple battery. 186 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 4: So have this device that is connected to the cart 187 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 4: and you can have three or four or five batteries 188 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 4: attached to it, and you can actually swap as you go. 189 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 4: Looking at the technology that exists right now, we're seeing 190 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 4: a lot of this technology being implemented at the e bikes, 191 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 4: at the you know mobility new technology that is in 192 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,079 Speaker 4: the streets now. We're seeing a lot of smaller cargo 193 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 4: e bikes being floated around the city right now. They 194 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 4: are used to deliver products to homes and places, and 195 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 4: that same technology could be implemented. Of course, after some 196 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 4: adjustment to fit the cards and the truck's need. 197 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 2: So you're starting with twenty vendors. How is that going? 198 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 2: But also the cost is it cost effective for vendors? 199 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 2: A lot of it's just going to boil down to 200 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 2: that it could. 201 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 4: Be and it will be cost effective on the long run. 202 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 4: And this is where we're exploring that they're from models. Right, 203 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 4: if you want to purchase your own battery at a 204 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 4: small business, it will cost you thousands of dollars and 205 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 4: that could be beneficial. 206 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 3: To some group of vendors. 207 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 4: Now with the Swababole model, we're looking at a company 208 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 4: that will actually provide a service for a subscription fee 209 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 4: in instead of investing thousands or even tens of thousands 210 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 4: of dollars as a small business person, you don't really 211 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,680 Speaker 4: need to do that. You can just connect with the 212 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 4: company directly. You have a contract with them, and you 213 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 4: pay them a day subscription fee that will hopefully be 214 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 4: as much as you're spending on gasoline or even less, 215 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 4: so it could be cost effective. It could be even 216 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 4: cheaper to use the clean technology and you're eliminating the generator. 217 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 3: You get rid of all the. 218 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 4: Maintenance oil changing every few days. Every week or so 219 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 4: it's going to break and you call the person to 220 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 4: fix it. You're eliminating all that headache and all these 221 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 4: expenses and you're only pay in a subscription fee. That 222 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 4: is pretty practical. 223 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 2: What kind of interest and response are you getting from 224 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 2: stakeholders in the city. 225 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 4: Well, with our group, we're seeing a lot of interest 226 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 4: from different folks, But the one group that I really 227 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 4: want to name is the Mayor's Office of Climate and 228 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 4: Environmental Justice. They are an amazing people, amazing office, amazing 229 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 4: partner in this journey, and they have been really investing 230 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 4: a lot of resources and staff time to look into 231 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 4: how they can expand this program and support our efforts. 232 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 4: We're now doing a lot of measuring of electricity needs 233 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 4: with various cards to collect the data so we can 234 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 4: actually know what we can you know, promote to the companies. 235 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 4: But we're also in touch with a lot of manufacturers, 236 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,319 Speaker 4: like some companies who are now building the swabbable technology 237 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 4: and building a prototype for the vendors to basically, you know, 238 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 4: like make sure their product works for a food cart 239 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 4: and food truck. And this is going to be the 240 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 4: first time ever there is a custom made prototype for 241 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 4: swabboble batteries for the food cars and food trucks, which 242 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 4: is something really inspiring to see happening. 243 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 2: Are you looking at other cities as a blueprint or 244 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 2: will this be the blueprint at scale? 245 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 4: I think this is going to be the blueprint at scale. 246 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 4: We're looking at other cities to learn from them, and 247 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 4: we're seeing different models being adopted at different places. But 248 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 4: we have not yet seen the swabbable battery being adopted 249 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 4: in the food vending scene in any other city. Maybe 250 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 4: it's out and we're not aware yet. But again, we're 251 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 4: a small, mighty team trying our best to gather. 252 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 3: All the information and look everywhere. 253 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 4: But as of now, we have seen different cities and 254 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 4: different states have actually created programs to support the food 255 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 4: trucks and the food vendors community to actually transition from 256 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,079 Speaker 4: the gasoline to use the battery technology, but not those 257 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 4: model yet. 258 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 2: You also have the challenge perhaps of having to communicate 259 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,839 Speaker 2: this information to so many languages and all that kind 260 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 2: of thing. How have vendors responded and how has it 261 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:32,959 Speaker 2: been to get the word out. 262 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,719 Speaker 4: Well, it's been a mixed interesting responses that we are 263 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 4: getting from the vendors. Of course, the language access is 264 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 4: a big key. We translate everything we have in seven 265 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 4: different languages, and this is how we communicate with the 266 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 4: vendors and we go out and we have conversations and 267 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,680 Speaker 4: a lot of it is really kind of like eye 268 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 4: opening to a lot of folks. So people are like, 269 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 4: what are you saying, there's technology out there that can 270 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 4: actually get me to stop the generators, And the answer is, yes, 271 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 4: there is. You can stop using this harmful generator and 272 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 4: you can actually use zero emission, clean technology that will 273 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 4: power your business very effectively. We don't want you to 274 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 4: do anything less than that. But also it has been 275 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 4: a real challenge with some folks who had bad experiences 276 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 4: with battery powered cards in the past, which is also 277 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 4: adding another challenge for us to like navigate all of 278 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 4: that and get folks to trust the technology again. So 279 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 4: right now we're running the pilot. We're expanding a pilot 280 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 4: where it's not going to cost the vendors anything, not 281 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 4: even a dollar. 282 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 3: We're gonna power everything. 283 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 4: We're working with the partners to make sure the technology 284 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 4: is there for them to thisss out for free and 285 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 4: then if they like it, they can then invest in it. 286 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 4: And whether you know, partner with the company and start 287 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 4: paying subscription fee or actually purchase here chargeboard battery for them. 288 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 2: So what would a successful timeline look like to you? 289 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 4: I think our goal in the next year, in twenty 290 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 4: twenty six, to launch this pilot with at least ten 291 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 4: vendors in one location, if not more. And the dream 292 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 4: here is for twenty twenty six pilot to be a success, 293 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 4: that we can prove concept, that we can show how 294 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 4: much vendors have saved, that we can show that it's 295 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 4: actually a practical, realistic thing. And then starting twenty twenty seven, 296 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 4: we can look for how we can get the government, 297 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 4: the city government in particular, to look into investment in 298 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 4: a substantial way to scale this up across all the 299 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 4: sheet vending hubs. 300 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 2: And what would you like someone listening to take away 301 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 2: from this conversation or what is a way to contribute 302 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 2: or support this work? 303 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 4: So many ways, but the first thing is to really 304 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 4: support your smallest businesses. Go to the vendor at the 305 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 4: corner where you buy the food from, say a lot 306 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 4: of the show them some love, show them some support. 307 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 4: But also I want folks to know that everything is possible. 308 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 4: We just need the political will we need the resources. 309 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 4: We have seen and we have heard from several council members, 310 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 4: several city agencies that they receive a lot of complaints 311 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 4: about the generators. 312 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 3: They say, the. 313 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 4: Vendors down the block, they have a lot of generators. 314 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 4: The fumes, the emissions, all the noise, all of that 315 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 4: is really bad. And you really need to understand as 316 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 4: a New Yorker that these generators are used to power 317 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 4: the card and make them running. And vendors don't use 318 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 4: them because they love them. They use them because they 319 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 4: are the only option that is out there for them. 320 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 4: But there are so much potential for this transition to happen. 321 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 4: We just need serious commitment from the government. So if 322 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 4: you really don't like the generator that's your favorite vendor, 323 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 4: maybe you can call your council member and say, council member, 324 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 4: why don't you reach out to the achieve and their 325 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 4: project and support their Environmental Justice for Vendors by Vendors program, 326 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 4: give them the resources they need. Let us transition our 327 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 4: vendors from using generators to using clean technology to using 328 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 4: swappable batteries, and we can definitely get the vendors community 329 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 4: to that point. 330 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 2: Recently, you can follow up on what Mohammad just said 331 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 2: at streetvendor dot org. Mohammad Atiya is managing director of 332 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,679 Speaker 2: the Street Vendor Project. Thank you for being on to 333 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 2: Get Connected. 334 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 3: Sure, Thank you so much for having mena player. 335 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: This has been Get Connected with Nina del Rio on 336 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven light Fm. The views and 337 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views 338 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: of the station. If you missed any part of our 339 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: show or want to share it, visit our website for 340 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: downloads and podcasts at one oh six to seven lightfm 341 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 1: dot com. Thanks for listening.