Keeping street vendors safe

The City of Fresno has an estimated 125 street vendors that sell a variety of goods such as fruits, Mexicans snacks, food and flowers. Recent violent attacks on street vendors have some concerned about their safety.

One of these street vendors is Daquan Thomas. He sells produce on the corner of Chestnut and Jensen in Fresno. “I sell here at the corner to bring the local fruit to everyone,“ said Thomas. Three years ago, when he started his job, things were tough.

“I was a little nervous because I didn’t know no one in the area. After being here for a little while, I realize that I know tons of different people,” said Thomas. Now, he feels safe where he sells.

That said, he is aware of the recent spike in violence, and had his own experience. “He had the money in his hand,” said Thomas. “I reached to go grab his money and give him his fruit and he snatches back the money and the fruit with his family in his car.”

Councilman President Luis Chavez and other council members have started a street vendor association to help ease street vendors fears. This is supported by Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama. “They’re at a little bit of a disadvantage. You know they’re not like a store where there’s surveillance camera or phone right there, we can call 911 or an alarm they don’t have any of that,” said Balderrama.

The street vendor association will provide better safety and most importantly help street vendors to get city and county permits. “A lot of the vendors don’t — some of them may not have the proper licensing to be able to operate as a street vendor. Well that’s not primarily the police department’s job,” said Balderrama.

He wants street vendors to know, that they shouldn’t be afraid to call the police, even though they are undocumented. “We don’t enforce immigration law. You know the Fresno Police Department is not ICE and we don’t have arrest powers in that area so that’s a misconception,” said Balderrama.

Thomas will continue to be careful while selling his produce.