Pushcarts for Peace

Jean Merrill wrote a lovely book, entitled The Pushcart War, in the sixties, about a fictional (but relevant) war between vendors and truckers on the streets of New York City. This book dealt with all things New York: real estate, congestion, movie stars, city council, NYPD, supply and demand, the black market, big business bullies, neighborhood alliances and more.

I read this book recently, and I'm reminded of it after reading a leaked email from Lobbyist Richard Lipsky, which was discovered in March 2007 by The Politicker in The New York Observor. Lipsky is gaining the support of city council members, Business Improvement Districts, and real estate organizations to create a "diverse umbrella coalition" to crackdown on street vendors in NYC. This "Peddler Compliance Coalition" seeks to "reclaim the streets for tax-paying store owners".

Since when did "our" streets need to be reclaimed by store owners? Don't these streets qualify as public space, and don't legally permitted vendors have the right to be there?

As a sector of the informal economy, street vending is often contested by shopkeepers in New York. It makes sense - these business owners pay hefty real estate taxes and don't want competition on their block from members of such a mobile industry. But I wonder if these vendors are, in their own way, reclaiming public space for themselves and, therefore, reclaiming this space for the rest of us?

In Merrill's book, the pushcart peddlers wage war using pea shooters aimed at deflating the big trucks' tires. Everyone gets involved: Morris the Florist, Frank the Flower, Old Anna, Harry the Hot Dog, Carlos ("Cartons Flattened and Removed"), the movie star, Wenda Gambling, Papa Peretz ("Pretzels 6 for $.25"), and Maxie Hammerman,"Pushcart King".

Both parties write manifestos; both parties play dirty games. After scandals and scapegoating, truces and a peace march, the pushcart peddlers and the truckers eventually take their battle to city council. City council creates "The Courtesy Act", making it a criminal offense for a larger vehicle to take advantage of a smaller vehicle in any way. This Act makes the streets safe for the peddlers for years to come, "so that there should always be a few pushcarts on the streets of NYC".

As Richard Lipsky gains support from members of city council, maybe we could learn a lesson from these fairy tale peddlers and stage a peaceful war to ensure that NYC real estate doesn't take advantage of the vendors who make our city streets dynamic and unique.