On the Job

What’s It Like to Run an Unlicensed Business in New York?

Of New York’s 20,000 street vendors, nearly all of them are immigrants, and most are unlicensed. That makes them vulnerable to harassment, fines, and even arrest. In Corona Plaza in Queens, vendors are coming together to push for change. This is the story of those vendors.

Credits: Hosted by Hannah Bottum. Reported by Rachael Robertson & Hannah Bottum. Senior produced, sound edited & designed by Michayla Savitt. Meg Cramer is the managing editor. Music is composed by Salman Ahad Khan. Archival material is from the NYC Municipal Archives. Special thanks to Veronica Fructuoso & the Corona Plaza vendors, Hafeezat Bishi, & Alana Casanova-Burgess.