With over 10,000 street vendors in the New York City area, the SVP seeks to address the "the social and economic injustice faced by these hardworking entrepreneurs." By educating members as to their legal rights, the SVP empowers those who would otherwise be voiceless.
The SVP is one of eight projects sponsored by The Urban Justice Center , a non-profit entity which "serves low-income and marginalized New Yorkers through a unique combination of direct legal services, systemic advocacy, community education, and political organizing."
SVP's "Third Annual Vendy Awards," sought to identify our City's best food vendor. This year's finalists were:
Alvaro Gonzalez, d/b/a "Super Taco." Gonzalez is typically stationed on 96th Street and Broadway and is known for his tacos, tortas, tamales, and quesadillas.
Fares Zeideia, d/b/a "Freddy from "the King of Falafel & Shawarma." You'll find Zeideia on 30th Street & Broadway (Astoria, Queens). His specialty is falafel and shawarma.
Veronica Julien, d/b/a "Veronica's Kitchen." Julien has been vending for the past two years on the corner of Front & Pine Streets and her specialty is jerk chicken and oxtails.
Mohammed Rahman, d/b/a "Kwick Meal," has spent the last seven years on 45th Street & Sixth Avenue, hawking marinated lamb.
Thiru Kumar, d/b/a "The Dosa Man," sells pondicherry dosa at Washington Square South and Sullivan Street.
The event's panel of judges included Borough President Scott Stringer, lawyer Ron Kuby, and Village Voice columnist Michael Musto.
And, the winner of the 2007 Vendy was ....
The Dosa-Maven, the Dosa-Meister, the Dosa-Man: THIRU KUMAR
Congrats, Thiru.
Make sure to pay your sales and income taxes!
To download a video and photographs of the Vendy nominees, please use this link: 2007 Vendy Finalists