Art Vendor Cap Upheld by Judge

Yesterday, a federal judge upheld a city regulation calling for a limit to the number of street vendors allowed in areas like Union Square, High Line Park and Battery Park. Though local art vendors claim the limit is unconstitutional, the judge threw out their lawsuit against the city. The city calls the ruling, "a careful balance between the rights of vendors and the public's right to enjoy the parks." The ruling goes into effect on Monday, and will slash the number of art vendors in the city from 300 to 120, who would get the spots on a first-come, first-served basis.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on July 17, 2010 2:10 PM

Comments [rss]

ozik

All this means is that the crappy artists need to buy a vendors permit to guarantee themselves a spot on the square. It's that simple.

I would be all for permits being given at a discount or gratis to real artists.

wow 14th street

Good ruling for dat crappy art that is offered, most

of it not made by the "artists" that display this junk.

I could sell my art too but like hustling Chelsea art

galleries.that's the grown up way of making a living.

That is for those that can stand the pretense and artfart

BS the dealers do & practice ,beware of a dealer though that

says they are a gallerist,they should be well.. you know.

ProfessorVonNostren

This ruling only applies to artists - those selling expressive material, which is protected under the First Amendment. Don't be fooled. The spaces left open by these artists will be sold to MORE hot dog and souvenir vendors. Bloomberg wants as much $$$ as he can get. Vendors pay license fees, artists do not.

inoyourider

Excellent- hate these asshole taking up all the space with their BS 'art'.

Do these people have to buy permits and do they pay taxes?

kazubes

Does this mean Union square will only have one vendor selling those unfunny "homeland security" shirts with the native americans?????

henricus

Problem is that this shouldn't be based on the type of art being sold. I think the more prudent thing to have done would have been to grandfather in the current vendors. You have to remember that for some people this is a livelihood...nothing like forcing people out of their source of income in a recession! Woo hoo!

Jen S

If the art were good I'd feel bad for them.

Taco Renald

Oh, art snob!I really love my crayon colored name poster and my looks-nothing-like-me caricatures! High art, indeed.

Jen S

Is my nose really THAT big?!

nicemarmot

Can we just get limits on ALL the types of vendors in those really crowded areas? Nobody needs seventeen hot dog carts, twenty ice cream trucks and a billion tables full of the exact same tchotchkes.