Video: Subway Candy Peddler Makes $150 Cash A Day

Dude just screwed up his hustle by being profiled.  Sad that everybody wants that 15 minutes of fame.  Now the MTA and NYPD will take special note and maybe the IRS too...

He probably works harder than most people. It's a shame he blows his money on sneakers though.

He may or may not pay taxes. He may or may not collect welfare. There is some illegality of his business dealings. He sounds like a corporation.

...yeah, but if he starts declaring.  he can then start running profit loss  on goods and expense all the things that he buys to conduct his business.   i wonder what you can claim on $300 shoes as a depreciating asset.

you wonder if there are better profit margins in fruit or other non-junk items.  or if the candy is the best bet.  whether he pays taxes on the sales is ridiculous.  all sorts of cash enterprises don't report truthfully.. and presumedly he paid sales tax when he initially purchased the goods.  if this guy was truly smart.  he'd apply for a business license/tax exempt or reseller lic.  buy in bulk.  and recruit people to go selling candy for him.

Ah, Gothamist commenters. Always good for some old-fashioned anonymous racism! Thanks.

good for him.

Tell us how you really feel, Gothamist commenters.

They certainly aren't feeling the shame or embarrassment that they should be.

Conveniently missing from this video is the part where he explains where he stole the box of candy from so that he could "make an honest living".

Isn't there a 5 year limit on welfare benefits?  Aren't there many bureaucratic hoops to navigate through to get welfare benefits?  He probably isn't getting all the public subsidies so many commenters are sure he is receiving.  I'm sure he isn't paying taxes and whatever family he is supporting probably gets some benefits if they are eligible, but if he is spending most of his time hustling I'm not sure he could be fulfilling the requirements to get welfare.
Maybe someone who knows about this and isn't just a hater can inform us.  It seems like he is working hard and in his own way is a small business-man / entrepreneur.  He is neither all good or all bad but somewhere in the grey area where so many in the world either survive or perish.

Some other guy with three hundred dollar sneakers is going to "vic" him because he now knows homeboy carries cash.

Keep your bizzness private.

He has the same take home as a first year analyst at MS or Goldman.

This guy makes his own opportunities, good for him.

alot of butthurt comments.not shocking with the "hate everyone better/happier then me " attitude this generation

[] I took another look at Alex (Trax). . . he definitely be 'Fly'!!

Good for him. I don't get the hate in the comments.

I have a feeling he is going to regret publicizing this info

I have a feeling it isnt going to make any difference at all

LOL at all these "people" who assume he MUST be on welfare.  I mean, he has to be because he's black, amirite?  If any of you pathetic losers actually bothered to get to know some black people, you may be surprised by how many of them, shock of shocks, pay their entire way through life.

Also, how many of you assholes who are begrudging him for having $300 sneakers own iPhones or $700 TVs?  So many of you racists just can't stand to see black people have nice*, new things.

*In my opinion, most of these sneakers are hideously ugly, but who am I to dictate the taste of others?

My comment is not in support or in defense of the welfare system. But to rather shed light on the misconception around lower class. In fact I want to point out that the lower class while they are on welfare and their consumption of pleasurable goods are seen as excessive or misplaced spending, while consumption of pleasurable items by the upper classes don't incite any societal judgment. Every class has more than necessary consumption and certainly people who refinance their homes, to consume luxury cars, luxury items and take vacations, are not looked upon with such disdain as the poor. In fact their consumption is also harmful to our society as well. To believe that the poor are not entitled to or have the right to enjoy equity means that you must be confused about what is a right and what is a privilege!! This is the mind set of someone thinking they are superior to another of lower economic class. How can people act in such a way with our media-saturated culture and advertising. There are a lot of people that experience poverty and being poor and their way of spending money represents an act of “resistance to poverty and being poor.” Its not fair to say they don’t deserve to enjoy the same pleasures because of economic class. Finally, the only explanation is that the poor are the most vulnerable in our society that is why they are such an easy target for criticism. “The dominate ideology is the ideology of the dominate class.”

"Every class has more than necessary consumption"

Isn't that the truth?!  I wholeheartedly agree with what you've said here.  I'm tired of people in this country blaming "the poors" for all of society's ills.  It seems that if you're both poor and black (or Hispanic) you're even more of a target for these self-righteous ignoramuses.  The people who are so quick to criticize the spending habits of poor people who earn their own money might do well to take a critical look at their own patterns of consumption.

one of my issues is that he says "i support my family on this." If true why buy 300 sneakers?

-sent from my $300 smartphone

You're right, someone who supports others should never be able to buy anything they like for themselves WITH THEIR OWN MONEY.

::sarcasm::

Um no, but when you are supporting your family, $300 means a lot more in a savings account then it does on your feet.

none of your fucking business

How this man spends the money he EARNS is none of your goddamned business.  Why do you have a smartphone?  Wouldn't that $300 mean a lot more in a savings account than it does stuck to your ear.

If he wasn't helping out his family, you'd probably be bitching about that too.  You're just looking for a reason to begrudge this guy, and you're failing.

I have a smartphone because I dont have kids to support and it is discretionary income. If I had kids, you can rest assured that before I spent $300 on something frivolous I would check myself and decide I could probably go without it and make sure that $300 was invested in a 529 plan or a 401K (scam or no scam).

so you will sell your smartphone when you have kids?

Knowing me, Ill still be using the one I have now.

sure...

Excuse me, but at what point did this man state he has children?  All he said was "I take care of my family with this".  Did it ever occur to you that maybe he's helping out his mom, siblings, uncle, or some other relatives?  Of course not.  He's 25 and black, so he must have, like, five kids by now, right?  Racist.

Again, if you're not paying for him or these people he's helping out (and you have NO evidence any of them are on public assistance), then how he spends the money he EARNS is none of your business!

That isnt what I meant at all, dont go throwing the racist label around. All I am saying is that $300 sneakers are a waste of money if you have the responsibility of taking care of ANYONE.

you re not making sense

Who says it's a responsibility?  Maybe he's VOLUNTEERING to help family members who don't earn as much as him. Surely you've heard about people from Mexico, for example, voluntarily sending money to family back home to help them out.

If you're not basing your views on racist stereotypes, why did you assume the family to which he refers in the video are his children?

You assume so much, yet know so little.

Turns out he has three kids and doesnt see them, FYI.

I read the update as well.  Being a single dad (i.e. "I'm single as a dollar", which is such a stupid way of speaking, BTW) does not mean he never sees his kids.  Did you read/hear something I missed, or are you going full steam ahead with assumptions once again?

By that logic, anyone doing just about anything for their family is volunteering. I assumed he had kids because otherwise he would have said "I am helping my parents." Perhaps I misinterpreted but it is not racism and I would, again, caution against throwing that around so cavalierly.

Are you this obtuse in real life, or are you just acting for the internet?  Parents are RESPONSIBLE for paying for their children's existence.  If someone is helping out their parents, siblings, or an extended family member, that is VOLUNTARY.  Seriously, how can you not comprehend the difference?

With my blue eyes, blond hair, and fair skin, I hardly have a dog in this fight.  I'm just calling it as I see it.  So many people in this country hold views deeply entrenched in racism.  So entrenched, in fact, that they don't even realize how much their bigoted beliefs affect their actions or the things they say.  You may not think of yourself as a racist, but you certainly come across that way to an outside observer.  Don't believe me, ask yourself this: would you go on and on and on, as you have here, about some white college girl having a $300 handbag for which she EARNED the money?  Be honest with yourself.

My, but aren't you the special snowflake.

My, wasn't that irrelevant.   If you don't have anything of relevance to offer (and, from what I've seen on these boards, you never do), don't address me.  I don't have time for "people" whose entire belief system is based on bigotry.  Now kindly fuck off.

BTW, what do you have to offer that's relevant other than your tired, "Look at me, I'm a white guy with blond hair and blue eyes livin' in Da BRONX and KEEPIN' IT REEL! -- I'm speshul"

Because that's how you come off and why everyone makes fun of you.

"Don't "bro" me, if you don't know me, pindick."

I'm sorry, but I don't know what that means.  I speak English, not American Retardenese.

"Because that's how you come off and why everyone makes fun of you."

Well, why didn't you just throw in "nananabooboo" to keep it consistent with your fourth grade level insults?  For someone who claims to know anything about my history on this website, you may have tried to at least get my gender correct.  Loser.

Don't "bro" me, if you don't know me, pindick.

He is simply doing a good job at supporting them. What's your point?

what he is doing is illegal and he looks like predator.

You mean the interstellar, alien-hunting predator?

good for him.  the kid's got initiative and commitment.  and he knows his customers.  lol

hell, i've prolly bought m&ms from him; i

Not to mention, he is not reporting an income most likely so, so his extra 50k a year in cash, is like making 75 taxed, plus he is most likely getting welfare benefits from the State... It's pretty much similar to him making over a hundred k.

Wow so much hate in the commentariat whose hearts bleed at every inane story about the (professionally) homeless. This kid is at least providing a service that's mutually beneficial to him and his customers - after all he could be slinging drugs, knocking people off at night etc. Offering M&Ms is far more productive than the homeless guy that's asking for money in the same spot for the last 4 years.

Nah, the haters on this thread are the same assholes who blame the homeless for being homeless or the poor for being poor or women for being raped or who think old retired people should just die because what did they ever do for society and they should free up that rent controlled apartment already.  

Racism goes hand in hand with classism and privilege.

I admit it: I'm a hater.

And what's with these fly fellows keeping that circular sticker on their ballcaps?  Must have some sort of secret urban meaning, but I'm damned if I can figure out what it is.

Those stickers show that the hat is an official New Era cap.  New Era is the only brand worn by MLB players since 1991.  Sticker proves the hat is authentic, and also, sometimes when you remove the sticker it leaves a gross sticky residue which kind of wrecks the brim.  New Era dealers actually have rolls of extra stickers on hand to replace those that wear off.

Thanks --- that was actually a serious question.

Always happy to give ignorance a knowledge beat-down.

Can you also please explain the why these gentlemen buy a cap 5 sizes larger than they need and insist on making the brim absolutely flat?

Who to say what size any one should wear? Just because your mother dresses you doesn't mean the rest of us do.

because thats the style they like you dumbass

There's one New Era style, the 59FIFTY, that's the most popular.  It's taller and stiffer than some of the other styles, so it ends up looking bigger.  Part of the effect is due to a straight brim versus a curved one since a curved brim pulls the cap's sides closer to the head, and a straight line across a forehead looks longer than a curved one.  Curved brims are more suburban/traditional because a curved brim keeps out the light/glare when you're on the diamond, and flat brims distinguish the urban/hip hop look where shade isn't the point and style is.  Since most brims will naturally curve over time if the hat's snug, the idea is to have the hat loose enough to not force a curve into the brim, but just tight enough to stay on.  (Kind of like jeans styles that push how low and baggy pants can go.)  The flatter brim also makes the hat look newer, and the newness gets accentuated when the sticker is still in place.  And brand-new clothes convey a higher economic status for the wearer.

its a nigga thing, u wont nevva know, and u aint no needs to know, nosy punk whiteass.

Negroes don't actually talk that way, Miss Stormfront.

Haha! Well done, sir.

They all tryin' to front thinkin' they are Minnie Pearl with tha stickers and price tags on their gear yo!

From my understanding if you turn in someone who is cheating the government out of money and the government then recovers said money you get like 10% - Mr. Tracks is soon going down and I'll be the one wearing $300 dollar sneakers by doing something honest and legal like snitching him out!

Snitches get stitches ;)

He better be making tracks...

<rimshot></rimshot>

This guy is a good salesman and not a beggar. More power to him.

Illegal is illegal.

not when a politician dose it.

300 dollar sneakers huh...What a scum. Typical ghetto mentality. " Yo, I gotta sell these snacks son" Fuck outta here. I hate that I can't take a train anywhere without some nigga trying to sell me candy, bang on a bongo, read a poem, stand upside down and do flips...Fuck this city.

point is he might get away without paying a couple thousand in taxes every year vs. billionaires and millionaires who use tax loopholes so they won't have to pay millions in taxes. him buying 300  dollar sneakers is no worse than you buying an expensive TV or smart phone. nobody needs it to live but they still buy it.

get the fuck out, here's mah 300 dolla sneaker in yo ass punk modderfucker

Nope. Go put wipe ur dirty puss and put ur tights back on you hoe.

then don complain u rat motherfucker.

Don't tell me what to do please.

Hahaha, reading this was the most fun I've had on Gothamist since watching that ballerina rock out to Girl Talk.

<---Hater.

To all you people who are defending this leech: you can be certain that he's not reporting taxes.  Therefore, he's very likely getting welfare benefits, too.  So, yes, it DOES affect you.  He's living off your tax money, which was supposed to go to people who really need it, and he's spending all this moronic candy money on overpriced sneakers, so he can better fit THA GANGSTA IMAGE!

NO, this is NOT "making an honest buck."

Yo yo I got Skittles check it. You want Three Musk? I got Snick, M's peanut and plain yo... check it.

You can not be certain that he's not paying taxes, because you have no evidence outside of stereotypes. Don't be stupid.

well duh, on wellfare, not paying taxes.
he black.

yeah because you talked to him about his current living situation right?. tell those rich bankers to stop using tax loopholes like trust funds to avoid paying millions in taxes, or the rich who actually take government farm subsidies because they planted a couple corn stalks on their massive estates. those are the real welfare queens right there.

YES! YES! YES a million times YES!

What the hell does the financial industry have to do with this guy?  How is one wrong justified by another wrong?  Are you really that naive to believe that this guy reports taxes on his industrious candy-selling?

the point is your giving this person who is a minute tax problem compared to the problem at large which is our financial institutions and those that are a part of those rich bankers etc. Pick and choose your battles.

No.  This article HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY.  Did I say that this piece of feces "person" should be compared to bankers?  No.  And face the facts: if you have a job, then your taxes are paying for this bastard's welfare, so he can go "yo yo three hundad dolla sneaks son".  Enjoy.

At what point did you find out he is on welfare? Also, how do you know he's a bastard child? Are you a close friend to this person? I believe you are a living moron.

He has a job,not selling drugs or any other illegal activity, I bet Bloomberg will put a stop to candy sellers on the train,the next thing we know. I don't eat on the train but will give the guy a dollar and tell him the next kid he sees give a free snack to. Can't knock a man for making an honest buck

I can't get that mad for somebody hustling.  Buying supply low & selling it high is like, capitalism.  Taking advantage of the enclosed subway & a captive audience?  Other ads are already doing it.  Guy has a job.  I just hope he's reporting on his taxes.

Taking advantage of a captive audience is what every amusement park, movie theater and sport stadium does with their concessions. No one has to spend the dough, but a lot do.

Yeah, cause he would put down what as his source of income on that 1040 form? Also not being reported, sales tax.

Sure Mordicai...sure he is.

i'm not a hater, i'm on a diet

I just want to read my effing book!

having your commute disrupted by any kind of loud speech directed to the train passengers kinda blows donkey dicks

OK, then, I'm a hater.

Assuming he takes the weekends off, that's only 39,000 dollars a year. You might as well just get a real job.

Define "real job"

I think if he was qualified for a "real job" he would have one.  but why bother when he can set his own hours and be his own boss and still make nearly 40 grand a year?