The answer? It seems, after years and years of efforts from local residents and police — this post is from 2022, right after the NYPD’s big sting — not much. And ’tis really the season. The illegal vendors have been out in force lately, and I have had many messages complaining about both their density and their aggression — not personally, but in pursuit of their sale.

L., who lives not far from the corner of Broadway and Lispenard, where the thickest crowds are, sent the video below and also said that earlier this week at about 9:45p, as she was out walking her dogs, a black and silver Rolls Royce pulled up in front of her building on White and started selling fake sneakers out of the trunk.

A team of residents on Lispenard and White have been leading a concerted effort for the past 18 months, but clearly to limited effect. They have sought assistance from Councilmember Chris Marte’s office; they reach out regularly to the 1st Precinct, including to specific beat officers assigned to that area; they have talked to the parking lot operator on the corner of Lispenard and Broadway, who they know to be complicit — he allows vendors to use the lot to sell merch, and use the back of the lot as a bathroom; and they regularly file 311 reports, which they say just get marked as resolved. “There also isn’t a clear way to designate the issue in the app, as you likely know,” H. said.

“The police and the local officials have less resolve than the vendors, and it’s clear to see who is winning,” H. said. “It’s a tough idea for a simple person like me to understand — when the vendors are openly breaking the law and the strongest/most well funded police department and system in the country seems unable to deal with it.

“There is a lack of action while the problem continues to get worse. I feel strongly there should be a policy of zero tolerance. Right now it requires constant surveillance and monitoring by the police (at great cost to taxpayers) and vendors then take an inch at a time until the police finally notice again. It puts all of the burden on the police. If the city adopted zero tolerance, it would send a more clear message that if any selling takes place, it will be seized and so you get a benefit of deterrence. Whereas, currently, vendors go right back to work and they believe this is tolerated by the police and the city.”

I checked with Chris Marte’s office, and Simon Kostelanetz, his director of public affairs, said they have been working with the SoHo Broadway Initiative business improvement district, who have in turn, been “hounding” the precincts. He said it’s been somewhat successful, (though I don’t know by what measure). He did say the BID is retaining a new staff member to help regulate street vending day-to-day within their catchment area, but the BID’s southern border stops at Canal — so I don’t see how that will help us here.

The NYPD, when I asked what could be done, said the city launched the Community Link Initiative in May 2023 to address complex and chronic quality of life conditions. Their website sited Canal Street as a success story, but we all know that was short-lived.

Is there a chance for original thinking around this problem?

Readers commenting a year ago noted a couple important facts:

• It is illegal to sell counterfeit goods but it is NOT illegal to buy them. Even though the U.S. code says it is illegal to traffic in counterfeit goods, the Department of Justice states it is not a crime to purchase counterfeit goods, even if the consumer knew the goods were infringing on a trademark.
• James noted that in 2013 Councilmember Chin proposed a bill that would make it a Class A misdemeanor to purchase counterfeit merchandise, with either $1,000 fine or up to a year in jail. The mayor’s office refused to support it. The Brooklyn DA said it would not be an enforceable law, because one could not easily prove the buyer’s knowledge. The City Council committee chair refused to push the bill forward.