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\ART & SOCIAL JUSTICE CAMPAIGN\ Ticketing Jessica Lappin

Photo credit: © Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times, 2010

Ticketing Jessica Lappin is a project artistically shaped by REV- working with Street Vendor Project (SVP), a vendor advocacy group drawing attention to the recent attempt to legislatively criminalize food vendors in New York City. Designed to resemble the tickets that street vendors receive on a daily basis by enforcement officials, these tickets are instead intended for the city Council member Jessica Lappin who attempted to introduce a law that would have given the City the authority to suspend any vending permit issued to a truck with two parking tickets in a 12 month period, and revoke the permit of a food vendor that receives three traffic violations in a 12 month period. The language of the bill was written so vaguely that it would have unfairly penalized all food vendors.

Opposing the bill protects the right of vendors and sends a message to legislators that the public supports small businesses, economic justice, and social equity.

The tickets, signed by vendors and 500 members of the general public, were delivered by SVP to Councilmember Lappin at the City Council legislative hearing in mid-June. Upon receiving the tickets (left), Lappin commented, "You get points for creativity."

Thanks to SVP's campaign, Lappin's bill was successfully defeated but street vendors and advocates anticipate the possibility that lawmakers, working at the behest of business improvement districts and corporate interests, will revive this initiative in other forms.

Advocacy & Campaign Coordinator: Street Vendor Project
Artistic Director: Marisa Jahn
Date: June 11, 2010

Press:
Collins, Glen. "Council Hears From Vendors and Residents on Proposed Food Truck Restrictions." NY Times: Diner's Journal. 6/16/2010.

Reddy, Sumathi. "Vendors, Businesses Spar Over Food-Truck Legislation." Wall Street Journal: Metropolis. 6/16/2010.

Rutkoff, Aaron. "Street Meat Theater: Activists Fight Food-Truck Legislation." Wall Street Journal: Metropolis. 6/15/2010.

Resto-Montero, Gabriella. "Food Truck Vendors Protest Bill Targeting Them for Ticket Violations." DNAinfo. 6/11/2010.

Goodman, J. David, and Andy Newman. "In Search of Lonely Diners and Unbought Bloggers." NY Times: City Room. 6/09/2010.

"Foodies Aren’t Laughin‘ at Lappin’s Food-Truck Bill." Grub Street. 6/11/2010.

"Mayor Comes Out Against Anti-Food Truck Bill… So What’s Next?" Midtown Lunch. 6/17/2010.

Photo credit: Geoffrey Croft, 2010
(Left): Street vendors drawing attention to the campaign by creating a ribbon of tickets. June 11, 2010.

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Photo credit: Geoffrey Croft, 2010
(Left): Vendors cutting the ribbon of tickets with a giant pair of cardboard scissors.

Photo credit: Marisa Jahn, 2010
(Left): Vendor fans munching while signing the tickets.

Photo credit: © Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times, 2010	Ticketing Jessica Lappin is a project artistically shaped by REV- working with Street Vendor Project (SVP), a vendor advocacy group drawing attention to the recent attempt to legislatively criminalize food vendors in New York City. Designed to resemble the tickets that street vendors receive on a daily basis by enforcement officials, these tickets are instead intended for the city Council member Jessica Lappin who attempted to introduce a law that would have given the City the authority to suspend any vending permit issued to a truck with two parking tickets in a 12 month period, and revoke the permit of a food vendor that receives three traffic violations in a 12 month period. The language of the bill was written so vaguely that it would have unfairly penalized all food vendors. Opposing the bill protects the right of vendors and sends a message to legislators that the public supports small businesses, economic justice, and social equity. The tickets, signed by vendors and 500 members of the general public, were delivered by SVP to Councilmember Lappin at the City Council legislative hearing in mid-June. Upon receiving the tickets (left), Lappin commented, "You get points for creativity." Thanks to SVP's campaign, Lappin's bill was successfully defeated but street vendors and advocates anticipate the possibility that lawmakers, working at the behest of business improvement districts and corporate interests, will revive this initiative in other forms.	Advocacy & Campaign Coordinator: Street Vendor Project Artistic Director: Marisa Jahn Date: June 11, 2010 Press: Collins, Glen. "Council Hears From Vendors and Residents on Proposed Food Truck Restrictions." NY Times: Diner's Journal. 6/16/2010. Reddy, Sumathi. "Vendors, Businesses Spar Over Food-Truck Legislation." Wall Street Journal: Metropolis. 6/16/2010. Rutkoff, Aaron. "Street Meat Theater: Activists Fight Food-Truck Legislation." Wall Street Journal: Metropolis. 6/15/2010. Resto-Montero, Gabriella. "Food Truck Vendors Protest Bill Targeting Them for Ticket Violations." DNAinfo. 6/11/2010. Goodman, J. David, and Andy Newman. "In Search of Lonely Diners and Unbought Bloggers." NY Times: City Room. 6/09/2010. "Foodies Aren’t Laughin‘ at Lappin’s Food-Truck Bill." Grub Street. 6/11/2010. "Mayor Comes Out Against Anti-Food Truck Bill… So What’s Next?" Midtown Lunch. 6/17/2010.
Photo credit: Geoffrey Croft, 2010	(Left): Street vendors drawing attention to the campaign by creating a ribbon of tickets. June 11, 2010.
n Photo credit: Geoffrey Croft, 2010	(Left): Vendors cutting the ribbon of tickets with a giant pair of cardboard scissors.
Photo credit: Marisa Jahn, 2010	(Left): Vendor fans munching while signing the tickets.