Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz To Protest Abuse of Immigrant Vendors by City

New York Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) will hold a press conference on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 11am to oppose the continuous harassment of push cart vendors and the destruction of their personal property by four New York City agencies.  The press conference will be held at the Office of Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz located at 900 Rogers Place (Southern Boulevard and East 163rd Street) in The Bronx.

“My office has met four times with this growing group of Bronx residents.  My office contacted the new York City Health Department on this issue and was told that although they are aware of the problem, “These are immigrants,” Senator Rev. Diaz stated . “Yes, these are immigrants and with all the work to be done in New York City, I cannot accept that anyone would turn a blind eye to four City agencies that abuse authority toward a group of hardworking people, disregard their rights, destroy their property, and deny them opportunities they allow others to receive.”

Recent “sweeps” set off by the by New York City Department of Health, have resulted in three other City agencies the Environmental Control Board, the Police Department and the Sanitation Department to harass the vendors. When two female vendors vocally challenged the abuse of authority by the agencies, their personal property was destroyed before their eyes in a sanitation truck instead of being properly impounded.