Community Board 2 wants food vendors at 40th Street gone (Photo: SunnysidePost)
March 22, 2014 By Christian Murray
Sheref Abdelshafy, who has operated his food cart under the 40th Street No. 7 train station for 10 years, is a worried man. He is in danger of being removed.
Community Board 2 Chairman Joe Conley wants that area cleared of food vendors, just like what occurred under the 46th Street station in December. Conley has said that many people have concerns about the cleanliness of the food carts and support the board’s “zero tolerance policy” of all street vendors.
But Abelshafy said it’s unfair that the board wants him gone.
“I’ve been here 10 years selling bagels and coffee and I have never had any problems with anyone,” Abdelshafty said. “I don’t have anything else [another occupation].”
Conley spoke to a representative of the Department of Transportation at a community board meeting on Tuesday, telling him that the neighborhood needs help in getting rid of the vendors. He complained that the vendors were in the middle of the 40th Street art installation.
“We have sent a letter with pictures to the DOT that asks them to work with the police department, so they can get the food carts out of there,” Conley said during the meeting. That letter was sent on March 5.
Abdelshafy, who starts work at about 4 am and leaves at 11 am, said the police have not spoken to him yet. He said he wasn’t sure whether the owner of the Halal cart who arrives each day at 11am had been spoken to either.
Adbelshafy was visibility shaken when he heard that the letter had been sent.
“I have kids, I have bills,” he said. “My rent is $1,500 a month. I will be out on the street.”
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73 Comments
they dont bother me, and their food smells good! why would i interfere with their right to make a living? its not like they have a competitor in the area.
A woman on my block sells baked goods in front of her house every summer. Why aren’t tehy stopping her?
This is shameful. I’ve never seen anyone touch the “art installations” — which everyone knew were going to be useless. But every day hundreds of people buy from these vendors. They’re clean, friendly, and convenient. Joe Conley clearly does not speak for the people of Sunnyside, who overwhelmingly prefer the vendors. I would ask where Joe Conley is receiving his motivation — since it isn’t the will of the people, could there be something going on between Conley and local store owners?
Hmm I think the argument that food trucks are taking business away from brick and mortar stores is a little off base. Manhattan and Brooklyn have tons of food trucks, and they also have many thriving restaurants. Competition is just a truth of capitalism. If the guy across the street is concerned about losing business due to this truck, perhaps he should do something else to lure customers: local advertising, redo your window displays, offer a bagel special in the morning or just make better bagels, perhaps? Competition is something every entrepreneur/business person has to deal with.
In a world where people are struggling pay check to pay check just to pay their bills, it seems wrong that this guy should be shut down because of an “art installation.” It’s stated that cleanliness is a concern, but has anyone ever reported getting sick after eating from this food truck?
If Sunnyside is concerned with the appearance and reputation of the neighborhood, perhaps they should pick up the insane amount of trash on the sidewalks or force some of the other local businesses to fix the holes/rips in their signs. Let’s not even talk about the fact that the 52nd street station (I know, it’s Woodside) is covered in bird crap, and that the nearby park was taken over by rats until a mayoral candidate went on TV exposing it.
Just hoping my favorite taco truck isn’t next on the ax list – it’s the only decent place open late at night!
Fact: this guy has been there for 10 years. Also fact, his coffee is drinkable and the convenience he offers to commuters is great and why you see these carts all over the city. I don’t understand why his business is less legitimate simply because it’s mobile.
Also, Pete’s and Oasis coffee is more like watered down brown liquid with little resemblance to coffee. I’m sick of the hipsterfication of the neighborhood. Please if you have to have artisanal coffee every day and don’t like working class people and working class businesses stay out of this neighborhood.
@Sue@Messer…Absolutely right. Food carts have been part of NYC as far back as 1692! They, for the most part, offer inexpensive on-the-go food for folks. How is this particular cart bothering anyone?? Its placement under the el is logical; it does not block traffic nor does it impede passage from one side of the block to the other. They are legal and unless they are a public health threat (i.e., unsanitary conditions), should be allowed to remain. And the complaints about not paying rent/electricity, etc., they do pay fees as Messer pointed out. It’s a different business model than that of a brick and mortar store, but nonetheless entails the same hard work and effort to turn a profit, especially by selling $1.00 bagels and coffee.
Instead of an “off with their heads” mentality, perhaps Mr. Conley should advocate stricter regulations of the carts under the 7 train, including uniform size, signage and rules for when they can operate. The parks department does that in central park and they are able to charge extra fees to the vendors, especially to those with premium spots (@ the Central Park Zoo). Street carts are a part of life in the city and shouldn’t be forced out of our little corner of it.
What about that excellent Greek fellow serving up shishkebobs?
Looks clean. Yummy.
Who actually wants these vendors give l gone besides Mr. Conley? This sounds suspicious, and I question his motives…
@Messer, thanks for your comments, I agree with them. The segmentation of business is a good thing for a community- food carts serve different needs than brick and mortar businesses. Leave the carts alone. Sometimes you need a quick coffee, sometimes you want a mass produced donut. The times when you want something with higher quality, you go to a different business. There are regulations that food vendors must meet to avoid citations, (they’re sort of ridiculous, but they exist,) if the vendors meet them, then leave them alone. Don’t use the regulations as merely a mode of harassment to serve other people’s business interests.
The vast majority of our residents have no problem with the food carts. To use the excuse that it’s in the middle of that “art” installation is a freaking insult. Here’s a man working his butt off providing a service a lot of people use every day, and some community council interested in gentrifying our neighborhood has a problem with it? Let me tell you about that “art installation”, it is the sorriest excuse for art I have ever seen. They look like bike racks or exercise equipment.
Talk about looking for problems where there aren’t any…
Please get rid of the food trucks on 46th street and Greenpoibt Avenue in front of an apartment building. They stay there until 4/5am attracting drunk people from the horrible bar down the street. People fight, scream, make commotions and nothing is done about it.
Both trucks used to park in different spots near stores NOT residential buildings. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. 311 doesn’t help, precinct doesn’t help, politicisns don’t help.
I noticed the dopey sexist comment that Pathetic Sheep made about Eva Moskowitz. BTW Mr. Pathetic: you are a …!
I love the coffee carts in Manhattan! Conley is a tool of the real estate developers. Time for him to go.
@me – Food vendors are allowed in NYC – its the law. There’s nothing in the law that would require a vendor to sell differnt goods from the stores nearby. Can you even imagine the practical implications of requiring a business not to compete with nearby ones? If Pete’s and Oasis sells coffee, aren’t they competing? Should be stop Oasis from selling as they take business from Pete’s, as Pete’s was there first?
Regardless of when this vendor arrived, he runs a Sunnyside business as well. Everyone seems to forget that a business isn’t just a brick and mortar store.
Part of the advantages he gets from not paying rent (although he does pay rent to store his cart at night, and fees to use a commercial kitchen, and vendor license fees, and transportation costs), he loses from the transient nature of the cart. Its hard to build a loyal following from people who see him a “that cart under the 40th stop”. The Post can grow their business by making a better business that draws customers. Maybe a loyalty card program (4 cups and the 5th is free), maybe ads, maybe a street window to make it faster. Also, there will always be people like you that find the cart to dirty, and would prefer to get their food somewhere else.
Quite simply, it is not the job of the politicians to legislate away competition. The vendor parks there to make good use of the train traffic. That’s his advantage in business. Other businesses need to find theirs.
1st of all he has not been at 40th Street Station for 10 years – its more like 2 years he just rolled in 1 day – what bothers me is you have the Sunnyside Post directly across the street paying RENT, gas & electric for their coffee shop. Also is Pete’s Grill and Oasis all selling coffee in the morning so why should he be getting the space for free? I KNOW he pays for a vdors license but move it away from established sites selling the same stuff. I know in the afternoon he sells his falafel etc but enough!
Also not the cleanest of sites
Why can’t anyone else open up food carts there? Does he own that space? Either let everyone set up shop there, or no one. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.
Lucky, you’re the voice of reason. I couldn’t agree with you more…
I have lived in Sunnyside for almost 10 years and the 40th Street station is my stop on the 7. This guy only showed up out of nowhere a few years ago. So, no, he has not been there for 10 years.
I am shocked that he is not required to pay rent when he sits all day in the same spot, right on public property. There should be fees related to his use of the public commons for commercial gain. Otherwise, it’s just not fair. And I’m not talking about “permits” either. The area where this cart is was dirty before he arrived and it’s only gotten worse. If we are going to have food carts, then the owners need to be participating in the maintenance of the area where they are making money.
If you think food carts are dirty, then don’t go to them! Otherwise, let the rest of us who choose to frequent them use them in peace!!
@Messer Your argument is the best here.
The community board has ben led by Joe Conley for as long as anyone can remember. It is his full-time job, so either he is independently wealthy or someone is paying him for a no-show job so he can smooth the way for the real estate interests. Take a guess which one is true. Your guess is as good as mine.
Since food-cart vendors can’t cough up the dough he needs to keep his expensive suits cleaned and pressed, he’s waging a war against them.
No matter how many people read this blog and vote, he’ll get rid of them. He’s a small time pol playing hardball with poor people. Makes him feel like a great big guy.
@ Yawn Bruce Lee died very young, thus he had no real wisdom, only soundbites that sound great to the young. Should you live long enough, your callow words will come back to haunt you.
**********Although it has tremendous potential, Sunnyside feels stagnant and dated compared to neighboring LIC or Astoria.
Street vendors are found everywhere in the city and if they comply with required permits and safety regulations, I fail to see the reasoning behind removing them from Sunnyside.**********
exactly, this sad bougie mentality that is indeed a bunch of an old stick in the mud people who want Sunnyside to be stuck in what it was 30 years ago…
it just seems crazy that Sunnyside should be the only neighborhood in NYC with no food carts, esp since there is such a large population of working class people here who need them…
All food carts should be paying some kind of rent, in the same way that Eva Douchewitz of the Success Academy Charter Schools should be paying rent for using city property to make mega profits.
Leave the guy there, but even the playing field, as it is not fair that a regular store has to pay rent/mortgage and he doesn’t.
PS
Joe Conley needs to be ousted. The “art” installation is filthy and needs to be taken down. It interferes with commuter traffic. The fellow with the vendor cart is kind, hard working and, yes, pays for his license. Contrary to what Ms. Morehead says, he is legal and pays his bills.
I strongly suggest that Sunnyside a) changes its name to a more attractive and uptodate one and b) strongly engage in attracting food trucks like one sees in Manhattan and Boston and c) leave struggling business people alone.
I would much rather eat from an interesting cart or truck than a fast food place.
Please contact Crowley and the other cronies at 718 533-8773 to complain about his egregious act. Thank you.
I’ve seen some ludicrous comments written to this paper but that last one tops them all. Food carts make a good neighborhood. People over 45 are the only ones complaining and want to keep the neighborhood from changing. Yikes!
Leave the food carts alone. Community board and most of the people complaining about them in Sunnyside are comprised of people 45years old and up. They want sunnyside to stay the same how it has been 20 years ago. That is a selfish and unrealistic. You want Sunnyside to grow and become a nicer neighborhood but don’t want the necessary things that come with urbanization and growth. I.e younger people (hipsters), nice restaurants, food carts, etc. Bruce lee said be like water and take the shape of whatever it is in. A stubborn rock not wanting to budge will only erode over the years and eventually get washed away. I am going to listen to Bruce lee over you old folks.
Leave the food carts alone! They exist in Manhattan – I get my coffee from them – they can exist here also!
It would be one thing if the Art was actually good. But you’re gonna mess a guy’s life up for a corny jungle gym?
I’d prefer no carts, myself. But hasn’t this already been discussed here numerous times?
What vision does the Community Board have for our neighborhood?
Although it has tremendous potential, Sunnyside feels stagnant and dated compared to neighboring LIC or Astoria.
Street vendors are found everywhere in the city and if they comply with required permits and safety regulations, I fail to see the reasoning behind removing them from Sunnyside.
Are they trying to make Sunnyside even more lifeless and drab?
And don’t get me started on the “art installation” …
Nothing can justify how those metal rods on rubber mats add anything to our neighborhood.
@Doge
I see your point. In my mind – he can’t pay rent – because he doesn’t have a real property. His 4′ x 10′ plot is hardly a real-estate dream. In a way it is admirable that this man is working hard on his small business.
It may seem unfair, but that is often the nature of business, particularly in NYC. To, he is providing healthy competition between businesses. Maybe Alpha Donuts, for example, will be further encouraged to (for example) create a more appealing window display, or clean up their signage.
I read an interesting article here: “http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704758904576188523780657688” Which talks about the amount of money these vendors often pay for their cart rental and permits. It deals mostly with Bronx and Manhattan with a clear price disparity between the two. We can assume that Queens & Bronx are more similar.
Obviously we still can’t be sure what Sheref pays without asking him point blank, but it seems likely he’s paying something.
@Sunnysider
Fair. Perhaps in the future there will be a happy medium between interesting dining options, and accessible price-points.
@ Dorothy Morehead – If it is true that (i) some vendors use gas/propane generators, and (ii) such usage is prohibited, it would seem that the appropriate action to take would be to issue a citation against such usage, and encourage the permissible type of power usage. It doesn’t follow that if Some vendors use illegal propane generators, All vendors must be removed.
I’m all for it, it is filthy and he has to go.
He’s been there for 10 years? what a lie.
@ South The food vendors use gas generators or propane which are illegal in certain areas, including under the elevated train.
And nothing is done to rid the streets of the mad crapper? Priorities, folks.
I have heard a variety of arguments against the food trucks in Sunnyside – from garbage, to interfering with “art”, to causing scenes and making crowds. The only one that holds a bit of truth from those that speak it is that the trucks take business “unfairly” from brick and mortar stores.
This argument is embarrassing, not only for the speaker, but for those brick and mortar stores and Sunnyside in general. If a cart that sells a mystery grilled meat over neon rice is interfering with your business, your store has other issues. The prices may be to high, the service too slow, the food not good enough, or perhaps it doesn’t reflect the needs of the community around it. Whatever the reason, the fault lies with the store, not the cart. While the cart may not pay rent, they pay storage costs and other costs brick and mortar’s don’t have. They are also transient, not being able to advertise, hold sales, or bring people to them. A store can bring people in from outside the area (if they are good enough). The 40th St. cart has never brought a group from the village in to eat halal, whereas Salt and Fat can draw that crowd. Both a cart and brick and mortar have benefits and disadvantages, and it is up to the business owner to find their niche – Not up to the politicians to legislate away the competition.
Business, as a whole, and especially in the US, is about locating a need in a market and filling it better than the competition. A brick and mortar that is saved from closing by political restrictions against competing businesses hurts the community. We end up with worse businesses, so secure in their positions that they don’t need to hustle.
Can’t make rent because a cart took your business? Have a sale. Advertise. Change the menu. Make it faster. Make it different. Make it better. Or connect with the community so the community in turn wants to support your business.
No one has been tricked into eating from a food cart. Sometimes it’s a craving, sometimes it’s just a very fast, filling cheap meal. Often it’s a need that isn’t filled by the surrounding restaurants at present. Removing the food cart won’t automatically turn people towards a brick and mortar instead. More often, it will just make them a bit less satisfied with their community, given that that what they previously could do, they can’t anymore.
Additionally, and slightly off the specific point, I’m growing increasingly concerned that the Community Board is less and less reflective of the community. Currently, the poll in this post (albeit very un-scientific) shows a 2:1 favor for keeping the carts. How is it that the community board then was able to speak so clearly on Our behalf to tell the city We didn’t want carts anymore. Was there a notice and comment period? Were meetings held to inquire? Was there even a notice that this would be discussed? On the CB2 page, the last posted agenda was from 2010, which makes it a bit difficult for Our board to properly engage with its community. I’m interested to know how and why these members are appointed (note: they aren’t elected, and there are no term limits). What community do they represent? I applied to join the board nearly 2 years ago, met with JvB to discuss joining, but have yet been able to join the other supposed members of my community.
I’d like to hear any actually valid reasons why the food carts need to leave Sunnyside (as opposed to the rest of NYC, where stores and carts can survive just fine). I’d also be open to having a more fulsome discussion on the direction the community board is taking our neighborhood.
Sorry @ south the 3 resteraunts u just mentioned above do not cater to the regular middle class person! Just saying
@south Forget taxes and utility. How about the fact that he pays no rent, while legitimate stores are paying thousands a month? Do you think that’s fair?
“why not do something about the homeless person camped out under the trestle at 48th street for the past TWO MONTHS”
2 months? he’s been there for like a year…
and boy i sure love having to take the train to 4 extra stops to 74th st to pick up my chicken and rice and then take the train back to 46th st to come home after working all night and coming home to closed restaurants (can only eat Alpha Donuts so often…)
@Dorothy Morehead
I see your point about rent and carting fees, but I think a cart that doesn’t use any utilities need not pay any utility fees. I don’t see a water or electrical line connected to this cart – but perhaps there are others that do? As far as taxes, I also don’t think it’s possible for any of us to know if each cart owner pays the appropriate amount of taxes that apply to his/her small business. Is there a way to see if each owner is paying up?
—
Anyway, I agree with @Tequilla Mockingbird, I would like to see a more varied array of streetfood options here in Sunnyside. Or even just more restaurants that are doing great things like Salt & Fat, Dog and Duck, and Venturo. Unfortunately for us, though, I think the general population of Sunnyside would prefer more fast food/pizza options than food trucks.
why not do something about the homeless person camped out under the trestle at 48th street for the past TWO MONTHS
I’ve called 311 multiple times and filed a, to no avail. ‘Course, it took them how long to find a deceased person in a car not 100 feet away, so who knows how long it could take to relocate the squatter…
Halal means prepared according to Islamic law. Almost the same as kosher but with supervision by an imam instead of a rabbi.
If he’s allowed to set up shop there, why can’t I, or anyone else?
What is a halal bagel?
@ Sunnysideposthatesme14
I agree, a variety of food trucks would be such an improvement for Sunnyside.
(I know you were being facetious but I am not)
They can be found in a lot of other neighborhoods, why not here?
Morris Grilled Cheese, Kimchi Tacos, Rickshaw, Redhook Lobster, Crif Dogs, Wafels & Dinges, CoolHaus ice creams to name a few.
Not only do the street vendors not pay rent, they pay no taxes. Or carting fees for their garbage. Or utility bills.
KEEP THE FOOD TRUCKS YOU FASCIST ASSHOLES!
Doge, rent is not 9000 in sunnyside just yet, unless you just opened the shop….. Also food carts pay more in permits than regular restaurants , oh and by the way the cheaper used vending car is around 13K
Sunnyside community board should be looking for ways to making the neighborhood more secure , I recently purchased a car and although I have private garage at home I have to drive to sunnyside every day and leave it there , a part of my bumper was robbed Friday , we all have heard of robbery and burglary increasing desperately ….. those are the issues that should be adressed.
i like to grab a falafel and do some inclined reverse power squats on the excercice equipment. sunnysides got it all man
@Torn Shawnton You said it, Quiet Man. Corruption is the biggest business in Sunnyside. Has been since I started paying attention to the goings on among the political/business types. They make Superman’s motto a sham. They fight for Lies, Injustice and the Self-Serving way.
The first step in cleaning up this neighborhood and dealing with the trash in the area is getting rid of all the food carts, not just the halal ones.
Just because he slings bagels and coffee instead of lamb and rice doesn’t make this cart any unsightly and dirty.
I’m all in favor of cleaning up this area and getting some nicer shops yup cone in to replace all these 99 cent stores, ugh.
So this guy gets to set up shop for free, while the next guy has to fork over $9000 a month for rent, and we’re supposed to feel bad for him?
I don’t understand…. Why do sunnysiders want mobile food carts in the neighborhood??? Why can you buy a bagel and coffee from the bagel shop? Its totally UNFAIR that store on Queens blvd pays 8500 a month in rent, and this guy gets a prime spot for FREE. Why feel bad for him, why not feel bad for the businesses that pay all that rent? Think about it…
I’d like a better food truck. Halal food trucks are terrible. Can’t we get those nice trendy hipster food trucks Manhattan gets all the time? I would love a ginger cilantro tofu apple stick.
Community Board 2
43-22 50th Street
Woodside, New York 11377
(718) 533-8773
(718) 533-8777 FAX
qn02@cb.nyc.gov
Wait a minute they call those ugly pipes at the 40th street stop, art? Looks like garbage.
If we did want to help out and not let the community boot the street vendor, who can we talk to and how can we help? I’ll totally stick up for him!
Lets just keep destroying the flavor of the neighborhood…. I’ve lived in this neighborhood for the past 7 years, I have no problem with the street vendors, so long as they clean up their messes and don’t cause real problems.
Let them stay.
Let’s have a 3rd world bazaar under the 7.
If there was enough demand to justify it, let the free market reign
Joe Conley is an XXX for the Business Comm. He is doing there bidding no one cares about these guys doing business there just the Businesses who mostly serve crappier food at higher prices.
Agreed with previous commenters. Leave the small businessman alone and focus on the thugs who are breaking into homes and cars, harassing women, and attacking gays.
How about the coffee shop across the street from the station? He pays rent. Is having a cart there fair to him? I would assume that he has to pay rent and has a family also. But maybe not.
As usual, parasite politicians who don’t know the meaning of work, trying to screw the people who do know the meaning of work and who bust their asses every day trying to eke out a living.
Hey Sharon:
I agree with you about the graffiti. But why don’t you do something about it. There is a meeting Tuesday night with the police captain from our precinct. Stop looking to others to do things. Complain to the proper authorities rather than here. Useless.
NO ONE likes the “art installation” under the 40th St stop. I NEVER see anyone playing or exercising on the sculpture. But I see people buying coffee and breakfast all the time from this vendor, who sounds like a very nice person. I don’t see why he and his business should be targeted– this seems very unfair.
This is so lame. NYC is full of street carts and vendors why remove them from Sunnyside? If you’ve ever grabbed a coffee or pastry from Sheref you know he’s the nicest guy in the world. Why take away this man’s livelihood?
Maybe Joe Conley should get lost and find a real job.
It’s been said before but obviously it needs to be said again, there are much bigger issues that need to be taken care of rather than a good truck who offers a nice service in the mornings before heading to the city. What’s the big problem? You state “cleanliness”,but a person has the right to decide for themselves to eat what and where they feel suits them.
That pisses me off. Leave these guys alone. They work 100x harder than everyone else. They are not hurting anybody.
F Joe Conley and the F’n Community Board leave these guys alone they are hardworking guys unlike some the Lazy F’s who complain about the them. The coffee cart guy is a pleasant guy who greets everyone with a smile every morning unlike some of business owners around here.
The Community Board should spend its time figuring out ways to catch all the graffiti tagger delinquents in the neighborhood who do real property damage and make everything look awful, instead of bothering some man who works hard to sell coffee and feed his family. I walk pat that cart every day and it doesn’t get in the way of anything, especially the lame art installation.