Why only a fraction of LA street vendors have secured permits

The City of LA estimates that 3-4% of street vendors have the proper documentation to operate legally, and advocates for street vending say it’s around 1%. City and county officials say the pandemic has severely impacted their ability to do outreach and help vendors get their permits. But activists and vendors alike say the city and county permitting processes are too costly, difficult to navigate, and foster a generally unsupportive environment.