Statement Opposing vendor mistreatment

September 11, 2024

Latino Task Force, SFLPEC, la Mission Vendors Association, Latino Democratic Club, Distrito Cultural Indio Americano y Calle 24 Distrito Cultural Latino, nos declaramos de forma unívoca en absoluta oposición al trato inhumano y abusivo hacia las y los vendedores ambulantes de comida en el Puerto de San Francisco, como el ocurrido y captado en video el 8 de septiembre de 2024. Exigimos que nuestra comunidad —incluidas madres de familia, personas empresarias, propietarias y propietarios de pequeñas empresas y la clase trabajadora— sea tratada con dignidad y respeto, mientras luchan por ganarse la vida honestamente en San Francisco. Nos oponemos firmemente a la criminalización de las y los empresarios inmigrantes, pedimos un trato humano y respetuoso y el otorgar permisos accesibles para los negocios de nuestra comunidad. El maltrato por parte de la policía falta al respeto a nuestra comunidad y pone en peligro a nuestras niñas, nuestros niños y jóvenes. Las agencias de la ciudad deben adoptar prácticas que les protejan de daños y traumas.

The Latino Task Force, SFLPEC, The Mission Vendors Association, The Latino Democratic Club, The American Indian Cultural District, and Calle 24 Latino Cultural District stand united in absolute opposition to the inhumane treatment and abuse of street food vendors at the Port of San Francisco, captured on video on September 8, 2024. We demand that our community—including mothers, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and the working poor—be treated with dignity and respect as they strive to make an honest living in San Francisco. We strongly oppose the criminalization of immigrant entrepreneurs and call for humane, respectful treatment and accessible permits for our community’s businesses. The ill-treatment by police disrespects our community and endangers our children. City agencies must adopt practices that protect children and youth from harm and trauma.

Statement Opposing vendor ban in the mission district

March 14, 2024

The SF Latino Parity and Equity Coalition (SFLPEC) expresses our strong opposition to the proposed enactment of a permanent vendor ban in the Mission District. Our coalition is deeply committed to upholding equity and preserving the invaluable cultural contributions of the vendor community. We aim to express our opposition regarding the imminent ban and propose actionable measures for an equitable resolution.

Vendors represent economic vitality and play a pivotal role in preserving our cultural heritage in our city. Their offerings of affordable goods are fundamental to sustaining the working class and preserving cultural identities within our neighborhoods as they strive to make a living and sustain their families. Recent events have triggered an unfair measure on legitimate and licensed vendors, consequently branding them under a single negative narrative. This broad measure overlooks the nuanced nature of their businesses, dismissing the legacy and legitimacy of many long-standing vendors.

It is evident to us that this ban serves as a catalyst for further gentrification in our neighborhood, disregarding the perspectives of the working class and other local residents. The city’s role should be to promote collaborative solutions among neighbors instead of resorting to extreme measures that disproportionately impact one specific group of people.

Actionable Demands:

We call for an immediate and complete cessation of the vendor ban. This is a critical time for all San Franciscans; lifting the ban is pivotal for vendors' livelihoods, which are essential in supporting local economies and providing goods crucial to our neighborhoods.
Develop transparent pathways that recognize and support the longstanding and legitimate businesses among vendors. These mechanisms should be inclusive, providing fair opportunities for all vendors to continue their operations without undue hindrances.
Ensure transparent dialogues involving stakeholders from the vendor community, local residents, and our coalition. This collaboration will foster mutual understanding, enabling the formulation of sustainable and equitable solutions.

Our Coalition is committed to:

Offer comprehensive support and expertise to your District Office, Public Works, and Department of Health, fostering collaborative and thoughtful partnerships. We want these offices to see us as a resource and a thought partner.
Elevate our involvement and commitment by intensifying efforts in addressing the challenges faced by vendors, advocating for equitable solutions, and amplifying our participation in resolving this pressing issue.

We earnestly request immediate consideration of these demands. Your support in preserving vendors' livelihoods while addressing community needs is crucial in upholding our shared values of inclusivity and fairness.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,

Lucia Obregon

Director

San Francisco Latino Parity and Equity Coalition

Statement Against Derogatory Remarks L.A. City Council

The San Francisco Latino Parity and Equity Coalition (SFLPEC) condemns the derogatory, colorist, anti-family, homophobic and racist remarks made in the leaked exchange by former Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, Council members Kevin de Leon & Gil Cedillo, and the Los Angeles Federation Labor leader Ron Herrera. While we note that former President Martinez has resigned from her seat as a council member and Ron Herrera from his leadership, De Leon and Cedillo participated in the shocking discussion, and failed to hold Nury Martinez accountable while she spewed her hateful remarks and echo the petitions of our LA allies in taking full accountability by resigning from the Los Angeles City Council.

Elected officials have a duty to represent all of their constituents in a fair, just, impartial manner. If a colleague speaks offensively, their duty is to inform the colleague they must make an immediate retraction and apology. These officials should make a motion to condemn any statements that are colorist, homophobic, racist, or otherwise derogatory about the constituencies they are elected to represent since such remarks are contrary to principles of justice for all and fair governance by democratically elected leaders.

The San Francisco Latino Parity and Equity Coalition (SFLPEC) is a citywide, data-driven coalition of more than 22 Latinx-led and Latinx-serving community-based non-profit agencies. We are keenly aware of how destructive this type of racist and homophobic language can be; it remains all too prevalent in Latino communities across Latin America and in the U. S. History has taught us that when public officials use this type of behavior and language, it betrays the public trust, and is a shameful byproduct of colonization and white supremacy. Equally damaging, complicity continues to erase our Afro-Latinos and Indigena voices - and is indicative of the work still to be dismantled. We cannot condone discriminatory and hurtful behavior in any quest for justice, and silent complicity in the face of racism and discrimination is an unacceptable response.

In order to defeat discrimination of any kind, we must have courageous conversations with each other about white supremacy and machismo. The change starts with each and every single one of us; individually, at home, at our places of work and worship. When we celebrate Latinidad, we must do so with actions that embody complex intersectional identities that represent all members of our vibrant communities. As Latinos, our identities encompass ethnic groups that span all colors, religions, and cultures.

In pursuit of a just and equitable society, SFLPEC remains committed to working closely with our Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ communities, and vows to hold all public servants and leaders to the highest ethical and professional standards. In doing so, we are reaffirming a simple fact of our humanity, as articulated by Luis Valdez: “Tú eres mi otro yo.”.

In Lak’ech

In Lak’ech

Tú eres mi otro yo.

You are my other me.

Si te hago daño a ti,

If I do harm to you,

Me hago daño a mi mismo. I do harm to myself.

Si te amo y respeto,

If I love and respect you, Me amo y respeto yo.

I love and respect myself.

Luis Valdez

In solidarity,

Lucia Obregon

SFLPEC Director