No matter how you cut it, the survival of the Red Hook Ball Field vendors with a six-year permit is a victory. A beloved local institution has been saved, after a long struggle, and it is national news. The AP story on the permit has been picked up and is running in more than 60 papers and news outlets around the country and internationally today. The fate of the Red Hook vendors is interesting, it turns out, as far away as London, Tucson, New Orleans and San Francisco. Ultimately, there were no other bids for the permit to operate in the park. We are cheered, and we are happy for Vendor’s Committee director Cesar Fuentes and all the vendors. Now that that is settled, it’s time to ask how the city’s push for standardization and expensive equipment is going to change the scene at the ballfields. Yesterday, Mr. Fuentes said that some of the “mercado” feeling will be lost. Overnight he sent out an email thanking thanking everyone that had been supportive of the vendors’ effort to stay in the park, but noted, “It is important to understand that while this is a tremendous victory for us, we are still facing tremendous challenges ahead before we can consider an official opening date this summer. These challenges affect every vendor as he\she needs to be in full compliance with DOHMH standards & be able to afford costly equipment in order to operate legally.” Each vendor needs to purchase equipment estimated to cost $15,000 to $30,000, and two dropped out early on because of the costs involved.

Red Hook Vendor Coverage:

• Vendors Get Six Year Permit [Eater]
• New York Soccer Tacos Survive Rules Crackdown [AP]
• Red Hook Vendors: Safe for Six Years, But in What Form? [Grub Street]
• Oh Happy Day! The Vendors Prevail! [Lost City]