Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

11 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

11 hours ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

12 hours ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

12 hours ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

15 hours ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

16 hours ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

16 hours ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

17 hours ago
Fresno Providing Cameras to Street Vendors in First-of-Kind Program
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
March 30, 2022

Share

One year after the murder of Fresno street vendor Lorenzo Perez, the city is taking action to prevent future criminal acts.

In a $20,000 pilot program called the first of its kind, 20 cameras will be installed on street vendor carts.

“There’s no other city in the state of California that is doing anything close.  I consider this to be first in the nation,” Councilman Luis Chavez said.

The idea came from the vendors themselves, who organized last year after Perez’s death.

The camera program “gives (street vendors) another layer of safety while they’re out working 12 hour days in our community,” Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias said at a news conference Wednesday morning at the Mosqueda Community Center.

“If you plan on assault, stealing from our mobile food vendors, expect to be caught on camera. Expect to be arrested, be held accountable because the days of our mobile food vendors simply being vulnerable are no longer here,” Arias said.

Recordings will be maintained on a cloud system, accessed by the individual vendors.

The goal is not only to record possible crimes, but to deter them as well. Arias relayed a story from one vendor who noticed students behaving much better when buying items from his cart.

The money will used for cameras, software and storage space for the videos. Ironworkers Local 155 helped attach the cameras to the carts.

Vendors Organize

Following the death of Perez, vendors organized an official trade group to discuss safety, as well as build a better relationship with the city.

Police arrested a man in the March 2021 killing of Perez. His court case is ongoing.

Lopez’s murder was the second of a food vendor in recent years. There have been several other incidents of robberies and other crimes.

As a condition to receive a city-provided camera, vendors must meet local business and safety standards.

Chavez said there is an added benefit with the city working with food vendors so they can “come out of the shadows.”

“We actually are now putting our money where our mouth is. And helping them with the support services,” Chavez said.

Another goal is to organize a community kitchen for vendors to prepare healthy foods. The city has committed $5 million.

“Mobile vendors by virtue of them being mobile, have an opportunity to play a very important impact in increasing access to healthy foods. We want to encourage them,” said Veva Islas, director of advocacy group Cultiva la Salud, and also a Fresno Unified trustee.

Islas’ goals are more aspirational. The vendors’ wares on display included Takis, pork rinds and the ever-popular elote.

Justified City Expense

The funds for the pilot program come from the council operating budgets of Arias and Chavez.

Asked why the city is covering the costs for the cameras, Arias said it is similar to other subsidies the city grants, especially during the pandemic.

“Some of them were parklets that the city funded for outdoor dining. Others have been in relief in helping them pay their mortgage, rent. We’ve been forgiving some of the folks who owe back rent,” Arias said. “A thousand dollars for a mobile food vendor to have security and make sure that they’re not robbed is a very small investment.”

Fresno City councilmen Miguel Arias (left) and Luis Chavez enjoy elote at a food vendor cart retrofitted with a security camera. (GV Wire/David Taub)

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

DON'T MISS

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

DON'T MISS

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

DON'T MISS

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

DON'T MISS

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

DON'T MISS

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

DON'T MISS

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

DON'T MISS

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

UP NEXT

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

UP NEXT

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team

UP NEXT

Riverdale High School Coach Arrested for Allegedly Arranging to Meet Minor

UP NEXT

Could Cuddly Colby Be the Darling Gem for You?

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Sandra Neredia Jaquez

UP NEXT

Trump Impounds Billions in Education Funding. For Fresno Unified, It’s $7.1 Million

UP NEXT

Keep Pets Safe on 4th of July: Fresno County Animal Shelter Offers Tips

UP NEXT

There Are Fresno Area Fireworks Shows Galore Through Sunday

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

9 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

9 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

9 hours ago

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

9 hours ago

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

10 hours ago

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

10 hours ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

11 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

11 hours ago

Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team

11 hours ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

12 hours ago

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

A two-vehicle collision sent a woman driving one of the vehicles to the hospital with a head injury Thursday afternoon in Fresno. Fresno pol...

7 hours ago

A crash causes a traffic jam in northwest Fresno on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (GV Wire/Paul Marshall)
7 hours ago

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned 52,593 acres with 5% containment, prompting evacuation orders in several San Luis Obispo County zones as of Thursday, July 3, 2025, afternoon. (CalFire)
8 hours ago

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

8 hours ago

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

9 hours ago

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

An ICE agent talks with migrants about their scheduled appointments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Father’s Day, to learn about their immigration status, in Chicago, Illinois., U.S., June 15, 2025. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

Boeing logo and miniature satellite model are seen in this illustration taken, March 10, 2025. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

9 hours ago

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
10 hours ago

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend