City officials and street vendors are planning a new street vending ordinance in compliance with state law. Communities are concerned about how this will affect their livelihoods, while the city is trying to get its code up-to-date.
“I think it’s really important that we invest in our street vendors and create good, equitable policies for them and everybody,” Councilmember Mario Enríquez told Stocktonia. “Everybody who comes to a park buys food from a street vendor, etc.”
Amidst talks of vendor regulations in May was the death of 60-year-old street vendor Ignacio Garcia. Just days before, Enríquez led a town hall meeting for vendors to share input. The discourse has continued over the summer — including at a Legislative Committee meeting on Monday.
The city is taking issues such as vendor safety, public health and permit requirements into consideration.
Vendor safety
Garcia’s death raises the question: Are street vendors safe?
According to the Stockton Police Department, in 2024, there were 17 vendor or food truck-related violent crimes. In 2025, there have been six incidents thus far. Violent crimes include robberies, assaults, battery and a single homicide.
“We want to keep our vendors as safe as possible,” said Officer David Scott, public information officer for Stockton PD.
Scott recommends that vendors take safety precautions while vending. He mentioned utilizing cashless payment methods and working in well-lit areas with high visibility.
Alyssa Leiva, a local activist and a member of Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, brought up another safety concern: vending in the heat.
“Another way that we could support safety is maybe infrastructure,” Leiva told Stocktonia. “Like having shade or having it be okay for them to be near businesses.”
The original draft of the proposed ordinance did not allow canopies unless required by the health official. It also banned generators and vending beyond the entrance of parks in Stockton.
The draft was met with community uproar and an online petition, currently at over 2,100 signatures.
“I know that the City Legislative Environmental Committee Chair, Mario Enríquez, was saying that they wanted to impose fines with demographics similar to Stockton. Yet they’re looking at Sacramento, which doesn’t reflect Stockton,” Leiva said. “It’s much wealthier.”
According to Enríquez, the initial draft was made of a similar ordinance from a nearby city. Over the last 5-6 months, he says, edits have been made.
“We want to ensure that you (the vendors) are covered,” Enríquez said. “I don’t want anyone to be out in 100-degree weather selling food.”
Vendor homicide
“Overall, in crime, our police department fails to keep Stocktonians safe,” Leiva said.
60-year-old street vendor, Garcia, was fatally shot in a possible robbery on May 16 by two masked men believed to be Angelo Smith and James Cortez, who are currently in custody. Both of the accused had previous felony convictions.
Smith was charged with four felonies in September 2022, according to San Joaquin County Court documents. He was convicted of two felonies, including shooting at an inhabited dwelling/vehicle and the possession of a firearm and a controlled substance.
Counts of attempted murder and assault with a firearm on a person were dismissed as Smith entered into a plea deal and pleaded no contest. As a result, the court sentenced him to six years in prison, fined him and ordered him to pay restitution of $3,500 to the victim, Eugene Snyder.
Smith may have been sentenced to six years in 2022, but he was somehow released by the time he allegedly killed Garcia. Police did not respond to comment on his release.
The other suspect, James Cortez, faced two criminal cases in 2024. One in March, with no updates, and in July. For the July case, Cortez pleaded no contest. One of his counts was dismissed, but he was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon on person, a felony. As a result, he was released on probation.
Enríquez was unable to comment much on Ignacio’s death, but suggested that vendors follow park hour guidelines, minimize cash transactions and utilize code enforcement and police phone numbers.
Proposed ordinance
The current city code technically bars street vending. Proposed plans would amend several sections of the Stockton Municipal Code.
“Right now, in the books, it literally says street vending is not allowed in Stockton. Of course, we know that’s not true because it’s been happening,” Enríquez told Stocktonia. “We just want to make sure that we’re in alignment with state law. State law does say cities have to allow street vending.”
In 2018, sidewalk vending was legalized throughout California. A senate bill made it so street vendors cannot be criminally punished for vending and may not be arrested for selling food without a health permit. That being said, cities and counties can still impose ordinances.
In a legislative committee meeting on Monday, Councilmembers Enríquez and Michelle Padilla, along with Vice Mayor Jason Lee, were presented with Stockton’s Proposed Sidewalk and Street Vendor Ordinance, compared to San Diego and Los Angeles.
Overall, Stockton’s proposal was stricter than the other cities. Background check requirements stood out to the councilmembers.
Enrique and Jason Lee worried that undocumented individuals may shy away from a background check. But city employees said it was necessary because vendors would be near children.
“Yes, we don’t want criminals near our children. But I don’t wanna use our children as a political weapon to infringe on people’s rights,” Jason Lee said at the meeting.
One vendor at Oak Park, who goes by the name Lee, agrees with having a health code and paying a $60 annual park use fee, but disagrees with imposing a background check.
“What do background checks have to do with vending?” vendor Lee asked. “The past is the past. For what does it help?”
At the meeting, Padilla suggested requiring a fire permit for vendors needing to use generators. When asked his thoughts, vendor Lee responded with “Why? It’s not like the grass is all brown, everything is gonna burn and the trees are all dead.”
“Code enforcement, they’re doing the job right,” vendor Lee said. “But, if they want to shut down people doing this, I don’t think it’s right.”
The end is near, but the ordinance is far from complete. After community input and edits, Enríquez wants to present it to the rest of the council in September.
Enríquez often highlights the need for vendor translation and education. At the Legislative meeting, he mentioned having a “thorough street vendor education program.” He also referenced Los Angeles’s vendor website, which provides information in various languages.
“What makes them so important is the cultural vitality of our community,” Enríquez said. “They’ve been a staple for decades, especially in places like Angel Cruz Park. We have our Latino population, our Cambodian population, among others. It’s their livelihood.”
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