Metro cover story for the New York Times on Plaza Tonatiuh, a people-powered vendors market in Sunset Park that focuses on empowering the local and immigrant communities of Sunset Park, founded in 2021 as a response to the pandemic. In April 2023, the Parks department and NYPD began shutting it down and running people out. The Plaza is the the latest on the receiving end of the crackdown of small vendor businesses. Street vendors - whether in a plaza, pushing a cart going down the street, or on the subway - are a New York staple. Many vendors are immigrants, many mothers. This story goes into their fight for space, the complicated local politics and, above all, the beauty and power of community.
Ms. Cortes, with her $2,000 in unpaid bills, tried to remain optimistic. For two years, she and the other vendors had managed to survive the turmoil caused by the pandemic. Now, if they returned to the market that had sustained them, they risked arrest or confrontation. Yet they needed the income to stay afloat.
“We’re going to go back to selling,” she said. “God willing.”
Words by John Leland, photo editor Jeff Furticella
New York Times, Metro Section Tearsheet
Leo speaks during the Plaza Tonatiuh demonstration. He is explaining the recent events with police, as well as Plaza’s hopes and intentions to gain legality for vendors to be able to set up on Sundays. He mentioned that this was two years of work, and they weren’t going to give up.
Marta poses for an anonymous portrait during the Plaza Tonatiuh demonstration. Originally from Ecuador, she has lived in New York for over twenty years. During the week, she cleans homes part-time, but sells house products with her husband at the Plaza every week. She and her husband relied on that income to get by.
Elsa* (pseudonym) sells ice cream across the street from Sunset Park. Originally from Ecuador, she is a resident of Sunset Park and cleans houses during the week. She used to sell at Plaza Tonatiuh every Sunday, but has since moved to walking the streets to avoid police confrontation. She is scared to enter the park right now, as a vendor or supporter, but hopes that the Plaza can return soon.
Eugenia poses for a portrait at the Plaza event on Sunday evening. Eugenia sells horchata through Plaza Tonatiuh.
Three sisters - Evelyn, Maleny and Nayeli - pose for a portrait at the Plaza event on Sunday evening. Evelyn (far left) is a vendor, selling shrimp cocktails and ceviche dishes. Their mother is also a vendor through Plaza Tonatiuh.
Mariachis surprised Sunday’s plaza event for the birthday celebration of Aide, Mexicanos Unidos organizer. Plaza Tonatiuh was moved indoors due to rain, to a space that Mexicanos Unidos rents and has been using more frequently for Plaza-related events, since the heightened police presence in the park.