This year one of Mary's Pence grants helped support Common Law's work with VAMOS Unidos, a Latina/o Bronx based community group working toward economic and racial justice for street vendors in New York City.
Common Law was founded by attorneys seeking to use their legal resources to increase community organizing. Their unique model utilizes a union-like arrangement: Common Law provides free legal services and legal education to all members of their partner organization. Co-founder Jay Kim explains that "stronger, more informed members leads to more powerful and sustained organizing."
Through their partnership with VAMOS Unidos, Common Law serves food vendors supporting their families by selling homemade foods on New York City streets. Most of the vendors must work "illegally" because of New York City's exceptionally low cap on permits. There are only 3,000 permits for 20,000 food vendors in New York City!
As VAMOS Unidos vendors organize to increase the number of food vending permits in New York City, Common Law supports individual VAMOS Unidos members by representing them in court. Vending violations can cost hundreds of dollars; a violation for "vending without a permit" carries a $1,000 fine.
Thus far, Common Law has defended against 150 violations and saved VAMOS Unidos vendors over $50,000 in fines. The vendors are greatly encouraged by the victories, and continue to hold rallies throughout the city-in their churches and on the steps of City Hall.
In addition, Common Law supports the work of "Picture the Homeless" as their members fight to increase and preserve affordable housing in New York City. In the fall, Common Law will add "Communities Against Anti-Asian Violence" (CAAAV) to its list of partners.
Common Law was founded in 2007 over a kitchen table. Three friends in their third year of law school asked one another "how could legal services empower clients?" Co-founder Karen Gargamelli recalls, "We were not interested in providing charity to the poor. We believed then, as we do now, in providing social services for social change."
