Diane,
I realize that as a federal official you have no constitutional authority over permitting for street vendors. This is as it should be. However this lack of jurisdiction has not prevented you from weighing in on other state and local matters. Therefore I hope you understand why I see your response as a total cop-out.
If you don't want to see anything done about the unnecessary criminalization of poor people who would like to make a living selling things on the street (rather than, say, going on government welfare), please just say so.
For freedom,
((( starchild )))