LA Mayor Karen Bass Eases Street Vending Crackdown After Debate NYT > Top Stories By: Livia Albeck-Ripka 28 August 2026 at 08:21 Mayor Karen Bass said food vendors discourage restaurant patrons, mentioning them alongside homeless encampments. Her opponent, Nithya Raman, said vendors should be brought into the system. Β© Ariana Drehsler for The New York TimesStreet vendors are ubiquitous presences across the Los Angeles area, offering foods from many cultures.