As her son waved to passersby at their stand on 18th Street in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, Sara Garcia sat behind a table filled with items such as reusable cups featuring Hello Kitty.
“We are in an economic crisis. We are all looking for jobs, to sell something, to get ahead,” said Garcia, who has been a vendor in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Chicago for years.
She was several miles away from the United Center and the site of the Democratic National Convention, which continued for the second day on Tuesday, Aug. 20. But Garcia and Latino voters like her could be front and center in the upcoming presidential election.
Vice President Kamala Harris, daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, is expected to win the Democratic nomination this week in Chicago.
According to Pew Research Center, the number of Latinos eligible to vote grew from 27 million in 2016 to a projected 36 million in 2024.
Illinois voters reflect similar statistics. Between 2010 and 2022, the number of eligible Latino voters in Illinois increased by more than 423,000 reported Statistics on Latinos, which combines data and analysis from the Latino Policy Forum.
Originally from Veracruz, Mexico, which may elect its first female president, Garcia said she is excited about the prospect of America electing its first woman as president.
“It is a great opportunity to have a female candidate in the presidential race. Donald Trump will not lead us down a good road,” Garcia said.
Antonio Sierra came to Chicago from Michoacán, Mexico, 20 years ago, and said he chose his spot-on West 18th Street to sell his fresh produce for almost eight years because of the calm atmosphere.
“There aren’t many disasters or problems.” he said, “It’s a very good area.”
Due to the many requirements of securing a permit to sell his produce, Sierra found the process to be long and complicated, a common obstacle among vendors, including Maria Urbena, from Michoacán, Mexico.
On the corner of Damen Avenue and West 19th Street, Urbena and her husband passed out cups filled with fruit, elote and aguas frescas, a drink made up of water, sugar and fruit, behind two carts for their line of customers.
“The past five years have been really complicated selling and has become even more complicated,” Urbena said, “We don’t have a kitchen to cook. And the permit process is very long.”
According to the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, a “street peddler” is a person who moves from place-to-place selling goods, merchandise, wood, fruits and/or vegetables.
Requirements for peddlers include government issued photo identification, current residence address, Illinois Department Revenue Account ID Number, at least 16 years of age and to pay a license fee of $100 per two-year term.
Wilfredo Cruz, associate professor at the School of Communication, Culture, and Society, highlighted the work ethic of vendors that should be met with support upon securing a work permit.
“They are not begging on street corners,” he said. “Instead, they get up early in the morning to prepare delicious fruit, corn-on-the-cob, tamales and fruit drinks they sell everyday. They work long hours.”
Street vending has become a lifeline for some in the city, as an increasing number of migrants have started vending while waiting to be approved for work permits.
Chicago, a sanctuary city, has welcomed over 46,000 new arrivals from the southern border since August 31, 2022.
Francisco Gonzalez, from Michoacán, Mexico, said he thinks Harris will help the migration crisis because of the help that’s been given to the influx of Venezuelan migrants from the Biden administration.
“They’re helping the migrants who came from Venezuela more than anyone,” he said. “They all have food, medical and insurance for the migrants.”
Sierra declined to share his opinion on Harris’ expected nomination to be a presidential candidate; however, he described disappointment with candidates’ tendencies to follow through on their statements.
“They say ‘I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that,’ but they don’t do it,” he said. “They promise a lot that they can no longer fulfill,” said Sierra.
Copy edited by Trinity Balboa and Vanessa Orozco
Resumen en Español:
Según Pew Research Center, el número de Latinos elegibles para votar creció de 27 millones en 2016 a un proyectado de 36 millones en 2024.
Los votantes de Illinois reflejan estadísticas similares. Entre 2010 y 2022, el número de votantes Latinos elegibles en Illinois aumentó en más de 423,000 según informó Statistics on Latinos, que combina datos y análisis del Latino Policy Forum.
Originaria de Veracruz, México, que podría elegir a su primera presidenta, Sara Garcia, una vendedora en el vecindario de Pilsen en Chicago, dijo que está emocionada ante la posibilidad que Estados Unidos elija a su primera mujer como presidenta.
“Es una gran oportunidad tener una candidata en la contienda presidencial. Donald Trump no nos llevará por un buen camino,” dijo Garcia.
Resumen en Español por Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez
