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Vendors, residents urge outreach after alleged targeted enforcement of Black vendors; council offers loans and referrals
Summary
During public comment on June 3 several vendors and West Modesto residents said Black-owned vendors face targeted stops and enforcement. Speakers asked for outreach, vendor spaces and small-business support; council members pointed to a city revolving loan fund and offered to connect speakers to chambers and staff for follow-up.
Several residents and business owners used the Modesto City Council public-comment period on June 3 to say Black vendors and small Black-owned businesses face disproportionate enforcement and limited outreach from the city.
Speakers included Benjamin Neville, who said West Modesto small Black businesses receive less outreach and support, and Terrence Lane, a vendor who described an episode in which Modesto police stopped and questioned his food operation and asked for credentials. "We want equality. We just wanna be treated fair from our city in which we were born and raised in," Lane said during public comment.
Other public commenters raised similar concerns about a pattern of enforcement targeted at specific vendors; one speaker who used an accommodation requested five minutes to describe repeated stops of a vendor he supports and urged disciplinary review of the officer involved.
Several council members and staff offered follow-up resources and outreach commitments. Vice Mayor Bavaro described a city revolving loan fund, administered in partnership with Valley First Union, that provides loans ranging from $2,500 to $75,000 with repayment terms of 12 to 60 months and rates described in council remarks as "about 2.5% under prime" in typical cases. Council member Alvarez and others offered to connect vendors with chambers of commerce and community resources, and Council member Williams said he would seek a briefing on the specific enforcement incident and whether code enforcement, CHAT (community assistance teams) or other city resources should have been available for follow-up.
City staff and the mayor noted Brown Act limits on council responses during public comment for items not on the agenda and said staff would follow up when possible; council members and city staff provided business cards or suggested post-meeting follow-up for specific requests. The concerns were raised during the public-comment portion of the meeting and did not result in a council vote.
