On Saturdays and Sundays, the area around Montefiore Park in West Harlem becomes an open air market. Street vendors sell everything from household necessities to books and antique vinyl records—some of the 20,000 across the city who face unpredictable weather, police harassment, and an ineffective permit system every day as they seek to make a living.

Spectator recently talked to a few of these vendors in West Harlem to hear their stories.

Credits:
Producers: Ava Frisina and Chambit Miller
Writers: Chambit Miller and Victor Swezey
Videographer: Julian Silva-Forbes
Audio: Jordan Pettiford
Production Assistants: Miryn Viriyaprapaikit and Noelle Nafus
Translator: Maggie Salinas
Illustrator: Yingjie Wang - Senior Staff Illustrator
Music: "Lovely" - Eric Goldlow Beats