FYI: The City Council held its third hearing yesterday on reforming the licensing rules for street vendors. Currently, the number of vendor licenses is capped at 853, which is the exact same number it was set at in 1979. Vendors and administration officials alike have said this cap makes it nearly impossible for vendors to operate legally. Businesses in high vending areas have complained that illegal vendors steal or harass their customers. But as Hilary Russ examined in the September/October 2002 issue of City Limits magazine, pushing vendors off the streets of Bed-Stuy’s Fulton Street actually hurt local business. [10/10/03]