A prohibition on vendors is needed because of sidewalk congestion at ground zero, the proposed legislation says.

But every now and then, a change is forced on vendors in spite of their naturally conservative instincts.

"It is about a host of inefficiencies in many different businesses, including the money we spend on vendors and consultants."

He estimated that as much as half of the annual budget was spent on vendors.

Ms. Nesfield said the police had cracked down on illegal vendors.

Members of neighborhood groups say a ban on vendors is the only solution.

Another 31 city inspectors have been deployed to crack down on illegal vendors, the city said.

Security patrols from the local business improvement district also concentrate on vendors.

Their goal is to force the city to crack down on illegal vendors and more tightly regulate legal ones.

This put great pressure on time-sharing vendors to provide attractive levels of performance and support.