From raspados outside the Student Union to elote carts, Latino vendors fuel the culture and economy at San José State and its surrounding communities.
As SJSU students rush between classes, the aroma of warm corn and the appetizing sight of fried snacks from nearby street vendors offer both food and a comforting reminder of home.
Maria Martinez has been a street vendor for more than a decade on the corner of East Virginia and South 10th Street, just a short walking distance from SJSU’s campus.
She has sold a variety of Mexican snacks such as elotes – grilled corn covered with mayonnaise, cotija cheese and chili powder – Tostilocos, churros, raspados, drinks and more.
“People love what I sell, churros, elotes, cucumber, mango, shave ice, Tostilocos, Doritos – a little bit of everything – sodas and aguas frescas,” Martinez said in Spanish.
Martinez started vending at the age of nine in Mexico until she decided to move to the United States in search of a better opportunity. She said selling Mexican goodies became her main source of income, and she finds joy in providing for the community.
In 2018, California passed SB 946, also known as the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, which decriminalized sidewalk vending and limited local restrictions, according to the California Legislative Information website.
The law aimed to protect low-income entrepreneurs from criminal penalties for operating without permits.
Fernando Angeles has been a vendor for over a year. He also sells elotes, raspados and fried snacks and said selling them is also his main source of income, as work is scarce.
"It’s hard to find work. That’s why we focus on this, everything is a struggle, but there is positivity in the work we do,” Angeles said in Spanish.
Street vendors face challenges with the constraints of traditional jobs, such as rigid hours, lengthy commutes and waiting for a paycheck at the end of the month. Their desire for fair treatment, a more stable job and income is closely tied to the financial struggles they experience as immigrants, according to a Nov. 18, 2024 World In Progress article.
Angeles said that though he has experience in construction work, the job market is scarce and there is little to no opportunity not only for him but for many people who have to look for a second source of income.
As of March 2025, Santa Clara County’s unemployment rate raised to 4.0% up from 3.2% in March 2023, highlights a labor market struggling to keep up with workforce growth, creating added challenges for immigrants facing language and credential barriers, according to the Federal Reserve of St. Louis.
Despite these challenges, immigrants play a vital role in San José’s economy. They make up 45% of the working-age population and 47% of all employed individuals in Santa Clara County, according to the New American Economic Research Fund.
Daniella Torres, an SJSU biology student, said she actively supports street vendors whenever she gets the chance.
“ I usually catch them around, like, after my afternoon class, which is around 3 (p.m.), so it’s always nice when I get off the light rail and get a little quick snack,” Torres said. “And my go-to snacks are elote and raspados or papas with chili and lime, specifically Valentina. I try to support my street vendors as much as possible.”
Immigrant street vendors often work grueling hours. Many prepare food late into the night after finishing a full-time job, sometimes staying up until 3 or 4 a.m. to serve fresh meals the next day, according to a May 26, 2023, Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice article.
Their efforts are often driven by a desire to support themselves and their families and contribute to the community and are viewed as valuable members of the economy, according to the same article.
Martinez said she hopes that she continues to thrive in her work and wishes the same for other vendors. She looks forward to continuing her work and receiving more opportunities.
“I hope that one day in the future I will have my own home, to build my business so I can live out my old age and to live with my children,” Martinez said.
