Street vendors, including Margarita Tinoco, right, sell food in an alley off of Fourth Street in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / For the Times)
Police drive by an alley downtown. Street vendors in L.A. work illegally and risk having their carts and food confiscated. But a city council committee has made a move toward legalizing the vendors. (Christina House / For The Times)
Shoppers fill an alley in downtown L.A. Some street vendors say they can make double their weekly income during the holiday season as crowds looking for bargains swarm the area. (Christina House / For The Times)
Vendors work masa for quesadillas in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / For the Times)
A street vendor sells ice cream to customers in a downtown shopping alley. (Christina House / For The Times)
Downtown shoppers pass by boots on display. As more shoppers head downtown for bargains, more street vendors show up to offer them food and drink. (Christina House / For The Times)
