Street vendor Amado Campos, 44, of Los Angeles, who built his own rickety vending cart that tends to tip over and spill all his food and drinks, crosses a busy offramp near downtown Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Street vendor Amado Campos stores his cart on the side of the one-bedroom apartment he shares with five family members. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
In his apartment, Campos takes a break from preparing chips and cooking corn to sell on the streets. Campos is stressed because he owes $380 to pay off his daughter’s First Communion party, rent and food. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Campos loads up cooked corn from the stove before heading out to the streets to sell. He sells mayonnaise and Parmesan slathered over corn on a stick, Cheetos, flavored shaved ice -- and business is slower than ever. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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During his busiest time of the day, street vendor Amado Campos hands Kevin Tarot, 9, a bag of flavored shaved ice in front of Dolores Mission Catholic School in Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Street vendor Alfonzo Garcia sells ice cream and cold treats on a hot day to workers near downtown Los Angeles. For many street vendors, the recession has resulted in a dramatic reduction of their already meager profits. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Street vendor Daisy Vivar, 58, center, who has been working in front of Dolores Mission Catholic School in Los Angeles for nearly 20 years, serves flavored shaved ice to a parent alongside fellow vendor Amado Campos, 44, right. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
