A 35-year-old man, featured in a recent New York Times article for his role in an illegal street market selling donated goods in Downtown Brooklyn, is actually a registered high-risk sex offender with a troubling criminal background, as reported by The Post.
Tyshawn Kennedy is linked to a vending operation known as “Hoodwill,” which has reportedly been diverting customers from the legitimate Goodwill outlet at Bond and Schermerhorn streets for over ten years, according to local residents and onlookers.
Often, well-meaning individuals dropping off donations at the curb are led to believe that Kennedy and his associates are affiliated with Goodwill.
These “Hoodwill” vendors typically peddle the donated items directly from the bags on the sidewalk, leaving behind littered bags of unsold goods nearly every day.
The Times’ piece, published on August 4, painted Kennedy and his crew in a flattering light, focusing on the challenges of obtaining street vendor licenses in New York City. It even quoted customers who preferred Hoodwill for its lower prices, describing the vendors as “working-class guys trying to make it.”
However, the article notably omitted that Kennedy was sentenced to two years in prison in 2015 and designated as a “Level 3” sex offender after he was convicted of second-degree attempted rape involving a minor.
This incident, which occurred in April 2014, involved “sexual contact” with a 14-year-old girl, as indicated by official records.
The Times report also neglected to mention that Kennedy was arrested in 2021 in Bayonne, NJ, for shoplifting, an encounter that escalated when he allegedly kicked a police officer and was subsequently pepper-sprayed. He faced charges that included assault, according to The Jersey Journal.
Instead, The Times vaguely noted that Kennedy had been in and out of jail since he was 18, quoting him sympathetically about the difficulties he faces in finding work due to his criminal past.
Kelly Carroll, executive director of the Atlantic Avenue Business Improvement District, criticized The Times for framing the story as an “equity issue” while overlooking Kennedy’s violent criminal history against women.
She added that other street vendors are also taking donated items intended for a nearby Salvation Army, leaving the neighborhood littered with goods as well.
In response to inquiries, Kennedy stated that he is “not hiding” from his past, arguing that he and his team maintain cleanliness and are providing a community service since Goodwill charges too much for used items. He mentioned that he sells shoes for three dollars, which would typically cost between ten and twenty dollars at Goodwill.
“What’s wrong with me asking someone for a donation?” he posed, expressing that he, like others, is trying to make a living and asserts he has stayed out of trouble.
Following inquiries from The Post regarding Kennedy’s past, The Times updated their online article with an “editor’s note,” acknowledging that their reporting fell short. It stated that senior editors only learned of Kennedy’s criminal history post-publication and admitted that the information should have been included.
During his conversation with The Post, Kennedy momentarily approached a woman arriving with two large bags of donations, inquiring if she was donating today. Later, the same woman indicated that she assumed her donations were going to Goodwill.
Jordan Barowitz, a local resident and public affairs strategist, remarked that he was not surprised by Kennedy’s criminal record, recalling a time he was misled into giving goods to other Hoodwill vendors.
“It makes sense that someone who intimidates people into donating goods for their personal gain has a criminal history,” Barowitz commented.
Staff at the Goodwill store on Bond Street chose not to comment on the situation.
Regina Myer, president of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, noted that illegal vending has turned the area into a “dumping ground,” resulting in a thorough drain of resources as they clear away multiple large trash bags of leftover merchandise each week.
Democratic Councilman Lincoln Restler, representing the area, expressed concerns over the ongoing issue with Hoodwill, stating he has urged both the Sanitation Department and NYPD to enhance enforcement efforts. Yet, the unlicensed vendors persistently return, aggressively intercepting more donations.
“My biggest complaint is that these individuals create a massive mess every day,” he remarked.
