Republican National Convention vendors line the streets to sell presidential merchandise, but their intentions vary. Some do it for politics while others are just in it to make a quick buck.

For 30 years, I've been fascinated by all the goofy gimmicks sold by immigrants on the streets of Europe. The flaming Manneken-Pis cigarette lighters, the "How many more minutes of George W. Bush's presidency are left?" digital countdown clocks, the fluorescent launchers, the click-clack crickets, the selfie sticks.

The Street Vendor Project provides legal representation, loans, training and support to thousands of vendors in New York City and is part of the Urban Justice Center, a nonprofit that provides legal representation and advocacy to various marginalized groups of New Yorkers.

When I was in Italy, last summer, I was intrigued by the growing popularity of what now Italians call "street food," using the English language expression to indicate, well... street food.

There were souvenir hustlers everywhere I looked. Each year, there's a silly new street-trinket hit sold all over town. Cheap little tripods have long been popular, but now the street hustlers have shifted their focus to selfie sticks.