VTMBH Article: Body
Their service helps a lot.
Kathleen Richards is in a good position to know the value of the so-called dollar vans, which actually charge riders $1.25 for every trip to Queens. As a leading member of the Rosedale Civic Association, Richards can tell you a thing or two about the sporadic bus service in Queens and the troubles people must face in order to get to and from work, church, school, shopping malls, or wherever else they need to go.
Small wonder, then, that the bottom in her equation is that the dollar vans and their operators are a value to the community.
So why is the New York Police Department ticketing them unmercifully in what appears to be a determined campaign to literally, and figuratively, drive them off the streets?
Some influential people in New York City see the dollar vans, a predominately West Indian-owned business, as a threat to the regular bus service, which often fails to meet the needs of the working poor, especially those who live in black and Hispanic communities. Transportation workers unions fear the vans will detract business away from bus companies, which, claim union officials, could eventually cost some of their members their jobs. And city council members, concerned about their re-elections, worry about the wrath of the unions if theyre seen to be supporting the vans. Its that dangerous combination of irrational union behavior, and opportunistic politics by elected officials, who should know better, that has put the dollar vans at the mercy of city cops.
The strangest aspect of this story is that less than five months ago West Indians and their vehicles were seen as saviors during a prolonged walkout by private bus company drivers in Queens. During the strike, which left 100,000 people stranded everyday, Queens residents turned to the vans in droves. Recognizing their value, the city lifted the regulations and the roadblocks that were in the West Indians way so they could pick up passengers. In effect, the city sanctioned the dollar van operations.
You would think, then, that an appreciative city would finally accept the need for the van service by allowing legitimate operators to go about their business in peace. No way! They have unleashed the power of the police on West Indians, ticketing them for even the slightest violation in a clear attempt to force them out of business.
That explains why Hector Ricketts, president of the Interborough Alliance for Commuter Transportation, the umbrella organization that represents the van owners, feels used and abused.
The city has reached out to us on so many occasions, but when the seven week strike by 1,500 transportation workers ended, we were back to being bandits, complained Ricketts with considerable justification.
New York Citys Department of Transportation sympathizes with the West Indians.
We know what they are trying to do and weve tried to think of their needs, explained Tom Cocola, a department spokesperson, who was quick to point out that during times of crisis, such as the recent strike, West Indians gained a lot of credibility.
The city can and should do several things to ease their plight.
First, it can amend the law to give van operators full authority to pick up passengers along all designated routes. That would provide Queens residents with an assurance of a competitive and reliable bus service. The United States thrives on competition and such an environment would help improve the regular bus service.
Next, it should move aggressively to improve and expand the public transportation system in underserved communities. It was the lack of a reliable and efficient system in the first place that created the need for the dollar vans.
Thirdly, it should act to end the activities of the unlicensed van operators, who give critics of the legitimate service an excuse to fire potshots.
It there wasnt a need for the private vans, they would have gone out of business a long time ago. Its about time that unions, and their supporters on the council, come to grips with this fact of life and work together to improve conditions for commuters and van operators.
Simply pretending the vans are a nuisance isnt going to work.
Kathleen Richards is in a good position to know the value of the so-called dollar vans, which actually charge riders $1.25 for every trip to Queens. As a leading member of the Rosedale Civic Association, Richards can tell you a thing or two about the sporadic bus service in Queens and the troubles people must face in order to get to and from work, church, school, shopping malls, or wherever else they need to go.
Small wonder, then, that the bottom in her equation is that the dollar vans and their operators are a value to the community.
So why is the New York Police Department ticketing them unmercifully in what appears to be a determined campaign to literally, and figuratively, drive them off the streets?
Some influential people in New York City see the dollar vans, a predominately West Indian-owned business, as a threat to the regular bus service, which often fails to meet the needs of the working poor, especially those who live in black and Hispanic communities. Transportation workers unions fear the vans will detract business away from bus companies, which, claim union officials, could eventually cost some of their members their jobs. And city council members, concerned about their re-elections, worry about the wrath of the unions if theyre seen to be supporting the vans. Its that dangerous combination of irrational union behavior, and opportunistic politics by elected officials, who should know better, that has put the dollar vans at the mercy of city cops.
The strangest aspect of this story is that less than five months ago West Indians and their vehicles were seen as saviors during a prolonged walkout by private bus company drivers in Queens. During the strike, which left 100,000 people stranded everyday, Queens residents turned to the vans in droves. Recognizing their value, the city lifted the regulations and the roadblocks that were in the West Indians way so they could pick up passengers. In effect, the city sanctioned the dollar van operations.
You would think, then, that an appreciative city would finally accept the need for the van service by allowing legitimate operators to go about their business in peace. No way! They have unleashed the power of the police on West Indians, ticketing them for even the slightest violation in a clear attempt to force them out of business.
That explains why Hector Ricketts, president of the Interborough Alliance for Commuter Transportation, the umbrella organization that represents the van owners, feels used and abused.
The city has reached out to us on so many occasions, but when the seven week strike by 1,500 transportation workers ended, we were back to being bandits, complained Ricketts with considerable justification.
New York Citys Department of Transportation sympathizes with the West Indians.
We know what they are trying to do and weve tried to think of their needs, explained Tom Cocola, a department spokesperson, who was quick to point out that during times of crisis, such as the recent strike, West Indians gained a lot of credibility.
The city can and should do several things to ease their plight.
First, it can amend the law to give van operators full authority to pick up passengers along all designated routes. That would provide Queens residents with an assurance of a competitive and reliable bus service. The United States thrives on competition and such an environment would help improve the regular bus service.
Next, it should move aggressively to improve and expand the public transportation system in underserved communities. It was the lack of a reliable and efficient system in the first place that created the need for the dollar vans.
Thirdly, it should act to end the activities of the unlicensed van operators, who give critics of the legitimate service an excuse to fire potshots.
It there wasnt a need for the private vans, they would have gone out of business a long time ago. Its about time that unions, and their supporters on the council, come to grips with this fact of life and work together to improve conditions for commuters and van operators.
Simply pretending the vans are a nuisance isnt going to work.