HIKIND, TLC CREATE PROTOCOLS TO PROTECT CHARITY WORKERS

MEETS WITH CHESED, SHOMRIM & MISASKIM TO INCREASE SENSITIVITY AND PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) met with three top commissioners from New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) at his office in Brooklyn this morning to begin creating practices and procedures that will allow charity volunteers—as well as parents participating in carpools— to transport those in need without interference from TLC agents. The meeting followed an unfortunate incident on Monday, June 2, that resulted in a volunteer from the Chesed organization receiving a summons and having his car impounded after he attempted to transport a woman in need of cancer treatment as well as another woman who needed medical care. The two passengers were left stranded near a cemetery without other means of transportation.

The new protocols shall include identification cards issued by Chesed and similar organizations allowing individuals to better identify themselves as charity volunteers; phone numbers supplied to the TLC allowing officers to contact charity group dispatchers to ascertain that a driver is indeed performing volunteer charity duties; and better sensitivity training of TLC officers educating them with respect to community traditions and standard procedures (such as the frequent use of carpools). In addition, the TLC leadership promised to return with additional suggestions and protocols.

“I am very pleased with how quickly the Taxi and Limousine Commission acknowledged the mistake their agent made and how quick they have been to remedy this unfortunate event,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Our objective today was to avoid additional problems in the future and I believe these initial protocols that we agreed to today will go a long way towards that end.”

The TLC was represented by Ray Scanlon (Deputy Commissioner of the TLC’s Uniformed Services Bureau), Betta Vais (Assistant Commissioner for Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs), and Allan Fromberg (Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs). Chesed of Boro Park was represented by Michael Fried, Berel Gravs, Yoel Schlesinger, Israel Schnitzler and Elozer Sollof. Also in attendance at today’s meeting were Jane Carey (Chief of Staff for NYC Councilman David Greenfield), Yanky Daskal and Simcha Bernath of the Boro Park Shomrim, Abe Friedman (Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the Brooklyn Borough President), Yanky Meyer (Misaskim), and Rabbi Bernard Freilich (community askan).

Contact: Yehudah Meth
718-853-9616 (office)

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