Dear New Yorkers,
A few years ago, hundreds of dollar vans crisscrossed much of the city, filling in transit routes primarily in immigrant neighborhoods short on public transportation options.
In 2019, just before the pandemic, 215 of them were licensed and operating. Four years before that, 584 licensed vans drove in the boroughs.
As of yesterday, however, just 31 commuter vans licensed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission were on the street, TLC data shows. Drivers say their ranks have been slammed by the pandemic, an increase in competition from unlicensed operators, free bus rides and soaring insurance costs.
Vivian Barnes, a 78-year-old licensed van driver in southeast Queens who has been behind the wheel along Linden and Merrick boulevards since 1987, told THE CITY she’s being driven to quit by skyrocketing prices.
“It’s the first time I have ever seen it so bad and I don’t know if I can continue with it,” she said.
Read more here.
Some other items of note: - The city’s chief financial officer, Comptroller Brad Lander, said yesterday his office plans to get rid of all fossil fuel-related investments in two major retirement funds. Read more about the move, co-published with New York Focus.
- New York City allows voters to use registration forms written in 15 languages — but they can only be filled out in English. A state law passed last year to expand translation for voters has not yet been rolled out in the five boroughs. Advocates say non-English-speaking would-be voters are being left out of the local election process. (Reminder: The deadline to register to vote in this year’s June primaries is June 18.)
- Just 55% of students, staffers and parents filled out the annual NYC School Survey last year. Now, the Department of Education is again asking for unfiltered (and anonymous) input from public school families. Our partners at Chalkbeat New York have a guide to the survey and how it does — and does not — influence the classroom.
- Leonard Abrams, the founder, editor and publisher of the East Village Eye throughout its 72-issue run from 1997 to 1987, passed away suddenly this week, just as he was celebrating the New York Public Library’s decision to host the magazine’s archives. Read excerpts from and listen to his full interview on the FAQ NYC podcast earlier this year, as he reflected on the scene he emerged from and then shaped.
- New Yorkers have until May 31 to submit the names of loved ones to MISSING THEM, THE CITY’s COVID-19 memorial project: Send a note to memorial@thecity.nyc. May 31 is also the last day to see the MISSING THEM photo exhibit in The Bronx and Queens.
- See how New York City is doing with our newsroom’s economic recovery tracker
- For the latest local numbers on COVID-19 hospitalizations, positivity rates and more, check our coronavirus tracker.
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