Q&A
Explanation of Intro 276 and discussion on driver protections
1:06:22
·
175 sec
Bhairavi Desai explains the importance of Intro 276 in providing rights and protections for drivers, particularly in cases of deactivation. Council Member Amanda Farías acknowledges the need to balance driver protections with the rights of people with disabilities and suggests further offline discussions on the topic.
- Desai highlights the importance of considering a driver's entire performance record in deactivation decisions
- Intro 276 is discussed as a means to provide more comprehensive protections for drivers
- Farías emphasizes the need to protect both drivers and people with disabilities
- The conversation concludes with an agreement to continue discussions on these complex issues
Bhairavi Desai
1:06:22
Yes.
1:06:22
And and, you know, let me just be clear if if I misspoke or was misunderstood.
1:06:29
We understand that you cannot ask for documentation.
1:06:33
Even when drivers go through the course for to get their license, that's actually part of the curriculum.
1:06:40
Right.
1:06:40
You know?
1:06:41
And so so we understand that.
1:06:43
But I think the the issue that I was trying to raise is just by the the the sheer allegation, right, a driver faces a very serious consequence of losing their job.
1:06:57
And they may not even be able to appeal it, you know, in many cases.
1:07:03
And so you're you're not able to defend yourself, even the the history of your driving record is not taken into consideration even if you're allowed to appeal.
1:07:15
And so the totality of your performance, right, should be part of your review, like it is in most jobs.
1:07:22
In these cases, drivers don't have that protection And that is one of the things that intro 276 would give to drivers, the right where as part of making the decision on whether or not the deactivation was for good cause, They would have the decision maker would have to look at the totality of your record, including, like, you know, good combinations that you have gotten.
1:07:46
There also has to be progressive discipline.
1:07:48
And so if someone did not understand and and you know, makes that mistake, which is wrong, but it should there you know, we also have the concept of that you you can't just, you know, you can't just discard people for mistakes that they make, that there has to be a process to allow people to learn and to shelter growth.
1:08:11
And so this bill is also important to us for for because it would allow that.
Amanda Farías
1:08:15
Yeah.
1:08:16
I'd like to keep talking about that after this hearing just, you know, as you stated, it is a part of the curriculum.
1:08:21
Mhmm.
1:08:22
So just as much as drivers do have to be protected, and all of the folks in this room hope know that I've been a driver advocate for many years.
1:08:29
People with disabilities also have their rights, and we have to make sure that if there's anything that's unclear Mhmm.
1:08:35
And we know every driver has in camera facing video out you know, forward facing out into the streets to protect their car and and the way they're driving amongst the defensive driving that we have to do throughout New York City.
1:08:49
Mhmm.
1:08:50
We should continue talking about that because that's both it is a larger conversation that has to be had on both sides to protect people.
Bhairavi Desai
1:08:58
Yes.
1:08:59
And that's definitely I mean, one one other reason that we really support the bill is because as you said
Amanda Farías
1:09:04
I do like it.
1:09:05
I do like it.
1:09:06
I like to continue the conversation offline as we have many people I need to testify today.
1:09:10
Thank you.
Bhairavi Desai
1:09:11
Thank you.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:09:12
Thank you.
1:09:13
Thank you to this panel.
1:09:16
You're now dismissed.
