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TESTIMONY
Ron Rivera, Driver and Driver Advocate, TLC on the Challenges Faced by TLC Drivers Relating to JFK, Transparency, and Equity
1:54:32
·
141 sec
Ron Rivera testifies to express the frustrations and challenges TLC drivers face regarding JFK, transparency, and access to council members.
- Rivera voices concerns about the lack of protection for drivers by the committee and the difficulties in advocating for their bills.
- He highlights the struggle TLC drivers face in accessing council members and the necessity of coming to the council to be heard.
- Rivera points to a history of filing complaints and the lack of transparency and engagement from council members.
- His testimony draws parallels between historical leaders and the current struggle of TLC drivers for rights and representation.
- Despite challenges, Rivera emphasizes the importance of filing complaints to voice the drivers' grievances.
Ron Rivera
1:54:32
Good afternoon.
1:54:33
My name is Ravi Vara.
1:54:34
I'm a TLC driver, and a TLC driver advocate.
1:54:37
We know that the topic is regarding JFK and transparency and equity, but it's hard to get hold of our council members.
1:54:46
So sometimes we have to come right here and and speak.
1:54:48
It will take our 2 minutes or 3 minutes.
1:54:52
About 34 years ago, I was in the presence of a true leader.
1:54:57
About 34 years ago, I was in a room in the presence of a true leader.
1:55:01
Her name was Rosa Parks.
1:55:03
Rosa Parks was in the room, and I was only twenty years old back then, and I knew who she was.
1:55:09
And I know what she meant.
1:55:11
This committee is not protecting the drivers.
1:55:15
You know we're a driver advocate.
1:55:17
There's a lot of issues happening.
1:55:19
We have bills for the drivers.
Amanda Farías
1:55:21
Mister Rivera, you have to stay on topic.
1:55:23
We are here talking about JFK and in 134.
1:55:27
Do you have a comment on the airport?
Ron Rivera
1:55:29
Is regarding the drivers, the airport.
1:55:32
We've been to the airport.
1:55:33
I got 23,000 trips.
1:55:34
I made plenty of trips to the airport.
1:55:36
Well, we can't have access to our council members.
1:55:39
We have to come here.
1:55:40
That's what we're doing.
1:55:42
We come in here.
1:55:43
You're talking about transparency.
1:55:44
We have bills.
1:55:45
We've been advocating for our bills for the longest.
1:55:48
We've gone from advocating for our bills to finally complain with the COIP.
1:55:53
There is no transparency in this committee.
1:55:55
There is no transparency with many many council members, and that's why we upset There's things that are happening.
1:56:01
I'm a native New Yorker.
1:56:03
I'm I'm not blind.
1:56:05
I see things that are happening.
1:56:06
And we when we file complaints, there are valid complaints.
1:56:10
Now we can't hold cell phones.
1:56:12
Now you try to sensors.
1:56:14
Stay on topic.
Amanda Farías
1:56:15
Can you give us a comment on the driver ma'am.
Ron Rivera
1:56:18
I'm here I'm here to I'm here to let you know that we filed a complaint under public advocate, Giovanni Williams.
1:56:25
We filed a complaint on Council Mel Avila's, and we filed a complaint on speaker Adams.
1:56:31
That's when we filed a complaint.
1:56:32
We wanna give a copy to the to the chair because she's good friends with Adams, and we want you to give her that copy.
1:56:38
We wanna submit this copy.
1:56:39
We're filing complaints.
1:56:40
It might not go nowhere.
1:56:42
But we're filing our complaints.
1:56:44
You guys ain't working for the New Yorker, and that's why we come in.
1:56:46
We do what we do.
Amanda Farías
1:56:47
You can give that document to the sergeant at arms in the front, and they will make sure that we receive Copy.
1:56:52
Thank you for coming today, for your testimony.