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Historical context of NYCSBUS creation and current administration's approach

1:21:04

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Council Member Restler provides historical context for NYCSBUS's creation and criticizes the current administration's approach to school bus services.

NYCSBUS was created in 2021 in response to threats of strikes from other bus companies.
The organization was intended to focus on the best interests of students and families, providing accountability and innovation.
Restler expresses disappointment that the current administration is decreasing NYCSBUS's routes instead of expanding them.
He urges reconsideration of the decision to extend contracts with other companies rather than expanding NYCSBUS's role.

Lincoln Restler

1:21:04

I get it.

1:21:04

My understanding, I was I had left city service for for a brief period in 2021.

1:21:09

So I wasn't involved in it directly, but My understanding was that school bus companies were threatening to strike.

1:21:17

They were uncooperative, unreasonable in their expectations with the city.

1:21:21

They had the city over a barrel.

1:21:23

We didn't wanna see that happened.

1:21:26

And NICE Bus was created so that there would be an organization that actually was focused on the best interest of students and families and getting them to school on time with real accountability, electrifying school buses doing all of the things that we wanna see.

1:21:39

And in this under this administration now, we're going on 3 years.

1:21:42

We're seeing a decrease in the number of routes that NICE Bus is taking.

1:21:46

So to me, we've got a solution that actually works, that what we should be lifting up, and we're doing the opposite.

1:21:54

So I I'm empathetic to the challenges of your job.

1:21:57

I know that these bus companies are no joke to mess around with, but we have a solution.

1:22:03

We've gotta lift it up.

1:22:04

You're extending their contracts instead of expanding NICE Bus.

1:22:08

And I really hope that you reconsider that calibration because I think we're moving in the wrong direction on that front.

1:22:13

Thank you very much.

Gale A. Brewer

1:22:13

I I

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Challenges faced by NYCSBUS, including driver shortages

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Questions about the $890 million NYCSBUS contract