Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mamadou Balde, Delivery Worker
5:52:12
·
156 sec
Mamadou Balde, a delivery worker in New York, testifies about the challenges faced by delivery workers, particularly immigrants, who are receiving criminal summons for riding e-bikes. He argues for support and education rather than criminalization of delivery workers.
- Highlights the importance of delivery workers as essential workers during difficult times
- Requests investment in safety education, case management, and implementation of delivery hubs
- Emphasizes the need for fair treatment, dignity, and respect for delivery workers
Mamadou Balde
5:52:12
Good afternoon, members of city council.
5:52:17
My name is Mama Duvalde, and I am a proud delivery worker here in New York.
5:52:22
I have been riding since last year rain and shine to make sure people get their meal and medicine, often putting my own safety at risk.
5:52:33
But now, instead of being recognized and protected, I feel targeted.
5:52:39
In the past few weeks, I've been seeing dozens of fellow delivery workers, many of them immigrants like me, receive criminal summons just for doing their job.
5:52:52
They are not violent crime.
5:52:54
They are a ticket for riding e bikes often because we don't know the exact rule or because we simply cannot afford to say no to the short time of the app company give us to deliver the food.
5:53:07
These tickets cost us time, money.
5:53:11
In some cases, they threaten our ability to stay in this country.
5:53:15
We're not criminal.
5:53:17
We're workers.
5:53:18
We don't need more policy.
5:53:20
What we really need is education, safe infrastructure, and access to the tools that allow us to do our job safely and legally.
5:53:31
Right now, it's extremely difficult for many of us to even find certified e bike that meet the city standards, and the cost is out of reach.
5:53:44
We ride six to ten hours a day, but we don't have places to rest, to charge our batteries, or even to use the bathroom.
5:53:53
That's why the delivery hub is so important.
5:53:57
It's a space designed with our safety and dignity in mind.
5:54:01
The Worker Justice Project has proposed a fruitful plan to invest 100,000 in safety education, case management, and support for the implementation of the delivery as a hub.
5:54:17
Please don't use the city budget to criminalize us.
5:54:21
Use it to educate us.
5:54:23
Use it to support us.
5:54:25
Use it to make the city safer for everyone, riders and pedestrians alike.
5:54:32
We are not asking for much.
5:54:35
We are just asking to be treated with fairness, dignity, and with respect that every essential worker deserves.
5:54:43
Thank you for your time and for listening to those of us who keep this city moving.
5:54:48
Thank