Subheading: UJO Intervened to Cancel Ticket; Thanks Public Advocate Letitia James for Delving into the Case During a Weekend and for Bringing a Quick Resolution; Assemblyman Dov Hikind Thanks TLC for Quickly Solving Such Unjust Cases Since his Discussion with Them After Ticketing a Chesed Driver
The episode unfolded Thursday, December 4, 2014, when Paulino Rodriguez, an employee of All Fresh Supermarket in Williamsburg, accompanied his boss Mayer Kohn to purchase fruit at a nearby wholesale market. Mr. Rodriguez left the vehicle to make the purchase, while Mr. Kohn remained inside. As the men left the market, they were stopped by Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) agents who asked them to step out of the car. The TLC inspectors then performed a search of the vehicle, and issued Mr. Rodriguez a $2,000 summons for operation of an illegal taxi, to the protests of both men.
TLC agents informed Mr. Rodriguez that pleading guilty during the interaction would reduce the fine to $1,000, however he opted to appeal the decision.
On Friday, Mr. Kohn contacted the UJO, and Rabbi Niederman started to intervene on his behalf. In the meantime, the incident caught media attention. When learning of this unjustified ticket, Public Advocate Letitia James started to intervene to have it canceled. On Monday, the TLC withdrew the summons issued to him, and released his vehicle at no expense to either Mr. Rodriguez or Mr. Kohn.
"My office was able to successfully assist Mr. Rodriguez, but there are other drivers out there who were unfairly forced to pay exhorbitant fines,” said New York City Public Advocate Letitia James. “Our city cannot target certain groups for unwarranted violations. My office will stand with erroneously-fined drivers, and I hope that TLC will instruct their agents to act ethically as they perform their duties.”
Rabbi David Niederman, UJO Executive Director, said: "Public Advocate James is a dedicated advocate for New Yorker who are being unjustly impacted by agencies. Her energy and dedication was exhibited once again, when during a weekend, upon learning of the unjust action, she delved in to intervene and fight for two individuals, and she managed to bring upon immediate results. I thank here for resolving the case, and for being always on-call. Whenever her assistance is needed, her office is ready to act with passion and speed, even when all other government offices are closed."
This incident reminded of a similar mistake in June, that resulted in the impounding of a Chesed car taking patients to hospital treatments. Following that incident, Assemblyman Hikind convened meeting with TLC officials in his office, along with representatives of Chesed, Misaskim and the Shomrim in an effort to eliminate or at least minimize such occurrences in the future.
Ray Scanlon, Bella Vais and Allan Fromberg of the TLC
agreed that new protocols were called for, including identification cards
to be issued for workers from Chesed and similar organizations to better
identify themselves as charity volunteers, phone numbers supplied to the TLC
allowing officers to contact charity group dispatchers to ascertain that a
driver is legitimate, and sensitivity training for TLC officers. Assemblyman
Hikind also created and delivered sensitivity training to TLC officers.
Assemblyman Dov Hikind now lauded the TLC for admitting and reversing their mistake in Williamsburg: “Everyone makes mistakes... Sometimes the hardest part is owning up to the mistake. But the TLC has shown, once again, that when they do make a mistake, they are quick to correct it and do the right thing.” Hikind Concluded his statement by saying that: "I will continue to work with the TLC to make certain that these types of unfortunate incidents do not occur.".
