NYC creating new hubs for city's delivery workers to take breaks, charge phones
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Delivery workers will soon be able to charge their phones and bikes and take shelter form the weather at new hubs across New York City.
Mayor Eric Adams and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the creation of the centers on Monday morning.
They will convert existing infrastructure like abandoned newsstands to charging stations, break areas and some will even provide bike repair services.
"We owe them a debt of gratitude as being essential workers, essential workers need the essential tools to do their jobs," Adams said.
Schumer is pledging a $1 million federal grant, but the mayor said they do not yet know how many hubs that will allow them to create.
"This is the beginning of re-examining our street furniture and our street designs so we can use the infrastructure in the right way," Adams said.
Josh Wood said he has been zig-zagging the city on his E-bike delivering food for four years. In between calls he said he will duck into a subway station or hover under an awning
"This really needs to become an essential part of the city's infrastructure because we are an essential part of the city's lifeblood," Wood said.
The hubs won't have bathrooms because restaurants are already required be law to provide them to delivery workers. That law went into effect this year.
There are more than 65,000 app-based delivery workers in New York City.
While it remains unclear how many hubs will pop up, the demand is there. During the pandemic, many people relied on delivery services which is a trend that continues.
"It has tripled, we have more than 65,000 workers that not only deliver food but deliver alcohol you need, meds you need," said Hildalyn Colon, director of the Workers Justice Project.
ALSO READ | How Mayor Adams plans to deal with NYC mental health crisis
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
