Transport Workers Union Local 100, traditionally representing subway and bus workers, is extending support to pedicab drivers who are facing displacement due to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s proposed changes to Central Park regulations. The mayor’s plan, part of a compromise to reduce horse carriage numbers and relocate them within Central Park, also restricts pedicabs to the park’s northern area, away from the tourist-heavy southern end. John Samuelsen, president of the union, has criticized the move as unfairly targeting a vulnerable workforce, and the union is now offering organizational, legal, and logistical support to the pedicab operators.
Despite de Blasio’s defense of the proposal as a safety and congestion measure and his assurances of willingness to engage with the pedicab industry, operators claim they have been excluded from discussions. The plan has faced opposition from various quarters, including lawmakers, park administrators, and the pedicab drivers themselves, who argue that relocating them will significantly impact their business and livelihoods. In response, pedicab drivers, with the backing of TWU Local 100, are rallying and reaching out to council members to oppose the legislation ahead of an upcoming City Council vote.
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