
CITYWIDE — NEW YORK CITY COMPTROLLER BRAD LANDER joined the New York Taxi Workers Alliance on Thursday to demand an end to Uber and Lyft’s practice of “locking out” drivers from their work apps in order to exploit a loophole in the city’s law, which requires the companies to pay drivers for their time between trips. An investigation by Bloomberg found that Uber and Lyft lockouts significantly reduced driver income, “cheating” them out of $5,000 to $8,000 a year, according to the Alliance.
Lander and the TWA “are committed to working together to win changes to TLC rules and City Council legislation that will close this loophole,” the Comptroller said in a release.
“As the Councilmember representing Brooklyn’s Little Bangladesh in Kensington, a community with hundreds of working-class immigrant taxi workers, I am outraged by Uber and Lyft’s blatant efforts to undermine fair pay through unjust lockouts and deactivations,” said Councilmember Shahana Hanif (D-39).
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SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.

ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.