An advocacy group for New York’s taxi drivers is calling for stricter safety measures and laws after two cabbies were shot in Brooklyn within a two-week span, in July. On July 11, in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, police say a man approached a 21-year-old livery driver near 525 Parkside Ave. around 4:15am and demanded money and the keys to the vehicle. The man then shot the driver in the face and fled the scene. The driver was taken to Kings County Hospital in stable condition, police said. On July 24, in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, a 50-year-old driver was also shot in the face in the early morning hours. He was taken to Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he was in stable condition. According to police, there have been no arrests, and the investigation is ongoing.
Drivers put themselves at risk on the job daily, said Fernando Mateo, the founder and spokesperson of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. Mateo said he and others have reached out to governmental agencies to see what compensation the most recent victim can receive. GoFundMe pages are being set up for both drivers, according to Mateo.
Mateo also said he thinks every driver in New York City should have a camera in their vehicle to help with investigations. A pilot program launched by his organization last year equipped 500 cabs with cameras, ABC7 reported.
Source: Gothamist
