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Back to Keys to the City

March 2019 – Keys to the City is a newsletter featuring information about city services that are available to TLC drivers and their families.

Highlights this month

Driver Spotlight

Meet Fatoumata Camara

NYC Well

Black Car Fund Health Benefits

NYC Commission on Human Rights

For you and your family: Art Sundays

How to create a resume

Vision Zero Tips

Free Tax Preparation

The Taxi Network

Cable Installation Training Program

Fatoumata Camara
yellow taxi driver

Driver Spotlight - Fatoumata Camara

How long have you been a TLC driver?
8 years

What is your favorite place in New York City and why?
My favorite place in New York is Times Square. It’s where you can meet lot of people coming everywhere in the world.

What is your advice for new incoming TLC drivers?
Drive safely, be respectful, very kind and honest to your customers.

How do you make a passenger’s experience in your cab comfortable and enjoyable?
Anytime a customer gets in my cab, I say hello to them. I ask how are you today? lower the radio if they’re on the phone and stop on the side they want to get out. I also say thank you for taking my cab and wish them a wonderful day or a good night.

What made you want to become a driver?

I got my first car when I was 22 years old and was driving my kids to their schools. I like to drive and it’s the reason I became a cab driver very easily.

NYC Well – Free support

Black Car Fund Health Benefits

We’re here to listen and help with problems like stress, depression, anxiety or drug and alcohol misuse. For you or someone you care about. To receive free confidential mental health and substance use support:

Call 888-NYC-WELL (888-692-9355)

Text WELL to 65173

Chat

A counselor can provide short-term counseling, access to other mental health services, and appointment scheduling assistance in more than 200 languages.

For more information visit NYC Well. Talk. Text. Chat. 24/7

Black Car Drivers (Uber, LYFT, Vital and similar services) are now eligible for new Vision (free exams and eyeglasses) and Telemedicine (call a doctor) paid for by The Black Car Fund.

Drivers can activate these benefits, provided by The Independent Drivers Guild, by visiting Driversbenefits.org or calling (833) 814-8590.

NYC Commission on Human Rights

The New York City Commission on Human Rights is charged with the enforcement of the City Human Rights Law which protects all those who visit, live, or work in NYC from discrimination and harassment.
If you or someone you know experiences or witnesses discrimination:

Call the Commission’s Infoline at (718) 722-3131

Call 311 and ask for Human Rights

Report discrimination online visit Report Discrimination.

For more information visit NYC.gov/HumanRights

For you and your family: Art Sundays

How to create a resume

Drop by and enjoy an art workshop, a guided group gallery tour, and art making. All materials are provided. Recommended ages: three and up.

For more information visit Rubin Museum.

Date and time:
Every Sunday, 1pm-4pm

Location:
Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10011

Learn about the different types of resumes, the do’s and don’ts, and tips on how to make your resume the best it can be.

For more information call (718) 661-1205.

Date and time:
Monday, March 11 at 10:30am-12pm

Location:
Flushing Library

41-17 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355

Vision Zero Tips

TLC-licensed drivers can contribute to safer NYC streets by NOT:

Violation

Percent of all violations

Maximum Points

Committing moving violations, such as unsafe lane changes

20%

5

Using cell phones while driving- even hands free

19%

5

Disobeying traffic signals

17%

3

Speeding

5%

2

Making improper turns

5%

2

TLC drivers are eligible to take a defensive driving course every 18 months and to reduce 3 points on their NYS DMV license.

Note: Defensive driving courses only reduce points accumulated by the Licensee as a result of the conviction of violations that occurred within 15 months prior to the date of the completion of the course. For more information visit TLC Defensive Driving.

Free Tax Preparation

New York State Tax Department and Urban Upbound volunteers will help you file your tax return online at no cost if your income is less than $66,000. No registration is required. For more information call (718) 990-0700.

Date and times: Every Monday and Saturday (March 9 to April 13) from 10am-4pm

Location: 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11432

The Taxi Network

The Taxi Network is a community-serving group created to address health issues among TLC drivers in New York City. The Taxi Network provides free health care navigation services at yellow taxi garages and driver hubs. Services include:

Blood pressure and body mass index screenings

Health insurance enrollment

Health education

For more information visit The Taxi Network or call (917) 280-3286.

Cable Installation Training Program

Brooklyn Workforce Innovations offers a free six week program that helps individuals prepare for a career in low-voltage cabling. Program graduates will be able to understand color codes, routing and how to terminate lines, pulling cables, etc. To learn more about the eligibility requirements, visit Brooklyn Workforce Innovations.

Class Calendar:

March 15 – April 26

May 17 – June 28

July 19 – August 30

Let us know what you think! Email comments, questions, suggestions to tlcexternalaffairs@tlc.nyc.gov