Whether or not New Yorkers are getting more frustrated waiting behind sanitation trucks, Maspeth and Middle Village’s councilwoman is calling for the uniformedworkers to get the same protection other city employees do when dealing with the public.
Last week, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) introduced a bill to increase the penalty on anyone who assaults a sanitation worker.
According to the Sanitation Department, there were six incidences of violence reported involving sanitation workers and civilians in 2010, but in first six months of 2011 alone, there were 11 reported incidents.
The legislation aims to make it a Class D felony if a sanitation worker is physically injured in the course of duty by a person or an animal. The charge comes with a maximum of seven years in prison.
“Sanitation workers are on the streets every day and are vulnerable to physical and verbal altercations from impatient drivers,” Crowley said.
She was referencing the case of Juan Ramos, a 74-year-old sanitation worker who was attacked in September 2008.
A man driving behind Ramos struck the 22-year veteran of the sanitation department with a shovel when he couldn’t get around the sanitation truck.
In the end, Ramos ended up with broken ribs.
“It’s time we give New York’s Strongest the same legal protections as the Bravest, Boldest and Finest. This legislation would strengthen the message that sanitation workers are a valued part of our City and that assaulting a member of the department will result in severe consequences,” Crowley said.
Harry Nespoli, head of the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, has been an outspoken proponent of better protection for sanitation workers and joined Crowley in a press conference announcing the bill last week.
“Sanitation workers are tired of being assaulted while on the job, and this law is long past due,” he said. “Giving my members the same protection as other uniformed personnel raises the bar for anyone who wants to assault a sanitation worker. It will make people think twice before getting abusive.”
Other uniformed employees such as emergency medical service workers, firefighters,and police officers already have the added protection of a felony charge.
“I have zero tolerance for violent attacks against the City’s uniformed civil service workers while they are trying to do their jobs,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes at the conference. “The hard working sanitation workers that work hard to keep our City clean need to know that we are behind them and that we will not tolerate any violence against them.”
The bill has picked up 20 sponsors so far including Forest Hills’ Karen Koslowitz.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Crowley’s Office
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
