Several cab and ride share drivers admitted to the New York Post they are avoiding going into Chinese neighborhoods out of fear of catching the coronavirus.
“I don’t pick up anyone Chinese. I’m scared. I don’t want to get the disease,” said one driver who asked that his name not be used.
“I don’t know who has it . . . I worry for myself, my family and my passengers,” said an Uber driver who says he turns off his app whenever he’s in Queens where 70,000 Chinese Americans live.
Mayor Bill DeBlasio and the Taxi Commission warn that such action is discriminatory and are vowing to take action against violators, according to WCBS Newsradio.
Cabbies found guilty face a $500 fine and Uber and Lyft drivers could lose their jobs, DeBlasio warned.
“This is OUTRAGEOUS,” he wrote on Twitter. “Let me be perfectly clear: there WILL be consequences for anyone caught taking part in this kind of cruel racial profiling. To our Asian American community: your city has your back and this discrimination will NOT be tolerated.”
There have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New York, the Post reported.
Uber released a statement to the paper saying such discrimination would not be tolerated.
“Any rider or driver found to have [discriminated based on national origin among other qualities] will lose access to the platform.”
Lyft said it would take similar action saying “Discrimination against riders or drivers can and has led to deactivation.”
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RE: Cabbies and ride share drivers avoiding New York Chinatowns in Coronavirus scare: Is ridiculous..is literally getting out of hand!
Just like the days after 9/11..Arabs were getting
attacked..