Deliveristas confront new hurdles after 11th Street bike sweep

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Since the NYPD and Sanitation's joint sweep on July 30, when dozens of e-bikes and mopeds were cut from scaffolding and poles along 11th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A, delivery workers have faced a mounting series of obstacles trying to reclaim their property and maintain their livelihoods. 

Those who have come to the 9th Precinct on Fifth Street to retrieve their bikes have been met with administrative sanitation summonses under code 16-122(b). Penalties range from $50 to $250, and though NYPD emphasizes these are administrative, not criminal, they still appear on a criminal summons ticket, as one deliverista shared his summons with me.

As such, proof of ownership is required, and only the registered owner with a receipt can claim a bike — photos do not count. Bikes will be held at the Precinct for at least 30 days. 

Immigration concerns 

For many deliveristas, the real fear is not the fine but the court appearance. Hearings are held at 1 Centre St., and workers worry that showing up could expose them to ICE detention. 

Others fear that even pleading guilty to resolve the summons could leave a blemish on their record, complicating citizenship applications. 

Tyler Hefferon, executive director of the East Village-based food insecurity nonprofit EV Loves NYC, has been working closely with asylum seekers for the past few years. 

"We've seen members of our community detained after routine immigration hearings," he said. "Some have been locked up for years while their cases are processed. Now they're scared the same thing could happen if they show up in court just to get their bikes back."

Rumors have circulated that bikes were moved offsite — one worker even claimed a tracker pinged in New Jersey. 

The NYPD insists all bikes remain at the 9th Precinct, with battery-equipped models kept in the parking lot and non-battery bikes stored in the basement. 

With bikes tied up, so are livelihoods. Many workers had only recently secured federal work permits and had just begun deliveries. Some are still paying rental fees on seized bikes. 

"Every day the bikes are kept, wages are being lost," Hefferon said.

In response to the standoff on 11th Street, Community Board 3 worked with the Parks Department to identify alternative spaces. Community gardens weren't feasible, but the nearby Lower East Side Playground — part of a Jointly Operated Playground adjacent to East Side Community School — is open for neighborhood use after 3:30 p.m. and on weekends.

Parks has since added picnic tables and trash cans, and the space here between Avenue A and First Avenue on 11th Street is now open for deliveristas. 

However, when Community Board 3 District Manager Susan Stetzer and NYPD reps visited the other day, the 11th Street gate was locked.

After some back-and-forth with Parks staff (and the help of Google Translate with workers waiting outside), the gate was opened, and deliveristas quickly filed into the shaded space to rest.

At the site, Stetzer pressed the NYPD about why workers' bags had been confiscated and discarded during the sweep. 

The NYPD responded that there had been "plenty of Sanitation outreach" and stressed that "there has to be more accountability." 

Stetzer countered:

The City creates microhubs for large companies like FedEx, but why are these workers the only ones not being helped? They are lower-income, people of color, and immigrants. Why is the City not willing to accommodate them? When a restaurant operates on a sidewalk illegally, it gets a summons; when an immigrant hangs his bag there, they throw it out. Why the inequality?

She continued: 

There is one reason these people are here. The neighborhood orders delivery. If the community doesn't want them here, they can stop ordering everything delivered. These are businesspeople serving the needs of the community.

NYPD officials argued the issue is larger than enforcement:

They have to respect the block. They have to be good neighbors. They can't leave trash. They need to be more responsible. And there is an easy answer....the delivery companies need to do more. It doesn't take a lot of money. Give them a rest station, a place to store their belongings. These are their employees; they should provide for them. Without these guys, who is going to be delivering your food? These guys need a charging station ... Until that is provided, where will they eat? Sure, the two new benches are nice, but there are hundreds of people here. Who is going to sit, and who will stand?  We need to give hard-working people an opportunity, and this part is not a police matter.

What's next 

So far, NYPD sources say that no bikes have been released back to their owners. Meetings with local elected officials and delivery companies are being planned, with the hope of finding longer-term solutions.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Mass e-bike seizure sparks tensions and debate on 11th Street

At the National Night Out Against Crime event on 5th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Dozens of local residents turned out yesterday for the annual National Night Out Against Crime event that took place at 70 locations citywide... including outside the 9th Precinct on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

(Apologies for NOT telling you in advance. We wanted less competition for the free hamburgers and jumbo franks.) 

Guests included McGruff the Crime Dog — the original true crime influencer...

... and Fabien Levy, deputy mayor for communications, who handed out several neighborhood commendations (congrats to EVG regular Carol from East 5th Street on receiving one!).

The community-building event included plenty of activities and games (with prizes) for kids, such as the bouncy dragon-horse race that we were too tall to enter.

...and the aforementioned grill spread...

Games and food aside, it was an easy way to meet local officers and learn about available programs for residents... sharing information for victims of domestic violence...

Mass e-bike seizure sparks tensions and debate on 11th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

In a coordinated enforcement effort yesterday afternoon, NYPD officers and Sanitation workers impounded dozens of e-bikes, mopeds, and bicycles from 11th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The action, which began around noon and wrapped up by 3 p.m., took place on a day when the heat index hit 100 degrees and came amid mounting tensions over how public space is shared along this corridor.

Bikes locked to poles and scaffolding were cut free with power tools and loaded into NYPD vehicles. Personal items — including food delivery bags, folding chairs, and other belongings — were discarded.

 

The block was closed to vehicle traffic for the duration of the operation.

Nearby, the longtime food truck stationed at the southeast corner of 11th Street and First Avenue was asked to relocate. It moved across the avenue, and the corner space will now be used as a designated corral for legal bike parking.

A surge in complaints

The sweep followed a stretch of recent signage posted along the block announcing the scheduled "cleanup," part of a joint initiative by the 9th Precinct and the Department of Sanitation. 

Officials said the enforcement is a response to a surge in community complaints about noise, congestion, and food waste stemming from the block's unofficial use as a waiting and staging area for e-bike delivery workers (aka, deliveristas). Quality-of-life issues have been regularly mentioned at 9th Precinct Community Council meetings.

The area, particularly the sidewalk in front of the under-renovation Madina Masjid Islamic Council of America on the northeast corner, one of the city's oldest mosques, has become a gathering spot for the workers due to its central location and availability of curb space. 

Hector, a building super on the block, said the bikes often block access to trash bins and attract rats due to leftover food containers. 

"We can't get through some days," he said.

A mixed reaction

The enforcement action drew sharply mixed reactions. Some neighbors expressed gratitude to the police for "cleaning up the block." Others shouted at officers and tried to stop the bikes from being taken. 

A few residents translated information into French for West African delivery workers, many of whom were caught off guard. (The NYPD posted multiple flyers along here on Friday.)

"We don't sell drugs — we deliver food," said one delivery worker, declining to give his name. "We work hard. We buy a $2,000 bike, and they take it from us. How do we work now?" 

Said one officer: "We spoke to the community, we spoke to Joco [which provides e-bikes to delivery workers], we spoke directly to the delivery workers. We put up signs in multiple languages. This is community policing. This is not just us being the big, bad police." 

Tensions boiled over at times, with some skirmishes occurring among residents, law enforcement, sanitation, and the bike owners. 

One woman walking by screamed at the police, "Why?! Why are you harming them? Why are you taking their means for work?"

One sanitation worker looked at me ruefully and said, "This is the worst part of the job."

Police confirmed that no criminal summonses were issued, though some sanitation code violations may be forthcoming. 

All bikes were tagged and vouchered and are being held at the 9th Precinct for 30 days. A receipt or other proof of ownership is required to reclaim a bike. Officers stressed that no immigration documents are needed and that immigration status is not being checked.

Delivery workers insist they've taken steps to keep the area clean and orderly, but say they need somewhere to rest between jobs. Police maintain the broader goal is to balance the needs of workers, residents, and businesses in an increasingly crowded corridor. 

"This is not a one-time sweep," said one law enforcement source. "We'll continue to assess and enforce as needed. We're looking for a lasting solution."

All sides seemed to agree on one thing: This is a problem without a clear-cut solution.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Cleanup planned for E-bike hub on 11th Street following spike in complaints

[Updated] Wrong-way chase ends in crash, arrest on 3rd Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

A high-speed police pursuit ended in a dramatic crash and arrest on Third Street late yesterday afternoon, after a vehicle turned the wrong way off of Avenue C and was rammed by pursuing officers. 

Multiple witnesses described seeing law enforcement, including state police serving as backup, quickly apprehend at least one suspect. Two men were believed to be in the vehicle.

According to law enforcement officials, the NYPD's Narcotics Unit made the arrest. The suspect, a 39-year-old male, was said to be well-known to the Narco Unit and had several prior arrests for possession of drugs. Police sources said the suspect had a loaded firearm and unspecified drugs at the time of the arrest. (Updated: Police identified the suspect as Solne Martinez, an East Village resident.)

The suspect's vehicle collided with another car belonging to a physician from the RYAN/NENA health center between Avenue C and Avenue D. 

The doctor was not inside at the time. "I spoke to the police, I was not in the car when it happened," he said.

The incident occurred outside Loisaida Drugs and Surgical at 273 E. Third St., just east of Avenue C. A pharmacist, who declined to give his name, said he came outside after hearing the crash. 

"I saw the police and the driver putting his hands up. They cuffed him," he said. "The passenger had a gun — I could see the gun. I did not see them arrest the passenger, only the driver." 

Another local worker witnessed the scene as well. "It was a brownish-tan gun. Law enforcement arrested the driver and put the gun on the hood of the car. I took a picture of the guy, and he flipped me off." 

One bystander described seeing officers "T-bone the guy" after a chase down Third Street, noting that police removed a duffle bag from the vehicle's trunk after the arrest. 

At least one other vehicle at the scene sustained a broken window, though it's unclear how it happened. Photos show law enforcement conducting a fingerprinting procedure using Cyanoacrylate (superglue) solution.

A pedestrian sustained minor injuries during the chase and was taken to the hospital. She is expected to recover. 

It was not immediately clear where the chase started.

This is a developing story, and authorities are expected to release more details soon. Some elements of the account may be updated as new information becomes available.

Cleanup planned for E-bike hub on 11th Street following spike in complaints

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Signage recently went along 11th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, announcing a scheduled cleanup of the heavily trafficked e-bike, moped and bicycle area. 

The effort — slated to begin today — is a joint initiative by the 9th Precinct and the Department of Sanitation, prompted by a surge in community complaints. 

The block is a popular spot for e-bike delivery workers to gather as they wait to fulfill deliveries, in part given the proximity of the under-renovation Madina Masjid Islamic Council of America, one of the city's most prominent mosques, founded in 1976. 

The signs, posted in English, Spanish, Arabic, French, and Wolof, notify residents and delivery workers that any bikes not moved by the cleanup date (the deadline was yesterday) will be removed and impounded.

According to residents and local officials, complaints about congestion, noise, and sanitation issues tied to the unofficial parking and staging area have intensified in recent months. The issue has become a recurring topic at neighborhood council meetings at the 9th Precinct. 

Police say this is part of a broader effort to address quality-of-life issues while balancing the needs of workers and residents. 

While some in the community have voiced frustration, many delivery workers — aka deliveristas — say they've taken steps to keep the area clean. 

Several riders on the block pointed out trash bags and brooms they've been using to manage the space themselves.

They also spoke to me, stating they need security here because they say their methods of transportation for making a living are often stolen. Despite using GPS and tracking devices, they claim police are not willing to help them track down their bikes.

In past years, the Madina Masjid mosque has drawn criticism from local residents and business owners due to "cabbies filling metered spaces and parking in front of fire hydrants, in truck loading zones and in bus lanes" to attend prayer services, according to published reports. 

Parking for prayer services has been an issue since the religious institution opened, per DNAinfo in 2013. What was once a battle over car congestion has shifted gears — now, it's all about the bikes for some residents. 

Updated

Late yesterday afternoon, EVG reader Choresh Wald shared this photo, noting that the city added a sidewalk extension on the SE corner of First Avenue and 11th Street. The perpetual food truck here even relocated to the SW corner of First Avenue and 11th Street...

... but it had returned within an hour...

We haven't received any updates about an extension here... we'll see if we can get clarification on what's happening.

A new loading zone for the East Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

This past week, an attention-getting new No Parking sign appeared outside the 9th Precinct on Fifth Street between First and Second Avenues. The spot directly in front of the station house is now designated for "Prisoner Loading Only." 

An NYPD source explained that the space aims to "prevent an issue when a prisoner can escape." It is specifically intended for police use (sorry local residents!), facilitating the expeditious loading and unloading of prisoners. The goal is to have prisoners as close to the front doors as possible, minimizing "lollygagging" and reducing the risk of escape. 

Although there hasn't been an escape incident at the 9th Precinct, other station houses have experienced such issues, prompting this precautionary signage measure. 

Interestingly, while the space is designated for a specific loading zone, we spotted a marked squad car that didn't appear to be dropping off or picking up a prisoner. Our source acknowledged that police personnel will sometimes use it when stopping by the Precinct for errands. Officers in such cases are to monitor their radios to ensure the space is available when needed for its primary purpose.

H/T Carol From East 5th Street

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Edmund John Dunn

The NYPD floodlight tower in action on the SW corner of 14th Street at Avenue A... one of two towers to arrive on the block after the fatal stabbing late Sunday afternoon. 

More background here.

[Updated] When a Dodge Charger drove down the sidewalk on 2nd Street during a high-speed chase

With reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated below with info from the NYPD

We heard about a high-speed car chase through parts of the East Village today just after noon. We haven't been able to piece it all together just yet. 

We received reader reports of a Dodge Charger tearing down Second Avenue, turning on Second Street, and driving up on the sidewalk on the south side of the street to avoid the vehicles stopped at the light.

The car exits the sidewalk, sending pedestrians scurrying, crossing First Avenue, and heading the wrong way eastbound on Second Street. There is one eyewitness report of the driver abruptly abandoning the car on Avenue C, sparking a foot chase.

A TikTok user captured 11 seconds of the chase from the SE corner of First Avenue and Second Street. (Unfortunately, the embed code isn't working. The link is here.) 

[Updated] 

The clip is now on Instagram, too...

 

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A second clip includes an ending showing the NYPD towing the car on the Lower East Side. There is no word yet on what happened to the driver (and any occupants in the vehicle).

 

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We reached out to the NYPD for more information about what transpired today... (see below)

Two NYPD sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the case, told EVG's Stacie Joy that the driver "stole" his own car from the impound lot in Brooklyn. 

Officers spotted the car in the 5th Precinct, which serves Little Italy, Chinatown and the Bowery. The car continued into the 9th Precinct and the 7th Precinct before the driver was apprehended with assistance from the NYPD Aviation Unit back in the 5th Precinct. 

The chase remains under investigation, and the sources said the narrative could change.

At NYU, 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' leads to arrests of over 150 people

Photos yesterday by Daniel Efram 

According to published reports, the NYPD arrested some 150 people last night at the site of the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" that a few dozen NYU students set up early yesterday morning at Gould Plaza on the school's main campus.

The numbers at the encampment grew to several hundred during the day. 

As the Associated Press reported: "The school said it warned the crowd to leave, then called in the police after the scene became disorderly and the university said it learned of reports of 'intimidating chants and several antisemitic incidents.'" 

Officers in riot gear began making arrests around 8:30 p.m., per media accounts and bystanders. 

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry posted this statement to X...

Earlier today, the NYPD received the attached letter from NYU — detailing a request to clear Gould Plaza of individuals who were refusing to comply with repeated requests to disperse. They were described as “interfering with the safety and security of our community.” Our… pic.twitter.com/oA758efW74

— NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Operations Kaz Daughtry (@NYPDDaughtry) April 23, 2024

EVG regular Daniel Efram shared these photos from last evening...

Those arrested included students and faculty. 

"It's a really outrageous crackdown by the university to allow the police to arrest students on our own campus,” NYU law student Byul Yoon told the AP. "Antisemitism is never ok. That's absolutely not what we stand for and that's why there are so many Jewish comrades that are here with us today." 

NYU's independent student newspaper, Washington Square News, reported that after the arrests, some 100 people protested outside 1 Police Plaza.

Read more of their coverage here. 

Meanwhile, at Columbia, the university's campus "has become the epicenter of the unrest in the U.S.," per Axios.