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Mayoral Election Yields Low Turnout

ELECTION from page 1

By CHRISTINE IRLBECK Contributing Writer

After the NYC municipal elections on Nov. 2, Eric Adams won the mayoral race with a reported 66.5% of the vote count. Only 20% of the eligible voting population participated this year.

The vote count for all five boroughs of NYC totaled 1,016,663 votes. About 79,000 of those votes were absentee ballots and an additional 170,000 came from the early in-person voting period between Oct. 23 and 31.

In the mayoral election of 2017, Bill de Blasio took the lead representing the Democratic Party by winning 66.2% of the votes; Republican runner-up Nicole Malliotakis earned 27.8%. In the 2017 mayoral election, 1,166,314 people casted votes, which was 23% of the eligible voting population.

Although Adams received the majority of votes in almost every borough, Staten Island was the outlier, with 68% voting in favor of Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate. The 2017 electoral results were similar to 2021. Republican candidate Malliotakis was favored by 70.8% of voters in Staten Island.

With a new mayor, NYC could experience changes in policy relating to homelessness and other city issues under Adams’ tenure. Almost half of the undergraduate population at Fordham Lincoln Center are commuters, which means new policies will influence these students and their families’ lives — as well as resident students.

Omi Mehta, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center ’25 and a resident, noted how she was “extremely happy” that Adams won the electoral election, mentioning that “he is very qualified and has a strong background in politics.”

Mehta explained that because Adams’ values are associated with the Democratic Party, she looks forward to seeing what impacts his decisions have on NYC.

Sophia Zanga, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’25 and a resident, spoke about how she “did not know much about Adams and his win,” detailing how she felt that since many students are ineligible to vote in NYC, “they mainly focus on the election in their hometown.”

Although voter turnout for the mayoral election was low, the election is already influencing NYC politics.

Adams has already begun unique administrative choices, such as his appointment of Stephen Scherr, a Goldman Sachs financial officer, one of the multiple businessmen in Adams’ staff thus far.

The approval rate of outgoing de Blasio is currently 37%, and there was a clear drop from a rating of 45% in April 2021, which represents city residents’ negative perception of the mayoral office.

While Adams continues to choose mayoral staff and elects a new NYPD commissioner, it remains to be seen whether Adams will carry out his campaign proposals.

PHOTOS BY AIDAN LANE/THE OBSERVER After 31 days of protesting, the Taxi Workers Alliance launched a hunger strike on Oct. 28. The drivers are asking for a debt relief program on their medallion loans.

De Blasio Accepts Union Debt Relief Plan for Taxi Drivers

After a 45-day strike, taxi drivers celebrate a victory in fight for debt relief

By AIDAN LANE Asst. Features Editor

On a warm, blue-skied afternoon, the Taxi Workers Alliance (TWA) gathered on the corner of Murray Street and Broadway outside of City Hall. They had been protesting there for 31 days — all day, all night — but on that day, Wednesday, Oct. 28, there was more commotion and media, and the stakes were higher.

The striking cabbies were about to launch a hunger strike.

Since Uber began business in NYC in 2011 and Lyft entered the industry in 2014, ride-hail companies have waged a war against NYC yellow cabs, controlling more and more of the market each year. Until 2017, the ridehail industry had yet to win, but that year Uber served more riders than NYC taxis. The war certainly seemed over.

In 2014, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) had its last auction of Taxi Medallions, the license required for drivers to operate yellow cabs in NYC. TLC is the regulatory body of all for-hire car services in the city. The starting price for a single medallion was $850,000. The estimated price of a medallion today is $100,000. The average driver’s debt is around $600,000.

As a result of the Uber and Lyft takeover, NYC’s taxi drivers have suffered. Thousands foreclosed on their medallion loans, with many forced to spend their retirement savings and work long days for dwindling earnings.

“We have a lot of drivers who are in their 60s — some are even pushing their 70s — that have no retirement,” Augustine Tang, a taxi driver and strike organizer, said. “They want to go back out to work, but they don’t want to be trapped behind the wheel, basically in indentured servitude, working to pay off the loan that they will never be able to pay back.”

The medallion market collapse struck at the heart of these cabbies’ very existence, as city officials offered taxi medallions to immigrants as a way of achieving their coveted “American dream.”

“They were going to airports saying, ‘Hey look, you have a chance to get to the middle class,’ that the medallion is better than the stock market, that it was even a worry-free retirement for these guys,” Tang said.

Mouhamadou Aliyu, a taxi driver since 2001 and an immigrant from Ivory Coast, said he is pained by the destruction of his dream.

“I’ve been coming to this building, city hall, since 2017 asking for help, asking for mercy, because they turned my dream into a nightmare,” he said. “They destroyed my life. They took the American Dream away from me.”

On Sept. 18, the TLC finally proposed a debt relief plan for the drivers. It would cost the city $65 million and cap payments for drivers at around $1,600 a month. There would be no city-backed guarantee on medallion loans, meaning drivers would still be at risk of foreclosure and bankruptcy.

Organizers said the TLC’s plan was way too little, way too late. A strike was necessary.

In 2015, the city declined to cap the number of ride-hail drivers in NYC. They later did so, but in 2019 the cap was struck down in court. There are now more than 130,000 ride-hail drivers in NYC, compared to 13,587 medallions, half of which are not currently being used due to fear of bankruptcy. This means there are only about 7,000 active cabbies in the city.

Tang said he inherited his medallion from his father, who passed away six years ago. Along with the medallion, he inherited $530,000 in debt.

“I decided to keep it — really just to carry on his legacy and keep the medallion in the family,” he said. “Five years ago I didn’t know anything about driving a taxi, about the medallion. I didn’t know how much goes into a taxi, how much expense and hardship was going to come from all the for-hire vehicles that were flooding the city.”

After 45 days of protest, with 14 of the strikers on a two-week hunger strike, the drivers have become a family. During the protests, the drivers showed infinite compassion for each other and for their respective struggles. Each striker was friendly, welcoming and calm — sometimes almost joyful. But as the protest would heat up, the raw emotion of their fury and of their sadness was palpable.

“I was trying to build a better life for my kids and the system just destroyed the whole thing,” Aliyu said. “It’s too much pain. The suffering’s unbearable.”

Jimmy Lai, a Malaysian immigrant who has worked as a taxi driver for 17 years, is also in massive debt, but said his struggles are nothing in comparison to older drivers.

“I know one driver from Hong Kong. He started to drive in 1973. It’s been 48 years already. They lost all their retirement. This is a disaster,” Lai said.

It was through their resiliency that the TWA finally won. On Nov. 3, with the support of the entire NYC congressional delegation and more than 70 current state senators and assembly members, the city accepted a slightly modified version of the TWA debt relief proposal. The proposal included a debt cap at $170,000, monthly payments of around $1,100 and a city-backed guarantee if drivers can’t make those payments.

After the city and TWA announced they had come to an agreement, the protest became a celebration. Those on hunger strike could finally eat and those who had forgone work for a month and a half could go back to supporting their families.

Their victory takes place amid the backdrop of a national surge in union strikes and an increase in public support of labor.

While NYC taxi drivers have won this fight, the very existence of yellow cabs is still at stake. Ride-hail companies continue to dominate the market, and in order to make their $1,100-a-month payments, drivers will still need to work long hours.

But not everything is going the way of ride-hail companies. This summer, taxi usage went up 5% while ride-hail use declined 15%, in part due to the shortage of drivers amid the pandemic.

With the Curb app designed to promote NYC taxis, cabs seem ready for more riders. The app has lower fares than Uber and Lyft, no surge pricing, and it gives drivers more money than competitors.

Uber has no plans of giving up its market share, as the company is in talks with TLC to offer taxis operated by medallion-owning drivers a place on its app.

Aliyu said the idea of working with Uber is repulsive.

“I can’t stand them,” he said. “We paid over a million dollars for this thing (the medallion). They came in and got it for free. This is why we’re here now, protesting the predatory lending.”

For now, yellow taxi drivers can enjoy their hard-earned victory, but the years ahead contain more uncertainty than answers.

“I’ve been coming to this building, city hall, since 2017 asking for help, asking for mercy, because they turned my dream into a nightmare.”

Mouhamadou Aliyu, taxi driver

Co-founded in 2018 by a Fordham alum, the event celebrates local food and the community

Public Safety provided footage to the NYPD but did not claim responsibility for workers’ safety

By TARA LENTELL Staff Designer

Most Fordham students know that Arthur Avenue is famous for its array of Italian eateries. The wide variety of food offered in Bronx Little Italy goes beyond Arthur Avenue. From street vendors to restaurants, the Bronx has every type of food imaginable. Foodies can enjoy lobster and seafood at City Island Seafood Shack, Caribbean food from Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights, chocolate mousse at Miss Grimble, and pastrami and rye at Liebman’s Deli. The list goes on.

Until a few years ago, there was no one-stop showcase of all the fantastic food found in the Bronx. Marco Shalma co-founded the market with Amanda Celestino, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’17, in order to change that.

Shalma and Celestino co-founded the Bronx Night Market in 2018. They met at a food event held in the South Bronx and connected after seeing a lack of appreciation for food from the borough. They sought to create a market with the goal of spreading the word about the incredible food in the Bronx.

Both Shalma and Celestino are foodies with an affinity for marketing and great aesthetics. They made a perfect team. Their experience in marketing was integral — Celestino worked as an editor of the magazine “Edible Bronx,” and Shalma worked for a company doing marketing for small businesses.

Over the past decade, night markets brimming with food vendors, food and music have sprung up throughout NYC’s five boroughs and across major cities in the U.S.

On March 21, 2011, Smorgasburg opened in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It became a massive success and the largest open-air market in the country. The concept of open-air food markets continued to spread. Smorgasburg opened locations in Manhattan and Los Angeles, and in 2015, Queens launched its own night market.

Shalma and Celestino knew that the Bronx also had the potential to be a major attraction, so they began looking for the perfect location.

“Once we found the Fordham Plaza, we knew immediately that was the place,” Shalma said. “First of all, it has Fordham University right there. Second, it is right by the Metro North. And third, it is one of the largest plazas and shopping districts in the city.”

More than 7,000 people attended the first event on June 30, 2018, making it a huge success.

The first Bronx Night Market included restaurants from around the borough and tried to bring a “global experience” to market goers. As the market expanded, street vendors have found it easier to staff their booths.

“There is a core group of about 1012 vendors that everyone loves and has come to expect,” Shalma said. “Most people don’t come every week, but when they do, they expect to see certain vendors. For the rest of the slots, we make sure to mix it up and give different businesses the opportunity.”

The Bronx Night Market aims to support small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees) by exposing them to new customers. Shalma also hopes to employ “micro-business” vendors (those with 20 employees or fewer) at the market.

Many micro-businesses are immigrant-owned. Shalma has always wanted to use the Bronx Night Market to facilitate their success. During the pandemic shut-down when many of these local vendors suffered economic losses, the market partnered with the Bronx Chamber of Commerce in December 2020 for its annual toy and coat drive. The event allowed vendors to stay open and sell products during the holiday season.

The free market’s music and lights cannot be missed, and anyone can explore the plethora of food offerings and vendors for free. Its location is a five-minute walk from the closest Rose Hill campus exit, which makes it a perfect destination for Fordham students.

Jason Bonner, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’25, attended the market on Halloween weekend.

“I thought it was really fun. The DJ was good and the music was pretty cool,” Bonner said. “The tacos I had were really, really good.”

The Bronx Night Market hosted its last event of 2021 on Nov. 13, which was called the Bronx Harvest Fest. In addition to the 55 vendors in attendance, there was a full lineup of performers — including two Fordham a cappella groups.

Shalma appreciates when Fordham students check out their events.

“I’d just like to shout out Fordham U kids. Every year at the end of August, the vibe changes at the Market, and you know that Fordham students are back,” Shalma said. “It’s great to have them here, and it always makes the September and October months of the season some of our favorites.”

“For the rest of the slots, we make sure to mix it up and give different businesses the opportunity. ”

Marco Shalma, Co-founder of Bronx Night Market

“I thought it was really fun. The DJ was good and the music was pretty cool. ”

Jason Bonner, FCLC ‘25

ALYSSA DAUGHDRILL/THE OBSERVER The Bronx Night Market founded in 2018 aims to support small businesses and expand their exposure to new customers.

Halal Cart Outside Lowenstein Robbed

By MARYAM BESHARA and CHLOE ZELCH Asst. News Editors

The halal cart frequented by Fordham community members outside of Lowenstein was robbed on Monday, Oct. 18, at 3:12 p.m. One of the halal cart employees was cut when confronting one of the thieves.

In an email sent to the Fordham community on Oct. 19, John Carroll, associate vice president of Public Safety, wrote that no university personnel were harmed in the incident. Public Safety reported that two men approached the halal cart, and one person distracted the server by asking for directions while the other took the tip jar and fled on an electric scooter. Carroll wrote that one employee chased the thief up 60th Street toward Amsterdam Avenue, where he confronted the thief, who then cut the employee on his hand and fled.

Robert Dineen, director of Public Safety, said Fordham was notified of the incident by the NYPD. Although officers arrived after the thieves had fled, Fordham provided closed-circuit television footage of the suspects to detectives.

“Unfortunately, while we certainly support all members of the public, Fordham University cannot be respon-

sible for ensuring the safety of vendors who are not operating on University property,” Dineen said. Bashir Elfiky, the owner of the halal cart, recounted the incident. He said one of the thieves asked his coworker how to get to Times Square while the other person ordered a cheeseburger, took the tip jar and fled. Another halal cart employee held the assailant by the arm, waiting for the police to arrive until the thief pulled out a knife and cut Elfiky’s finger. “I said ‘Somebody help me, help. Somebody call the police,’” he reported. “He drove my hand down and broke my phone.”

Elfiky has been serving halal food at the 60th Street location for five years and noted that one of the other employees has had his wallet stolen while working in the past. He explained that this robbery was out of the ordinary.

“This is the first time I have seen somebody like that, young, about 18 years old ... He did not have a mask ... It was abnormal,” he said.

Elfiky explained that he typically feels safe working near Fordham. “I love everyone here like a brother. I love my customers. I love my food. I love my truck,” he said.

“The halal cart is a staple of our community,” Maddy Feltus, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’22, said. “When we had dining plans, we relied on their food. Fordham should support them.”

Many students were upset by the robbery of the halal cart and visited the next day to add more money to the tip jar.

“A lot of my friends went to get food from the halal cart the day after the email about the robbery was sent out and made sure to tip the workers extra,” Feltus said.

David Fretz, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’22, said he frequents the halal cart every few weeks in between his Ram Van shifts. He said he believes that Fordham should supply the police with any security footage, but it would be difficult to do anything beyond that.

“What else is there to do? Install more cameras? Hire a public safety officer to watch the cart?” he asked. “At that point you might as well just give the halal guys the money it would cost and call it even.”

Caroline Doyle, FCRH ’23 and a Ram Van driver, occasionally visits the halal cart during long shifts.

“I was sad to hear about the robbery — stealing the tips of anyone who works long and hard days is unfair, and the guys at the halal cart deserve it the least of anyone,” she said.

Public Safety checked in on the halal cart workers in the days following the robbery.

“On the day of the incident my duty supervisor went to the ambulance to check on the victim. His injury was minor and, thankfully, he was doing fine,” Dineen said. “My duty supervisor also stopped by the cart on the days following the incident to check on the vendor. Again, he was fine.”

The NYPD has not been in further contact with Elfiky about the robbery. They last contacted him for a photo of his injured hand on Oct. 19 and have not called him about the incident since.

Dineen explained that the 20th precinct of the NYPD is still investigating the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Public Safety at (212) 636-6076 and speak with a public safety supervisor.

“I love everyone here like a brother. I love my customers. ”

Bashir Elfiky, halal cart owner