A former newsstand in lower Manhattan was renovated to serve those who make their living on the road. The City Hall Park Deliverista Hub offers delivery workers a place to rest and charge their phones and electric bikes, all key parts of the industry.
The center is open to delivery workers in Lower Manhattan and is located in City Hall Park.
“To build a city that values, protects and empowers workers,” Ligia Guallpa of the Workers Justice Project told News 4. “That is a future where we [are] fighting together.”
Tuesday served as opening day in City Hall Park for the first federally funded delivery workers hub in the United States.
“If they have an issue regarding deactivations, or a problem with wage theft involving the apps, they can come to this place and have their voices heard,” said Antonio Solís of los Deliveristas Unidos.
Senator Chuck Schumer helped secure $1 million for the project. The initiative had been stalled for over three years but was fast-tracked thanks to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who made it a goal to open the center before completing his first 100 days in office.
Senator Schumer stated that the center aims to improve working conditions for delivery workers, who have even reported instances of mistreatment.
“We saw how difficult the work was, and how mean some people are,” said Senator Schumer.
The newsstand was vacant for six years and now serves as a new resource for some of the city’s roughly 80-thousand delivery workers.
“And they deserve the infrastructure that works just as hard as they do,” Tricia Shimamura, NYC Parks Commissioner, said. “This hub is now a place where delivery workers can rest.”
