By Sabrina Rezzy
BROOKLYN, NY – East Flatbush residents and drivers will consider an eco-friendly proposal to replace the gas-powered dollar vans along Flatbush and Utica avenues with an all-electric vehicular fleet. Through a series of town halls, both in-person and virtual, and an online survey, a coalition of community-based organizations seeks public input on the new plan to reduce greenhouse gases and improve air quality in central Brooklyn.
The East Flatbush Community Development Corporation (EFCDC), Haitian American Caucus (HAC), Perch Advisors, Dollaride, and Build Edison, in partnership with Elite Learners and the Flatbush Development Corporation, undertook the month-long outreach campaign to address community concerns and questions.
From public safety and industry regulation to driver displacement and accessibility, twenty-five Brooklyn residents weighed at the in-person town hall while adding a few of their ideas before the rollout of the green fleet. Residents expressed their need for a senior pass and expanded routes to other transit deserts like Canarsie, Coney Island, Red Hook, and Wyckoff. Participants from the communities hit hardest by the pandemic noted how dollar vans can provide job opportunities, helping aid the city’s economic recovery.
As many as 1.4 million New Yorkers in the outer boroughs lack equitable and affordable access to public transportation. Dollar vans have played an integral part in closing those gaps since the
In the 1980s, when they began operating by transporting thousands of daily commuters for as little as $2 per ride.
Dollaride is one of the finalists for the New York State Energy & Research Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Clean Neighborhood Challenge Grant. Their proposal, if funded, could help remedy chronic transportation challenges, such as safety, accessibility, and accountability, by becoming an eco-friendly and cost-efficient transportation alternative. The NYSERDA Clean Neighborhood Prize would enable Dollaride to launch electric vehicles, namely commuter vans, in high-priority areas — transit deserts in the Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods where they operate.
As more New Yorkers return to their offices and classrooms full-time, it is critical to ease congestion and air pollution in densely populated residential neighborhoods with limited mass transit service.
“The fact of the matter is we’re not adding more vehicles to the road; we’re replacing vehicles already there. So that’s a good thing to keep in mind about this project. Most of the drivers operating today have 10, 15, or maybe even 20 years old vehicles. We want to give them the latest and the greatest, so they can feel proud about what they are doing and know that as they operate, they are not polluting our neighborhoods,” said Su Sanni, Co-Founder and CEO of Dollaride.
“Climate change is at the forefront of so many people’s minds. East Flatbush Community Development Corporation is focused on environmental justice. Science shows us that climate change and racism are deeply intertwined,” said Rona Taylor, the East Flatbush Community Development Corporation executive director. “I am grateful for the many Brooklyn residents who came out to our town halls, shared their questions and concerns in community meetings, and completed our survey so that their voices could be heard. Also, I deeply appreciate our community partners Elite Learners, the Flatbush Development Corporation, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), and the community boards who helped us spread the word.”
“Many of the dollar van drivers in Flatbush/East Flatbush are Haitian-owned, and so in alignment with our mission, we wanted to make sure that we shared this information with the Haitian community to help foster self-development and success,” said Samuel Pierre, Executive Director of the Haitian American Caucus. “We have a very robust workforce development program, and perhaps there will be an opportunity, if this initiative is funded, to help build out a workforce component.”
An all-electric dollar van fleet will require readily available charging stations, creating new job opportunities for thousands of New Yorkers who will help usher in the green revolution.
“For this project, we’re primarily focusing on installing chargers in the parking lots of retail stores, churches, and community centers around dollar van routes. This will allow customers, employees, and community members to use the chargers during the day and let the dollar van
drivers charge overnight,” said Max McCafferty, COO of Build Edison. “The program will cover the upgrades, the installation, and all the costs associated with installing and operating these electric vehicle chargers.”
“If you come to East Flatbush, people will tell you, ‘we’re never part of the conversation, we never hear anything,'” said Council Member Farah N. Louis during a recent town hall held at Brooklyn Commons. “This is a good start to the conversation to have a larger dialogue with the whole community before changes are made.”
“The thing to keep in mind is that if this is successful, it should encourage many more people to join dollar vans. We want this to be a pathway to employment, opportunity, and ownership,” concluded Sanni.
The winner(s) of the NYSERDA Clean Neighborhood Challenge Grant will be announced in the fall.
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About East Flatbush Community Development Corporation
East Flatbush CDC works hand-in-hand with community leaders, nonprofits, and stakeholders to spark lasting social change for a fair and just Brooklyn. We are focused on improving the quality of life for low and moderate-income East Flatbush residents through community engagement and development.
About the Haitian American Caucus (HAC)
HAC is a global community development nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide Haitian communities worldwide with access to information and resources that will foster self-development and success. Our goal is to improve the reputation and visibility of minorities by breaking the barriers we face while living in America.
About Dollarhide
Dollaride provides an innovative technology platform that connects people living in transit deserts to ride-sharing networks called “dollar vans.” Dollaride = Mobile app powered by dollar vans.
About Build Edison
Build Edison leverages decades of experience and established partnerships to grow innovative technologies into revenue-generating businesses. We offer a consistent path to commercial viability, matching exceptional cleantech to customers and funding while preparing them for growth.
About Perch Advisors
Perch Advisors is a full-service consulting firm focusing on the nexus of where communities meet – business, jobs, economic sustainability, open space, public land, and policy.
About Elite Learners
Elite Learners, Inc. is a school and community-based organization providing athletic, educational, and mentorship programming to youth and their families to build community leaders.
About Flatbush Development Corporation
FDC is dedicated to meeting the needs of a diverse and vibrant Brooklyn. FDC identifies and responds to these needs by building partnerships, creating programs, and developing campaigns that promote enhanced quality of life, safety, equity, and preservation of our community.
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