Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 8 CITY VIEWS January 2, 2026 N ewYork City Councilmember Shekar Krish- nan and NewYork Taxi Workers Alliance led by Bhairavi Desai, celebrated the recent pass- ing of bill Intro 276 on Thursday, December 18, ending the threat of “deactivations” or firings for almost 100,000 app-based drivers in NYC. Intro 276 is the largest and most comprehensive reform of unfair firings for app-based drivers in the coun- try, setting a nationwide precedent for driver protections, a press release from NYTWA said. Uber and Lyft drivers can be deactivated for any rea- son or no reason at all, with no warning and no recourse, notes NYTWA. The bill passed 40 in the affirmative, 7 in the negative and 1 abstention. Prior to its passing, Council Member Krishnan, joined by the NewYork Taxi Workers Alliance, Korean Ameri- can Family Service Center, and Council Members Hanif, Marte, and Epstein, and hundreds of Uber, Lyft, and Yellow Cab drivers drove down Broadway and honked in solidarity. The rally spotlighted drivers who have been deactivated and its impact. “Together, we are standing united with workers and passing my legislation that will start a nationwide move- ment to give app-based drivers the power they deserve,” said Krishnan. “Intro 276 sets the strongest standard for just cause protections for Uber and Lyft drivers in the country,” said Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of the NewYork Taxi Workers Alliance. “The passage of this historic bill means that drivers, who go into debt just to work, will no longer have to worry about going to sleep after a grueling day on the road only to wake and find they have been unfairly deactivated, left with no income overnight at the click of a button.” O n Saturday, December 20, 2025, the Arts4All Foundation, estab- lished by Dr. Sumita SenGupta, and Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital held a Community Holi- day Meet and Greet and National Human Rights Month Celebration, and recognized Olympic Gold and Silver medal winner in fencing, Lauren Skye Scruggs. Scruggs is from Queens, and is the first African American woman to win an individual fencing medal. “I am deeply grateful and honored to receive this award and praise frommy fellow NewYorkers. Queens will always be home for me, and I hope my fenc- ing accomplishments will inspire the next generation of athletes and leaders from the community to have the courage and drive to compete on a global stage,” Scruggs is quoted saying in a press release from Arts4All. “I thank Dr. Sumita SenGupta for this very memorable honor and Long Island Jewish Hospital for all of the wonderful work they do, especially in delivery and postpartummaternal care. Let my story be one of many for Queens,” Scruggs added. Stephany McClain, Scruggs’ mother, said, “I want to take this moment to say thank you to all of the mothers whose compassion and love have raised and supported all of us into the adults we are today. Lauren is one of my four incredibly talented fencing children, and whether your child’s interests are recreational or competitive, it takes tireless dedication and a focus on wellness to make your goals into a reality. Lauren and I hope that our message resonates with the young children and mothers here today in that Queens is a borough of possibility, and through hard work, dedication, and stable support, you can achieve your dreams. When you achieve, we as a community all succeed!” The event which coincided with December being Human Rights Month, organizers recognized Scruggs and her mother, for their historic achievements. They also recognized Lorraine Chambers Lewis, the president of Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital. Dr. SenGupta thanked the Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital and Chambers Lewis, Scruggs and her mother “for their extraordinary accomplishments.” Olympic Champion Lauren Skye Scruggs toured Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital, which is the most diverse medical center within the Northwell sys- tem and is a 312-bed community teaching hospital, part of Northwell Health located in Queens, NewYork. Chambers Lewis said the hospital as proud to host the program “that reflects the strength and diversity of Queens,” adding that partnering with the Arts4All Foundation “allows us to celebrate a his- toric achievement while uplifting stories that inspire.” The elected officials present were NewYork State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Assemblyman Steven Raga, Councilwoman-elect Shanel Thomas- Henry, District Leader Hersh Parekh and District Leader Rhonda Brinda. Lunch was donated by Akbar Himani, the owner of Nanking Restaurant and dessert including an artisan holiday cake was provided by Kaushal Naik, the owner of Hot Breads. NewYork State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said, “It is astounding what NewYorkers are capable of doing under immense pressure. The medical profes- sionals in this room today work under immense pressure to deliver the highest quality of healthcare services.” Other high-profile guests also praised organizers and the individuals recognized at the event. PHOTOS:CourtesyArts4All Foundation ’ PHOTOS:NYTWA Arts4All Foundation & Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital Host Holiday Meet And Greet, Recognize Achievers NYC Council Member Krishnan And NYTWA Celebrate Passing Of Just Cause Protection Law By A StaffWriter By A StaffWriter Dr. Sumita SenGupta and New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli honoring Olympic Champion Lauren Scruggs NYC Councilmember Shekar Krishnan at a rally of taxi drivers demanding end to ‘deactivation NYC taxi drivers rally December 18, 2025. Assemblyman Steven Raga, Lorianne Chambers-Lewis, Dr. Sumita SenGupta, Lauren Scruggs, Stephany McClain, District Leader Rhonda Brinda and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.