DA Takes DeJesus Case Off Court Calendar

TA Surface Division Chair Willie Rivera with Bus Operator Francisco DeJesus
TA Surface Division Chair Willie Rivera with Bus Operator Francisco DeJesus

Bus Operator Francisco DeJesus, a 30-year veteran with a good record, was arrested under the Vision Zero law on February 13th for "failure to yield" in an accident which injured a 15-year-old girl in Williamsburg. Today, his case was taken off the court calendar pending further discussions between the Union, the lawyer representing Mr. DeJesus, and the Brooklyn District Attorney. TWU Local 100 contends that Brother DeJesus should not have been arrested at the scene. We believe that this practice criminalizes Bus Operators who do their jobs professionally but nevertheless get into accidents.

JP Patafio, Vice President of TA Surface, addressed a room full of Bus Operators who gathered to support DeJesus. On hand were most of the Union's top officials in the leadership of the two Bus Departments, TA Surface and MaBSTOA, representing some 10,000 bus operators. Patafio noted that TWU Local 100 currently is closing in on a majority in the City Council needed to amend the Vision Zero law so as not to mandate arrests of Bus Operators at accident scenes. DeJesus thanked the operators for showing up, saying that their support was a great lift to his spirits. Operator Felix Lopez, who had DeJesus as an instructor, stood to ask the room to stand for a moment of silence for DeJesus's mother, who had just passed. It was a moment that spoke volumes about the solidarity we feel for each other in the TWU.