Gig workers fear carjacking, other violence amid spike in violence crimes

[Diamond_Dog]

This is just heartbreaking.... these folks are just trying to make a living....



******

“I'm very fearful every time I go out," said Solis, who makes $800 to $1,000 a week before expenses and taxes. "I don't want to lose my life over a $100 bottle of cognac or a fast food order."

Solis is one of 15 gig economy workers who spoke with NBC News and said they feared for their safety as violence against the industry has spiked during the coronavirus pandemic. Police in several major cities, including Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., say carjackings and car thefts, particularly against gig economy drivers, rose during the pandemic.

Some drivers say that despite the companies' best efforts, they are changing their hours, avoiding certain areas and even carrying weapons, like wasp spray, Mace, Tasers and firearms, to protect themselves.

"As the danger grows more and more, that's what's pushing me more towards the possibility of doing it," Solis said about carrying a gun.

It's a pattern that especially affects minorities working in the lower-paying jobs, said Veena Dubal, a professor at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, who has extensively researched the taxi industry and the gig economy.

"A lot of these workers are subordinated racial minorities, and they are likely to bear the brunt of physical violence, because they are in public doing this kind of work," she said.

Much more

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/gig-workers-fear-carjacking-other-violence-amid-spike-violence-crimes-n1264987

[I_UndergroundPanther]

1. My best friend is an Uber driver

And he knows I worry about him when he works. He does late hours and I often think of him.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. I hope your best friend stays.safe, I_UndergroundPanther

We live in such a violent society. This is just heartbreaking.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

4. I hope he stays safe too

He ran into a couple of people who didn't wear masks. Told them to put on masks or get out of the car.

They acted like karen's.
He luckily defused the situation and they left.

[Dream Girl]

3. I e never heard the term subordinated minorities.

[Midnight Writer]

5. They need to wear body cams and trackers with footage streamed to remote location.

At least if they get assaulted the perpetrators can be readily identified.

My bet is that there are a relatively small number of offenders committing many offenses each. Round up a bunch of them and take them out of circulation. This is small time shit. You don't get rich by robbing the pizza guy.

[Diamond_Dog]

6. I wouldn't exactly say it was small time shit

I can’t imagine the fear of that woman with her kid in the car being surrounded by five big guys trying to get inside her car.

Lots of violent bigots just looking for someone to hurt or harass.

I would not feel,safe doing this alone, as a woman.