cybervampira
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Family fears worst after cash-strapped cabbie goes missing
Family and friends are fearing the worst after a financially reeling cabbie left his car by the East River 10 days ago and has yet to be heard from since.
Yumain Kenny Chow, 56, was last seen on May 11 and had been stressed about a $700,000 mortgage on his taxi medallion that he couldnt pay off, say those close to him.
He was very upset about the mortgage on his medallion and the mortgage on his house and not being able to provide for his family, said his brother, Richard Chow.
Kenny Chow, who moved to the US from Burma when he was in his 20s, bought his medallion in 2011 when rates were at a record high and just before Uber and other rideshare app companies moved into the New York City market, his brother said.
[...]
At least four for-hire drivers have committed suicide in the past six months.
Cabbies blame the city for allowing app-based ride services such as Uber and Lyft to expand unchecked and gobble up traditional drivers customers which has led to desperation among drivers.
Its such a sign of the times, said New York Taxi Workers Alliance Executive Director Bhairavi Desai. In years past, if a driver was missing, youd fear murder or assault, now you fear suicide. There is such a dark cloud over them. Every day, drivers are struggling with poverty, and each day the future looks bleaker.
Chow and his wife were in such dire financial straights that they couldnt pay for their daughter to go to college and she had to return home, said friend and fellow cab driver Johnny Ho. And Chows wife was recently diagnosed with cancer.
His car was found on 86th Street and East End Avenue, which is just a block from the East River.
Cops confirmed that Chows family filed a missing-person report May 12 and that they found his vehicle but no sign of the cabbie.
Article: https://nypost.com/2018/05/21/family-fears-worst-after-cash-strapped-cabbie-goes-missing/
Family and friends are fearing the worst after a financially reeling cabbie left his car by the East River 10 days ago and has yet to be heard from since.
Yumain Kenny Chow, 56, was last seen on May 11 and had been stressed about a $700,000 mortgage on his taxi medallion that he couldnt pay off, say those close to him.
He was very upset about the mortgage on his medallion and the mortgage on his house and not being able to provide for his family, said his brother, Richard Chow.
Kenny Chow, who moved to the US from Burma when he was in his 20s, bought his medallion in 2011 when rates were at a record high and just before Uber and other rideshare app companies moved into the New York City market, his brother said.
[...]
At least four for-hire drivers have committed suicide in the past six months.
Cabbies blame the city for allowing app-based ride services such as Uber and Lyft to expand unchecked and gobble up traditional drivers customers which has led to desperation among drivers.
Its such a sign of the times, said New York Taxi Workers Alliance Executive Director Bhairavi Desai. In years past, if a driver was missing, youd fear murder or assault, now you fear suicide. There is such a dark cloud over them. Every day, drivers are struggling with poverty, and each day the future looks bleaker.
Chow and his wife were in such dire financial straights that they couldnt pay for their daughter to go to college and she had to return home, said friend and fellow cab driver Johnny Ho. And Chows wife was recently diagnosed with cancer.
His car was found on 86th Street and East End Avenue, which is just a block from the East River.
Cops confirmed that Chows family filed a missing-person report May 12 and that they found his vehicle but no sign of the cabbie.
Article: https://nypost.com/2018/05/21/family-fears-worst-after-cash-strapped-cabbie-goes-missing/
