Ydanis Rodríguez is one of the most recognized Latin personalities in the world of politics in New York City. And after having spent 12 years on the Municipal Council, this Dominican, from 56 years, who was a dishwasher, taxi driver, teacher, and even a cafeteria worker in the same building in Lower Manhattan where today he has his office as Commissioner of Transportation of the Administration of Mayor Eric Adams, assures that he continues to be moved by the commitment of fighting injustice and creating opportunities for the working class and the most vulnerable.
The Latino official, born and raised in a village in Licey al medio, in La chiva, Moca, in The Dominican Republic assures that in addition to being proud of the country from which he comes, he feels honored to be a Latino and a New Yorker, who from his new position will leave “his skin” to carry out improvements. Issues such as the management of highways and road spaces, to promoting the “Open Restaurant” program, which saved thousands of businesses in the midst of the pandemic, and achieving security so that there are no more pedestrians and cyclists killed by reckless and irresponsible motorists. , they are your north.
How does it make you feel to be one of the Dominicans who has reached such a high position in New York, such as Transportation Commissioner?
“As a Dominican, as a Latino and as a New Yorker, I feel very satisfied with the opportunity that God has given me in life. First of all, to allow myself to grow up with the values, to understand that from a point of view of faith, our job is always to fight for societies to create opportunities so that human beings can develop all their talent. For me it is very satisfying to be today the first Latino commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, one of the largest and most complex departments in the world, with the responsibility, not only of having to advance ideas, of hard-working people, but a management responsibility, to make sure I run an agency of about 6, 10 employees, with a budget of $1,300 million dollars of spending and 20,10 million for 10 years, in capital investments”.
What Dominican label does Ydanis have that has led to where it is today?
“I am proud to have been born in the Dominican Republic, because I believe that identity is an important weapon that we have to maintain, and therefore, I celebrate my Dominican independence, as I celebrate Mexican independence, Colombian independence and those of other places. For me it is a pride to have been born in the Dominican Republic, to come here, to grow up there, and to bring not only the energy of being an immigrant who came to provide cheap labor, but also to participate in social work, in which I began to train in the Dominican Republic. Dominican, with the Jesuit fathers, when I was a Boy Scout, when I was a catechist. I thank the formation that I bring from the Dominican Republic with the parents, formed around the Theology of liberation. It is proud to celebrate where we come from, but many times Latinos are victims of divide and conquer, of seeing each of us in small niches. I think it is important to highlight that our agenda, first of all, is a New York agenda, to create opportunities, to celebrate the fact that in this same building where I am a commissioner today, I worked in a cafeteria for years 80. That is why today when I see a young man working here, moving boxes, or a lady cleaning, whether Russian or Latin, for me the connection is great because I am one of those people”.
Which one is that goal that from the Department of Transportation you have between eyebrows?
“End the epidemic of people who die hit by vehicles, something that worldwide takes the lives of 1.2 million each anus. The vision of Mayor Eric Adams and something that is my commitment to execute, is to bring safety also for pedestrians, because the violence of a driver who runs a light, or who drives too fast, or who drives drunk, or who is goes from one scene, it’s just as violent as someone using a gun to take someone’s life. We’re working on that with this Mayor (…) and if there is a legacy that I want to leave behind as part of Mayor Eric Adams’ vision, it is to attack that violence of cars hitting people and leaving the scene. And I know that we can control it and we are going to invest whatever is necessary so that the intersections are safe, and that crossing a corner is not a danger.”
What other priority do you have in your work at the Department of Transportation?
“Another priority is to make the ‘Open restaurant’ program permanent and efficient, which has turned to New York right now in the city with the most restaurants using sidewalks and public spaces. We hope that this program, which became temporary, will be permanent and we are going to make sure that in low-income places, such as areas of the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island, where there were no tables on the sidewalks, as the upper class did , this is that permanent. With God ahead, we are going to turn New York into the city with the largest permanent program in the United States”.
When you were a child and you were in your town, did you imagine reaching political positions? ?
“I come from a countryside, where until my first nine years, the mode of transportation was donkeys, horses and bicycles, and a single man who had a car, was the one who was looking for when people went to the capital. I come from an experience where we were taught 13 brothers and sisters, that with scarce resources, we had to work hard and all that I am, it is the product of the investment that my family made in me in values. I come from a common childhood, living the wealth of a large family in the countryside, with the people who lived around. That helped us survive. We educated ourselves with community values, and that was the most important thing. I didn’t plan to run for an elected office until the year 300, but since 83, when I came here, My fight has been to fight against injustice. At my 56 years, I can say that more than 40 have dedicated ourselves to the experience organization and faith, to the promotion of youth culture. Here I washed dishes, I drove a taxi, I worked in factories and in cafeterias, I got a degree in political science, I was a teacher, I did social studies, but the best doctorate was practical life. After 15 years as a teacher, 12 as a councilor and Now as Commissioner of Transportation, today I can say that here, as I have always done, I am going to leave my skin to do well, and represent our entire Dominican, Latino and New York community with dignity.”