New Program To Offer Emergency Transportation For 'Vulnerable'

EAST HAMPTON, NY — For many, the most basic act of getting a desperately ill child to a doctor's appointment is a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

And that's a situation Minerva Perez, executive director of Organizacion Latino Americana, or OLA, is setting out to change.

OLA has been seeking a driver to provide emergency transportation, a new initiative that will to cover limited areas in Southampton and East Hampton Towns, for a period covering January to April.

"OLA is seeking to address some of the serious gaps in public transportation by offering scheduled rides to critical appointments that cannot be made through town or county transportation services," Perez said. "Our main focus to start will be getting children to pediatric visits so that cold weather and lack of funds for taxis do not stop parents from making regular visits to pediatricians as needed."

OLA, Perez said, is in contact with pediatric offices. "OLA will only be able to do this for a limited time through the winter, but we are hoping to help some members of our community most affected by the lack of transportation access. Transportation access is the key to a healthy community."

In an interview with Patch, Perez said that although "Suffolk County has a $2.9 billion budget . . less than 1% goes toward public bus transportation. OLA should not have to do this. The reality is Suffolk County is not committing the funds and the urgency to building and maintaining a public transportation system that is worthy of our community. It lacks in too many areas to recount but the main needs are twice the frequency of pick up, starting earlier and ending later, and being safe and reliable."

At present, Perez said, it could take a Springs parent trying to get their child to the Pantigo Road clinic in East Hampton almost 3 hours.

Pediatricians have told Perez that less of their patients have been able to keep appointments, Perez said.

The community's "most vulnerable members" need to have basic needs met in regard to access to public transportation, Perez said.

The situation, as it exists, is "unconscionable. OLA hopes to help at least a small percentage of folks who are not otherwise eligible for Suffolk County Accessible Transportation, or SCAT, buses or other town orchestrated transportation services. East Hampton has a great service, with about 7 buses, but that's only for 60+ or permanently disabled folks. It's a great offering but many others do not qualify," she said.

Perez said both Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and former East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell have supported the concept.

"It is our hope that we help folks and also gather more information on what needs to happen and which among our local institutions can help," Perez said.

The driver's position would pay $20 per hour, depending upon work experience; the driver must be 25 or older with a valid New York State driver's license, have a good driving record, agree to a DMV records check, must speak English and Spanish, be familiar with East Hampton and Southampton roads, and be available for 3 full 8 hour days per week. The position is part time, with no benefits.

Those interested should call 631-899-3441 for additional information.

Patch photo courtesy Minerva Perez.