Volunteers from Chaverim of Queens & Great Neck and Chaverim of the Five Towns & Far Rockaway are supporting a statewide effort aimed at addressing one of the most common frustrations heard from motorists across New York: the rising cost of auto insurance.
In a joint letter dated March 11, the New York State Chaverim Coalition expressed strong support for Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to reduce insurance premiums for drivers across the state. The letter was sent to New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
For Chaverim volunteers, the issue is something they encounter regularly while assisting drivers.
Across neighborhoods like Kew Gardens Hills, Forest Hills, Hillcrest, Great Neck, the Five Towns, and Far Rockaway, many drivers say insurance costs have risen sharply in recent years.
As a dispatcher and responder with Chaverim of Queens & Great Neck, I regularly hear from drivers who say that insurance has become one of the most difficult expenses of owning a car in New York.
The rising premiums also impact the nonprofit volunteer organizations that operate service vehicles to assist motorists throughout the state.
Chaverim organizations collectively maintain and operate more than 100 service vehicles across New York. These vehicles respond to thousands of calls each year, providing roadside assistance and emergency help to stranded motorists around the clock.
Like many nonprofit organizations, Chaverim relies heavily on donations and community support to keep these vehicles on the road. As insurance premiums increase, more of those limited resources must be directed toward coverage costs instead of expanding services and equipment.
Chaverim leaders from across New York signed the letter on behalf of their respective divisions, including Joshua Alter, supervisor of Chaverim of Queens & Great Neck, and Moshe Hamel, supervisor of Chaverim of the Five Towns & Far Rockaway.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
