At 4:58 on June 11, the New York State Senate interrupted its "fast roll call" legislative session to honor TWU Local 100's own Danny Hay, a Train Operator who took action to save lives when he stopped an F train about to barrel into the Delancey Street subway station where a man had fallen onto the tracks. Hay used his flashlight to alert the oncoming Train Operator and the train stopped in time, avoiding tragedy. Two good Samaritans had also descended to the road bed, and all three would likely have been killed if not for Hay's quick thinking and acting. Taking a trip up to Albany with TWU Local 100 Political Action Director Marvin Holland and PAC staffer Cheska Tolentino, Hay found time to chat with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who he knew from political campaigning, with Jim Brennan, Chair of the powerful Committee on Authorities, and with State Senator Adriano Espaillat, who he is lobbying to support platform conductors on subway stations where construction hazards exist as a public safety measure. He also met with Washington Heights Assemblywoman Gabriela Rosa, who has been taking part in our rallies to restore a token booth at 168th Street on the A, C and 1. Then Hay met with State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx), who shares the top leadership post in the Senate with Republican Dean Skelos.
They posed for a picture outside the Senate chambers next to a statue of Robert Livingston, one of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence. On the floor of the Senate chamber, Hay was presented with a proclamation recounting his heroic and decisive actions on April 7. The proclamation, Senate Resolution 3222, says in part that it is "the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize, honor and pay tribute to those individuals within the State of New York who perform rescue operations with courage, diligence and precision, resulting in heroic life-saving actions."
Following the reading of the proclamation, Sen. Klein spoke to the full Senate, saying in part, "each and every day, public servants keep us safe. Danny Hay is a dedicated employee of the MTA, which has kept millions of New Yorkers moving...it is incumbent on all of us to recognize him for his act of bravery." After his remarks, the entire Senate -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- rose to their feet and applauded Hay, who stood in the visitor's gallery.
