One Brooklyn
March 26, 2020
“Today, we learned that an MTA worker named Peter Petrassi succumbed to COVID-19. He was the first confirmed transit employee to pass from this disease. Our hearts go out to Mr. Petrassi’s loved ones during this difficult time. Every loss we suffer during this pandemic is a tragedy, but this loss is especially heartbreaking to all those who knew Mr. Petrassi at the MTA, and all those whose lives he touched.
“As the coronavirus spreads, transit workers are being asked to brave unimaginable circumstances to keep our city moving. They have to show up every day. And yet, many are not receiving the proper protection to ensure they are safe on the job. That needs to change, and that’s why we stood with TWU Local 100 yesterday at the Flatbush Avenue Depot to call for protective masks for all transit workers, especially front-line employees. This tragedy today underscores the need for the MTA to immediately invest in greater safety measures for these workers — they simply cannot afford to wait.”
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