Gothamist: Pedestrian Killed by Minivan in Boerum Hill

A

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 21:16:56 -0500

These ambulettes have to be the worst vehicles on the road. The drivers are complete idiots. I've been thinking for a long time that they need to be investigated.

WT Economist

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 12:17:15 -0500

(what is an ambulette?) A way for the politically connected to make millions. Among the Medicaid-funded services that exist here but not elsewhere, the state pays (in part with city funds) for "ambulettes" (but not car services or taxis) to take frail old people to the doctor, etc. The ambulette companies are permitted to charge far more than the doctors, and don't always pay the help well. Not all the elderly thus transported need an ambulette rather than just a ride (who knows, they might not all exist). Some of it is legit, perhaps a lot. But spending on things like this is off the charts. And, in exchange for high funding for services like this, often operated by people linked to state legislators, our "representatives" accept a lower share of state school aid, among other things. Alvaro Fernandez isn't the only one getting rear-ended by ambulettes.

Chris

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 11:07:03 -0500

Ugh. I used to live a few blocks down from where this happened, and I can tell you from personal experience that people drive WAY too fast and stupidly on Atlantic. Doesn't surprise me at all that an accident like this could happen. So sad.

d

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 10:41:18 -0500

what is an ambulette?

Frank

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 10:02:31 -0500

He was taken from Boerum Hill to Staten Island hospital? Huh?

mike

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 09:07:52 -0500

More correctly, the minivan did not hit him, the driver did so.