The 'Essential' New York (My Life and Travels During the Covid-19 Pandemic)

On March 18th, 2020, I went from being a Transit Worker to an 'Essential' Worker. I received in the mail a letter that we are to carry with us in case New York goes on curfew. If stopped by police, it states 'This employee is necessary for the operation and/or maintenance of the transportation system, an essential service.'

Every night, I mask up, wash my hands, carry hand sanitizer and wipes to do what was once so routine... take the subway to work.

When I arrived in Manhattan, the absence of people shook me to the core. This city was built for massive amounts of pedestrian traffic... vanished. Cars, trucks and buses, fighting for forward progress... gone. Never seen anything like that before.

I took it upon myself to document this historical time this country must endure. These pictures will show for future generations how New Yorkers of 2020 survived by doing what was expected of them.

This book is for all the people who made the same trek through this Covid-19 minefield so we could be of service of our city.