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Venezuelan Immigrants Transform D.C.'s Food Delivery Scene with Mopeds

2024-04-21 21:18:41.487000

Venezuelan immigrants have entered D.C.'s food delivery industry and filled the city's streets with mopeds. Many are among the nearly 8 million people who have fled Venezuela since 2014. Food delivery has become a lifeline for many of D.C.'s Venezuelans as they pursue asylum and work permits. The job offers more autonomy over their schedules and pay than other industries, but they face challenges such as lack of access to health insurance and expenses like renting food-delivery accounts and financing mopeds. Some D.C. residents have expressed frustration at what they say is erratic and unsafe behavior on the mopeds. The moped deliveries in D.C. began about two years ago and have evolved into a cottage industry fostered by word-of-mouth recommendations and mutual trust. The drivers earn about $4,000 each month and use the earnings to afford rent, support their families, and take English lessons. The drivers are seeking to formalize their work with the city and have proposed various measures to improve their working conditions. The city officials have been meeting with the drivers and their vendors to educate them about local traffic rules. The drivers hope for more support from the city to help them safely make a living without relying on government subsidies. Some local businesses have expressed concerns about the impact of moped deliveries on their business. The drivers have different aspirations, with some hoping to land better jobs or start their own businesses. The article highlights the stories of individual drivers and their journeys from Venezuela to the United States. [4721bbaf]

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