Def Jam President
Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter has helped to relieve New Yorkers caught in the
midst of a crippling New York City transit strike and has arranged to commute
people to work by chauffeured limo.
With state-supervised mediation talks still under negotiation,
Jay-Z commuted seven people from the Bronx in one limo, seven in a limo through
Queens and two limos for 14 people in Brooklyn since the Def Jam president hails
from Brooklyn.
The rapper, along with Hot 97’s Angie Martinez, made the announcement
on the airwaves yesterday.
Host Angie Martinez said, "Jay-Z has arranged to hook a
few people up with a ride to work. We really want to give these to those people
that are walking across that bridge every morning – the people that got to go
to work. Those are the people we want to give these rides to."
And, while the strike could end soon, Jay-Z challenged his industry
peer to join in the effort.
"Now, we gotta get people to send over some hats,"
Jay-Z said. "Everybody should participate. Some gloves too. Some boots.
Let’s spread it around. It’s Christmas season. Everybody get into the
giving mood. We are all blessed."
The Metropolitan Transit Authority’s contract covering 32,000
transit workers expired last week, and the union called the strike Tuesday morning
despite a state law banning public employees go on strike.
In related Jay Z news, the Def Jam President and Brooklyn MC
will host his annual Marcy Projects Toy Drive. Children from the Marcy Projects
have the opportunity to choose a toy from a collection of $10,000 worth of presents.
The toy drive is set to begin on December 25, 2006 at 11am in
the Marcy Projects. New York MTA workers are expected to return to work until
a resolution is reached between the Transit Union and the Metropolitan Transit
Authority.
The walkout by transit workers is the first in 25 years and
has cost the city’s economy and estimated $400 million a day according to Mayor
Michael Bloomberg.
Additionally, Bloomberg
maintains that the city pays roughly $22 million a day in lost taxes and police
overtime.