Last August Reynes Lucas Tolentino arrived in New York from Pachuca, Mexico. He’s been delivering pizzas for Mama Tina’s, a restaurant in Harlem, for about a year, working 12-hour shifts, six days a week. He earns about $200 a week plus tips, and sends everything he saves back to his wife and three daughters, who still live in Pachuca.
Hours: 12-hour shifts, six days a weekNumber of deliveries: 40 on a weekend shiftSalary: $200 a weekTotal tips: $60 on a weekend shiftBest tip: $5Rent: $1,200 a month, split three waysTransportation: $600 for a bikeRemittance: $250 (the last time he sent money)Number of delivery restaurants in New York City: More than 6,500, according to GrubHub.comFamily in New York: Three brothers
What’s it like to be a deliveryman?
It’s very dangerous to ride the streets alone — [there are] many accidents and many robberies. Sometimes your gear gets taken. You never know when someone will want to take the money from the food that you’re carrying or the little you earn. You don’t know when you might get robbed. And when it’s raining, you don’t know when a car might hit you. If a car is driving fast, and if you get hit by a car … If you survive, then fine; if you don’t, then not.Do you like it?I like it a little. Here, the way things are … it’s hard to find a good job. … Right now necessity obligates that you take what you can find.Tell me about your family.I have three daughters. They are in Mexico. My [oldest] daughter is 5 years and 2 months. … The second is 2 years and 1 month. The third is 5 months.What is it like to be here with your family far away?It’s hard, no?
It depends how long you come here. If you come for two years, you’re not going to see them for two years. If you come for three years, then it’s three years you won’t see them.
It depends on how hard you work. Because if you work hard and think and start saving the little money you earn, the sooner you leave. But if you don’t work hard, if you don’t want to save your money and the little bit you earn, then you’re going to leave the same way you came here, and that’s not good. What will you give your children when you return? Nothing.
Delivery City: New York and Its Working Cyclists from Delivery City on Vimeo. Article written by Jason Alcorn and Jason Tomassini