Queens & Five Towns Responders Join Statewide Coalition Supporting Relief For Drivers
Volunteers from Chaverim of Queens & Great Neck and Chaverim of Five Towns & Far Rockaway are supporting a statewide effort aimed at addressing one of the most common frustrations heard from motorists across New York: the rising cost of auto insurance.
In a joint letter dated March 11, 2026, the New York State Chaverim Coalition expressed strong support for Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal to reduce insurance premiums for drivers across the state. The letter was sent to New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
For Chaverim volunteers, the issue is something they encounter regularly while assisting drivers.
Whether responding to a lockout, providing a battery boost, helping change a flat tire, or assisting a stranded motorist late at night, Chaverim responders often find themselves speaking with drivers about the everyday challenges of owning a car in New York.
And one topic comes up repeatedly — insurance.
Across neighborhoods like Kew Gardens Hills, Forest Hills, Hillcrest, Great Neck, the Five Towns, and Far Rockaway, many drivers say insurance costs have risen sharply in recent years. For families that rely on their cars to get to work, school, medical appointments, or daily errands, those costs can quickly become overwhelming.
As a dispatcher and responder with Chaverim of Queens & Great Neck, I regularly hear from drivers who say that insurance has become one of the most difficult expenses of owning a car in New York.
The rising premiums are not only affecting individual drivers. They also impact the nonprofit volunteer organizations that operate service vehicles to assist motorists throughout the state.
According to the coalition’s letter, Chaverim organizations collectively maintain and operate more than 100 service vehicles across New York. These vehicles respond to thousands of calls each year, providing roadside assistance and emergency help to stranded motorists around the clock.
Like many nonprofit organizations, Chaverim relies heavily on donations and community support to keep these vehicles on the road. As insurance premiums increase, more of those limited resources must be directed toward coverage costs instead of expanding services and equipment.
At the same time, volunteers consistently hear from the motorists they assist about how difficult it has become to keep up with rising insurance payments.
For many New Yorkers, owning a car is not a luxury but a necessity. People depend on their vehicles to commute to work, bring children to school, attend medical appointments, and manage everyday responsibilities.
In the letter, the coalition thanked Governor Hochul for recognizing the problem and taking steps to address it, noting that efforts to bring relief to drivers while maintaining appropriate protections for motorists are both timely and necessary.
Chaverim leaders from across New York signed the letter on behalf of their respective divisions, including Joshua Alter, supervisor of Chaverim of Queens & Great Neck, and Moshe Hamel, supervisor of Chaverim of Five Towns & Far Rockaway.
For the volunteers who respond day and night to help drivers across Queens, Great Neck, the Five Towns, and Far Rockaway, the message heard from the roadside is clear: many families are struggling with the rising cost of insurance, and meaningful relief would make a real difference.
For Chaverim responders, the mission remains the same — helping neighbors in need and getting people safely back on the road.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
Chaverim of Queens & Great Neck Dispatcher and Responder
