Kryshana De Herrera, Waiter, Bushwick, NY

Kryshana De Herrera, Waiter, Bushwick, NY

From the NY Post Article: “Meet the New Yorkers who lost their jobs because of coronavirus

De Herrera, who has been working in the restaurant industry since she was a teen, has been let go from Bâtard in Tribeca, where her front-waiter job paid about $1,500 a week.

Her rent is $1,040. She lives with two roommates, total rent $3,200.

She intends to file for unemployment but is unsure she qualifies as an independent contractor.

“I have a very impressive résumé because I have a passion for food and for people and for feeding people.

“Right now I have $100 in the bank and a couple of checks coming. I have about $2,200 coming in the mail.

“I’ve tried to get through [to the state unemployment website]. I try once a day in the morning but I haven’t gotten through. It hangs up on me after one ring. I don’t have time to get frustrated right now, but I hope to file. I hope to get something.”

“It’s an endless cycle, and right now we’re being told and reminded how undervalued we are, and how little we have to support us.”

“Financially I’m OK right now. My family is helping me.”