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Video: Drunk Homeless Man Caught Directing Traffic For NJ Transit Buses
By
John Del Signore
Published May 22, 2013
Modified May 23, 2013
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By
John Del Signore
Published May 22, 2013
Modified May 23, 2013
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Until the local news started asking questions, Hector Santiago had a pretty good thing going. Despite his homelessness and raging alcoholism, his buddy Max Caramas, a NJ Transit bus driver, had him set up with a "job" directing traffic at a midtown bus lot. All Santiago had to do was swig vodka and stop traffic whenever buses needed to pull out of the lot, or run and get coffee for his pal. And then along came NBC New York to shove a camera in Santiago's sodden face.
A commuter who regularly takes a bus in and out of lot was concerned about Santiago's sobriety, and complained to NJ Transit. When he never heard back, he took his story to NBC New York, who set up a sting with cameras showing Santiago pounding vodka while on the job. And when a reporter confronts Santiago, he makes no attempt to hide the boozing, even toasting God while taking a swig from the bottle. Eat your heart out Arnold Diaz:
View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.
Be sure to stay tuned for the 2 minute mark, when the reporter asks Santiago if he thinks drinking on the job is bad. He replies, "I don't care. I watch them [the buses]." Santiago says he's homeless, and that he known Caramas for years. NJ Transit told NBC that Santiago is not an employee, and it appears that Caramas, a bus driver, is also responsible for directing traffic. And he allegedly paid Santiago (in booze?) to do his job while he naps.
One day after confronting Santiago, he was nowhere to be seen, which is probably for the best. NJ Transit has not responded to our request for comment Santiago, but at least we can all sleep easier knowing things just got a little worse for a sad drunk homeless man.
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hector santiago
nj transit
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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