Many New Yorkers spend Christmas on the clock every year, here's why
NEW YORK CITY - Whether you’re a cab driver, cashier, or cop, even on Christmas, you’ve got your work cut out for you.
Though Lew Allison’s years of working Christmas are over, he remembers those Christmas nights spent racing the clock to meet deadlines.
Now of course, lots of doors are shut to celebrate the holiday, but some doors are wide open. One’s that you can walk right in and still get a warm smile…thanks to doormen like Oscar Cruz who’s spent decades at the door and on Christmas often.
"We do everything for them, packages, laundry, taxi, you know and it’s a great job I would never change it for nothing else. I’ve been here 21 years," he said.
Shoppers at the Bryant Park Winter Village Holiday Market. US retail sales unexpectedly picked up in November as lower gasoline prices allowed consumers to spend more to kick off the holiday shopping season. Photographer: Eilon Paz/Bloomberg via Gett
Many like Cruz, who’s worked more than 20 Christmas nights, say they are excited about another opportunity to simply serve others and the holiday tips aren’t bad either.
Not all of those on the Christmas grind feel like the Grinch stole their holiday.
We ran into Veronica Zhang, a full-time pre-med student with 2 jobs who’s keeping the work she does in perspective this year since it’s a step toward a rewarding career in the medical field in the next two years.
"Helping others has always been my passion. This is why I’m in pre-med hoping I could help people more in the future," Zhang said.
That tenacity, grit, and grind is all well-received from those who not only know what’s it like but depend on their service, especially on Christmas.