Public Employee Press

Everyday Heroes
Juliet Waul, School Crossing Guard

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

The brutal winter weather didn't prevent School Crossing Guard Juliet Waul from getting up each morning for her two daily shifts to help pedestrians, mostly schoolchildren from PS 24 and senior citizens, make it safely across the street.

The Local 372 member is responsible for the intersection on Independence Avenue and West 236th Street in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. "It was a very cold winter," said Waul.

She has worked on that corner for four years. Her biggest challenge has been getting people to stop and traffic to slow down. The lack of a traffic light does not help. "We could also use another stop sign too."

Waul says that she has been fortunate because during her four years there have been no serious accidents on her corner. She did suffer a nasty fall that kept her at home in bed for two days before returning to the job.

"I slipped on a patch of black ice," Waul explained. "That's another hazard." While dealing with the cold and rainy weather, black ice, the lack of stop signs, Wall is still dedicated to her job and to the safety of everyone around her. "The community really appreciates what we do, that's important to me," Waul said.

The city has 2,120 School Crossing Guards, and 325 vacancies for the position. Local 372 Executive Vice President Donald Nesbit pressed the City Council at a recent budget hearing for higher pay and more hours for the SCGs.