Officials Go to Bat for Livery Cabs
Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and state Sen. Adriano Espaillat shared their concerns about the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s five-borough taxi plan and its potential impact on the city’s livery taxi drivers at a press conference Sunday. The plan proposes to add approximately 6,000 yellow taxis, to operate primarily in the outer boroughs, by auctioning off additional medallions. The price of the medallions, which sell for about $700,000, is more than most livery drivers can afford. “Residents in northern Manhattan and the outer boroughs have come to rely on the livery cab industry,” said Espaillat. “Any proposal to reform the current structure must take the livery industry into consideration and ensure that New Yorkers from all regions of the city continue to have access to safe, affordable, and reliable transportation.” Rodriguez and Espaillat believe a proposal that includes affordable financial packages allowing livery drivers to purchase the medallions should be added. “For years, you would never be able to find a yellow taxi in Northern Manhattan and the outer boroughs, but all of us still had to get around somehow,” said Rodriguez. “The livery cab industry developed to take care of that need.”
New Federal Theater Celebrates 40th Anniversary
CBS newscaster Randall Pinkston and actress Lynn Whitfield hosted the 40th Anniversary Gala of Woodie Jing Jr.’s New Federal Theatre Sunday evening at the Edison Ballroom. Dr. Maya Angelou was the honorary chairwoman of the event. Honorees included writer Amiri Baraka, author Rev. Malcolm Boyd, broadcaster Imhotep Gary Byrd, actress and writer Ruby Dee, former Mayor David Dinkins, choreographer George Faison, musician Alicia Keys, theater producer Elizabeth I. McCann, actors Carla Pinza and Sidney Poitier, playwright Ntozake Shange, and publicist Terrie Williams. The National Black Theatre Festival and Sylvia Hamlin were also honored. The New Federal Theater aims to “integrate minorities and women into the mainstream of American theatre by training artists for the profession.” It also presents plays by minorities and women to multicultural audiences.
Prospect Park Food Truck Rally Offers Tasty Treats
The Prospect Park Alliance and the New York City Food Truck Association (NYCFTA) held a Food Truck Rally featuring some of New York’s finest food trucks Sunday. The event was held at the Grand Army Plaza entrance, with the trucks offering a taste of cuisine from around the world. Participants included Coolhaus, Kelvin Natural Slush Co., the Mud truck, the Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck, the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, Souvlaki GR, Taïm Mobile, and Eddie’s Pizza Truck, and others. The NYCFTA members include small businesses that own and operate premium food trucks in the city.
