NEW YORK—Small business yellow cab owners rallied outside City Hall Park on Tuesday to protest legislation that would allow the Taxi and Limousine Commission to sell street hail permits to livery cabs and issue 1,500 new yellow cab medallions.
The legislation passed the state Senate on June 24 and is awaiting Gov. Cuomo’s signature.
“I think that the mayor’s idea about picking up street hails in the outer boroughs is a very popular idea; its an idea that creates good public opinion, but it destroys people that have invested in New York City,” said David Pollack, executive director of the Committee for Taxi Safety.
The drivers that spoke at the rally were all medallion owners. Most expressed concern that the new livery permits and the additional yellow cab medallions would dilute the value of their medallions. Many fear losing business due to insufficient enforcement of livery cab regulations and increased competition.
“I have a mortgage on my medallion for another 20 years. If these gypsy cabs get the opportunity to be on the road for $1,500 for three years, they will be taking away my exclusive right to pick up the passengers of the city of New York,” said Jawaid Toppa, 42.
Toppa, a Queens resident, has been driving a yellow taxi for 23 years. Medallion holding taxi drivers take out long-term loans to cover the cost of the medallion, which can run as high as $800,000.
“I recently bought a medallion for $670,000 and I would like to appeal to Mr. Bloomberg, if he passes this law, how will I pay my mortgage?” said Manweek Singh, 21.
The financial institutions that issue mortgages for yellow cab medallions have increased their rates and reduced maximum loan amounts in light of the passing of the legislation, according to a press release from the Coalition for Taxi Equality and Justice.
Mayor Bloomberg has stated that the legislation would expand transportation options for New Yorkers in northern Manhattan and the outer boroughs and protect yellow taxi drivers and their investment in medallions.
“Yellow cabs will still have the exclusive right to the places where they do 97.5 percent of their business—central Manhattan and the airports. In addition to improving transportation for all New Yorkers, we will generate hundreds of millions in revenue for the city over the next several years, as well as much-needed new revenue for the MTA,” stated Bloomberg in a press release following the passage of the legislation.
The New York Taxi Worker’s Alliance, which represents more than 49,000 licensed yellow cab drivers, supports the legislation.
“We have been able to come up with an enforcement plan that will protect taxi drivers in the transition, including comprehensive enforcement as well as other economic measures,” said Bhairazi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance.
Desai remarked that an enforcement unit consisting of some 100 vehicles will be created to oversee the yellow taxi street hail monopoly in airports and designated portions of Manhattan.
The legislation passed the state Senate on June 24 and is awaiting Gov. Cuomo’s signature.
“I think that the mayor’s idea about picking up street hails in the outer boroughs is a very popular idea; its an idea that creates good public opinion, but it destroys people that have invested in New York City,” said David Pollack, executive director of the Committee for Taxi Safety.
The drivers that spoke at the rally were all medallion owners. Most expressed concern that the new livery permits and the additional yellow cab medallions would dilute the value of their medallions. Many fear losing business due to insufficient enforcement of livery cab regulations and increased competition.
“I have a mortgage on my medallion for another 20 years. If these gypsy cabs get the opportunity to be on the road for $1,500 for three years, they will be taking away my exclusive right to pick up the passengers of the city of New York,” said Jawaid Toppa, 42.
Toppa, a Queens resident, has been driving a yellow taxi for 23 years. Medallion holding taxi drivers take out long-term loans to cover the cost of the medallion, which can run as high as $800,000.
“I recently bought a medallion for $670,000 and I would like to appeal to Mr. Bloomberg, if he passes this law, how will I pay my mortgage?” said Manweek Singh, 21.
The financial institutions that issue mortgages for yellow cab medallions have increased their rates and reduced maximum loan amounts in light of the passing of the legislation, according to a press release from the Coalition for Taxi Equality and Justice.
Mayor Bloomberg has stated that the legislation would expand transportation options for New Yorkers in northern Manhattan and the outer boroughs and protect yellow taxi drivers and their investment in medallions.
“Yellow cabs will still have the exclusive right to the places where they do 97.5 percent of their business—central Manhattan and the airports. In addition to improving transportation for all New Yorkers, we will generate hundreds of millions in revenue for the city over the next several years, as well as much-needed new revenue for the MTA,” stated Bloomberg in a press release following the passage of the legislation.
The New York Taxi Worker’s Alliance, which represents more than 49,000 licensed yellow cab drivers, supports the legislation.
“We have been able to come up with an enforcement plan that will protect taxi drivers in the transition, including comprehensive enforcement as well as other economic measures,” said Bhairazi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance.
Desai remarked that an enforcement unit consisting of some 100 vehicles will be created to oversee the yellow taxi street hail monopoly in airports and designated portions of Manhattan.
