Thursday Press Conference at 1PM: New York Elected Officials to Announce Agreement with Taxi Limousine Commission for Taxi Drivers

Ruben Diaz

May 20, 2015

What You Should Know
By Senator Rev Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District
718-991-3161

Thursday Press Conference at 1PM: New York Elected Officials to Announce Agreement with Taxi Limousine Commission for Taxi Drivers

You should know that on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 1:00PM, there will be a press conference with elected officials and leaders from the taxi industry at the KISS Car Service, located at 2774 Webster Avenue, between East 197th and 198th Streets in Bronx County.

This press conference will be to announce an agreement that the elected officials have reached with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to alleviate some of the financial burdens and oppressive fines that taxi drivers have been facing in the City.

For several months, elected officials including Congressman Charles Rangel, Bronx County Democratic Chair Marcos Crespo (who also presides as the Chair of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force), Senator Adriano Espaillat, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, Assemblyman Jose Rivera, Assemblyman Victor Pichardo, and City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez have been meeting at my office with Mr. Jose Villoria, Ms. Cira Angeles and Mr. Marcos De La Cruz, leaders from the private taxi industry. We have worked together to find a way to intercede on behalf of the drivers and try to alleviate some of the undue burdens they face.

You should already know that under New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's Zero Tolerance Initiative, taxi drivers have been facing serious oppression which include double penalties of points and summonses, license suspension and revocation, exorbitant and cumulative fines, and penalties that threaten to shut down taxi bases.

After negotiating with New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi about these issues, our coalition of elected officials has come to an agreement with the TLC and will be announcing this first step at the KISS Car Service on May 21, 2015 at 1PM.

I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.