Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Too many NY taxi drivers, not enough cabs for them
Many of the thousands of New Yorkers laid off in the financial crisis have turned to driving taxis, but now there are too many drivers and not enough cabs.
Garage owners say they're turning away drivers. Harlem Yellow Cab manager Syed Zahoori says on every shift people get sent home without cabs.
City officials say the number of hack licenses is at an all-time high of nearly 46,000. The number of new licenses is up 19 percent over the last three months compared with the same period last year.
There are about 13,000 taxis.
Taxi and Limousine Commission Chairman Matthew Daus says there's always an influx of drivers when the economy is bad but this period "appears to be setting some records."
Garage owners say they're turning away drivers. Harlem Yellow Cab manager Syed Zahoori says on every shift people get sent home without cabs.
City officials say the number of hack licenses is at an all-time high of nearly 46,000. The number of new licenses is up 19 percent over the last three months compared with the same period last year.
There are about 13,000 taxis.
Taxi and Limousine Commission Chairman Matthew Daus says there's always an influx of drivers when the economy is bad but this period "appears to be setting some records."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES NEW INCENTIVE / DISINCENTIVE PROGRAM TO REACH GOAL OF GREEN TAXI FLEET
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has announced a series of initiatives to increase the use of fuel efficient and environmentally friendly taxicabs, though new financial incentives and legislative initiatives. The Mayor’s announcement follows a recent decision in Federal District Court that prohibited the City from mandating the use of cleaner, more fuel efficient taxicabs. The new program announced offers financial incentives for taxi fleet owners to purchase fuel efficient vehicles and financial disincentives for the continue use of less efficient vehicles. The Mayor was joined at the announcement by Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Chairman Matthew W. Daus, Council Member David Yassky, Richard Kassel of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Meir Yakuel, Co-Owner of the Yakuel Taxi Garage where the announcement was made, and Rati Sharma, a taxicab driver.
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