New York Does the Right Thing

By Yanki Tshering

We wholeheartedly applaud Mayor DeBlasio, Speaker Cory Johnson, and members of the New York City Council who heard the pain and frustration of the members of  the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) and other New York drivers. The bill that New York City Council passed last week, and that Mayor de Blasio has promised to support, will not only put a cap on ride-hail service vehicles, such as Lyft and Uber, but will also set a pay standard for their disastrously underpaid drivers.

Many of our BCNA clients are cab drivers and we know first hand how hard it is for them to earn enough to support themselves or their families. The addition of over 8000 ride-hail service vehicles to New York’s already-crowded roads has meant that as many as 42% of cars for hire are empty at any given time. It has also led to traffic congestion that slows travel time and negatively impacts the quality of life for all New Yorkers.

This forward thinking bill – the first of its kind in a major city – will set an example for other cities and show them that standing up to powerful corporations on behalf of hard-working members of the community is the right thing to do. 

While some may call the move anti-business – because it targets innovative companies – it is actually pro-business because it supports hard-working enterprising New Yorkers who own their own small businesses, part of what has always made New York great.

We were pleased to be part of the celebration at City Hall on Wednesday as well as to be included in the press release issued by the Mayors office quoting not only city leaders but leaders of community and immigrants groups as well on the positive impact this bill with have.

We now call on the leadership at the city council to work closely with Bhairavi Desai and the NYTWA to find sensible and fair solutions to the financial ruin that yellow cab drivers who own taxi medallions are facing.

We congratulate our clients who are drivers and owners of car service companies on this victory and will continue to work with them to help their businesses grow and thrive in an environment that rewards hard work with fair wages.