VOL. 18, NO. 3 “The Voice of the NYC Transportation ... · VOL. 18, NO. 3 “The Voice of the NYC Transportation Industry.” MARCH 2017 JULY 2010 † TAXI INSIDER † PAGE 1 INSIDER

MARCH 2017 • TAXI INSIDER • PAGE 1

VOL. 18, NO. 3 “The Voice of the NYC Transportation Industry.” MARCH 2017

JULY 2010 • TAXI INSIDER • PAGE 1

INSIDEREDITORIAL

By David Pollack

TAXI DAVE’SRADIO SHOW

WOR-710AM8:00 – 9:00 PMEVERY SUNDAY!

Letters To The EditorPage 3

•Insider News

Page 4•

Meet The CommissionersPage 5

•Op-Ed

By Matther Daus, Esq.Page 6

•Taxi Attorney

By Michael SpevackPage 9

•PuzzlePage 9

•Motorist and Parking

Page 15•

Trump May Be The Gift That Keeps On GivingBy Jerry Kremer

Page 17•

Quotabel QuotesPage 17

•Hotels

Page 26•

NYC EconomyPage 29

•Book Signings

Page 31•

Insider DirectoryPage 32

•Commissioner’s Corner

By Merra JoshiPage 33

•Broadway Shows

Page 37

(Continued on Page 6)

IT’S TME TO BUY ORLEASE MEDALLIONS

The Fish Stinks From The HeadBy Larry Fisher


Get prepared to purchase a NYC taxi medallion! If the city council of the city of New York passes Intros. 1474 & 1475, there will be new opportunities for medallion purchas-ers: men, women, current drivers, and investors to save thousands of dollars on each transfer! Intro 1474 will reduce the current 5% transfer tax charge to the buyer of a medallion to .05% and eliminate a major fi nancial stumbling block for men and women who want to purchase or invest in a medallion. By drastically reducing the 5% Transfer Tax, two drivers pooling their assets for a down payment will be able to afford new business with a new taxicab and be part of the American Dream. If you have experience driving a

yellow cab already, it is a no-brainer to own your own taxicab and purchase it from a broker listed on the directory page. (Licensed Brokers To Buy Medallions).

If you cannot afford to purchase a medallion, you can lease a medallion and purchase the vehicle with the opportunity to buy one in the future. (See directory-Where to Lease a Medallion). Leasing a medallion has always been the gateway to medallion ownership.

There is another alternative for fl ex-ibility; drive for a taxi fl eet by the shift.

Shift rates have never been as affordable as today and the vehicles have never looked better. It is a stepping

The corporate culture that abides sexual harassment can only be fostered by management willing to overlook bad behavior in favor of seemingly more pro-ductive or highly rated employees. This same culture can be seen in both amateur and professional sports, although, since the television ratings now include more women than ever, sports leagues no longer can afford to turn a blind eye or deaf ear to star athletes violating laws or social mores. Michael Vick, Ray Rice and others can attest to that.

The anti-women culture that inhabits Silicon Valley in general and Uber specifi cally is capturing more head-

lines since the sexual harassment case of Susan Fowler has been fi led. This is not the fi rst time that the public has borne witness to sex-related horrors performed by Uber drivers or Uber management statements. Current CEO Kalanick was so proud of his success at Uber and his ability to attract women as a result that he jokingly? said that the name should be changed to “Boober”. The plethora of Uber-driver sexually related incidents has made our heads spin for years. The mere

fact that Uber has doubled down on their insistence on minimal regulation, specifi cally background checks,

PAGE 2 • TAXI INSIDER • MARCH 2017

36-16 Skillman AvenueLong Island City, NY 11101

(718) 392-7000 • Fax: (718) 472-0925


WOR-710AMEVERY SUNDAY!8:00 – 9:00 PM

Call Lee Komitor orAlex Chaoush

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139-30 Queens Blvd., Briarwood, NY 11415(718) 658-9800

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WOR-710AMEVERY SUNDAY!8:00 – 9:00 PM

Taxi Drivers Wanted Day Night Ft/Pt In Chelsea Manhattan, Steps To Subway!

6 Nights $670: Must Drive Sunday 5 Nights $570: Must Drive Sunday

These Prices Include;Sales Tax, Cc Fees, And Hybrid Fees.

ALL 2015-2016 PRIUS’S917 374 8538


Publisher &Editor-in-Chief

David Pollack

ColumnistsMatthew Daus, Esq.

Larry FisherNat Goldbetter

Ira Goldstein, Esq.Abe Mittleman

Michael Spevack, Esq.Jerry Kremer

Layout & GraphicsDragonfl y Graphics LLC

Taxi Insider11 Edge Water lane

Haverstraw, NY 10927Phone: (718) 706-TAXI(8294)

—E-mail:[email protected]

Copyright © 2017 by TAXI INSIDER. All rights reserved. Neither this newspaper nor any part therof may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, mi-crofi lming, recording or by any information retrieving system without the express written permission of the publishers. The copyright is extended to the design and text created for advertisements. This publication will not be responsible for errors in advertise-ment beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Bylined articles represent the sole opinion of the writer and are not neces-sarily in accordance with the views of TAXI INSIDER.

This Publication reserves the right to limit or refuse advertising it deems objec-tionable.

TAXI INSIDER is published monthly at a subscription rate of $48.00 per year.

JULY 2010 • TAXI INSIDER • PAGE 1

INSIDERLETTERS


Zero VisionDear Taxi Dave,

Don’t believe those bullstit numbers that Uber spread about failed inspections of yellow taxis. While I was there for inspection of my yellow cab, ten, that’s right ten brand new yellow cabs failed inspection before they ever had one passenger in them! How does that happen?

Pierre

Vision ZeroDear Taxi Dave,

Vision Zero doesn’t apply to UBER. The mayor should drive a cab on a Saturday night and see the mess UBER causes on every street.

Marie

Eye On The RoadDear Taxi Dave,

With all the phones on the dashboards of app driven vehicles, the drivers frequently take their eyes off the road while their vehicles are in mo-tion. I ask, is it good public policy to constantly have driver’s eyes off the road?

Jules

EmploymentDear Taxi Dave,

Former TLC employees should not be able to work for any company that the TLC regulates for life!

Ram

My DreamDear Taxi Dave,

I hate Uber. They constantly send me pings 30 minutes out from a casino in a different state. Then I end up with the two minute time out. My acceptance rating is down to 32%. It’s making me hate to turn on the app.

My dream is to get a ping and the pax is Travis. In the dream, I get out on the highway and set the cruise for 70mph, slow down to 30mph, hit resume and bail out of the car. He’s in the backseat, scream-ing, as the car speeds off. There. ..you wanted a self driving car, you got one. .

Alan M.

Funeral?Dear Taxi Dave;

There is an old saying :” while the doctors trying to fi gure the cure, the patient dies”

well tell the taxi industry died long time ago. and the city still trying to fi gure out what to do.

Next we should start to find funeral home............

Michael

How To WinDear Taxi Dave,

The 79st boat basin had to spend millions on their legal rights to keep their boats anchored as homes. Taxis need to have fought the MTA tax the loss of the off duty lights rates on the side of cabs being unrea-sonably forced to have half the industry wheelchair accessible. It would be an expensive legal cost but we would win.

From Frank (who loves ya baby)

CorruptionDear Taxi Dave,

I hope De Blasio will be indicted ,he s not any better then Bloomberg ,between both of them they destroyed the taxi business ,,taxi owners went bankrupt be cause of NYC corruption .created by the mayor and TLC.

Charbel S.

The More I ListenDear Taxi Dave,

I love your show. Best transportation show on the in-ternet. I have a love hate relationship with your show.

I miss manhattan so much but thank god i moved from New York City.

I rather sit home and watch the Honey Mooners and listen to Ralph Cramdon talk about driving his bus up and down Madison Avenue then actually try to do it these days.

Thank you Taxi dave and your crew. Joseph M.

Yellow Cabs NeedLarger Cabs. Suv’s Like Suburbans, Yukons Etc

Dear Taxi Dave,Since this is an open & fair market then TLC

should allow larger SUV cabs. This is one of the main reasons why we aren’t profi table. At the airports there is a need of SUV for families & group of people in the city who want to travel together to a destination. Why can’t yellow cab owners, garages have SUVs as yellow cabs? Open & fair market?

Tommy

YellowDear Taxi Dave,

To much advertising for Uber, and nothing for yellow cabs!!!

Stephen B

Uber in NYCDear Taxi Dave,

De Blasio destroyed the taxi industry and medal-lion owner’s futures and retirements. He approve uber in New York City with zero laws. I wonder how much of a contribution uber made to his campaign...

Gloria from Little Neck NY

UBERPay To Play Payoffs

Dear Taxi Dave,UBER’s money is making life in NYC cheap. Pre-

arranged rides are never the consideration of someone partially inebriated. Business will be more successful in the upcoming years. Busy NYC needs regulated taxi service. Young vulnerable adults will make mistakes getting into the wrong car. When the superego is com-promised by alcohol mistakes will be made. UBER should never be picking up rides in a few minutes. People have forever tried to put their drunk friends into yellow cabs. Pretentious predatory UBER drivers looking to victimize vulnerable young women with a big smile drawing them to their cars would be nearly eliminated with regulatory laws protecting the public.

From Frank


Insider NewsIndustry Notice #17- 04For Immediate Release

Notice: Taxi and Street Hail Livery (SHL) Improvement Surcharge

Payment Dates EstablishedImprovement Surcharge amounts

owed for the fourth quarter of 2016 are now available on TLC’s License Applications, Renewals & Summonses system (LARS). The Improvement Surcharge amounts owed are for trips completed between October 1 and December 31, 2016.

To view and pay the amount you owe, please visit LARS at https://www1.nyc.gov/lars.

The timeline for payment of the fourth quarter of 2016 Improvement Surcharge is as follows:

• February 9, 2017 – Challenge Pe-

riod begins. Owners and Agents should direct all questions or challenges to:

For Taxicab Improvement Fund related issues: [email protected]

For Street Hail Livery Improvement Fund related issues:

[email protected]• February 22, 2017 – Challenge

Period ends. Amounts fi nalized.• March 9, 2017 – Full payment is

due to the TLC at https://www1.nyc.gov/lars/. Failure to submit full pay-ment will result in fi nes and/or possible suspension of your license.

St. Patrick’s Day STreet ClosingsSeveral streets will be closed Friday, March 17 for the St. Patrick’s Day

parade.According to the Department of Transportation, the following streets in Man-

hattan may be closed between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the NYPD’s discretion:• Fifth Avenue between 86th Street and 42nd Street• Madison Avenue between 78th Street and 86th Street• Madison Avenue between 63rd Street and 64th Street• Vanderbilt Avenue between 43rd Street and 46th Street• 43rd Street to 46th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue• 47th Street and 48th Street between Park Avenue and Sixth Avenue• 62nd Street and 63rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue• 64th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue• 72nd Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue• 78th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue• 79th Street to 83rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue• 84th Street and 85th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue

About the NYS Driver Point SystemWhat is the Driver Violation Point

System and how does it work?The Driver Violation Point System

gives the New York State DMV a way to identify and take action against high risk drivers. The DMV assigns points for certain traffi c violations. If you get 11 points in an 18-month period, your driver license may be suspended. 1 However, the point system is not the only way to lose your license (see Suspensions and Revocations).

How your point total is calculated• you must be convicted of the traf-

fi c violation before points are added to your driving record

• your point total is calculated based on the date of the violation, not the date of the conviction

• the points for violations that all occurred within the last 18 months are added to calculate your point total 2

Number of points assigned for com-mon traffi c violations

VIOLATIONSpeeding (MPH over posted limit)1-10 MPH • POINTS - 311-20 MPH • POINTS - 421-30 MPH • POINTS - 631-40 MPH • POINTS - 8Over 40 • POINTS - 11

VIOLATION - Reckless drivingPOINTS 5

VIOLATION - Failed to stop for school bus

POINTS 5

VIOLATION - Followed too closely (tailgating)

POINTS 4

VIOLATION - Inadequate brakes (private car)

POINTS 4

VIOLATION - Inadequate Brakes (employeers car)

POINTS 2

VIOLATION - Failed to yield right-of-way

POINTS 3

VIOLATION - Disobeying traffi c control signal, STOP sign or YIELD sign

POINTS 3

VIOLATION - Railroad crossing violation

POINTS 5

VIOLATION - Improper passing, changing lane unsafely

POINTS 3

VIOLATION - Driving left of center, in wrong direction

POINTS 3

VIOLATION - Leaving scene of property damage incident

POINTS 3

VIOLATION - Child safety restraint violation

POINTS 3

VIOLATION - Improper cell phone use

POINTS 5

VIOLATION - Use of portable electronic device (“texting”)

POINTS 5

VIOLATION -Any other moving violation

POINTS 2Points are not assigned for the fol-

lowing violations• any bicycle violation• any pedestrian violation• any parking violation• any violation related to unregis-

tered, unlicensed or uninsured opera-tion

• any violation related to motor vehicle inspection, vehicle weights or dimensions or vehicle equipment other than inadequate service brakes

• any violation related to a busi-ness or the sale of goods established in the Vehicle and Traffi c Law or any local law

• a violation related to the improper use of High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes in Suffolk County, between exits 49 and 57 of the Long Island Expressway

• any other violation not resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle

Driver Responsibility Assess-ment

If you receive 6 or more points on your New York State driving record in 18 months, you must pay a Driver Responsibility Assessment fee.

Out-of-state convictionsIf you are convicted of a traffi c

violation in another state or country, points are not added to your New York State driving record, unless the violation occurred in Ontario or Quebec.

New York State has a reciprocal agreement with Quebec and Ontario. Traffi c violation convictions that occur in these provinces are recorded on your New York State driver record, and the convictions have the same effect and carry the same points as convictions that occur in New York State. This can affect your driver violation point total and Driver Responsibility Assessment.

Insurance PremiumsInsurance companies have their own

point systems and can increase your premiums based on your driving record. Contact your insurance company for more information.

Point and Insurance Reduction Program

Taking a DMV-approved Point and

Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP) course will

• help to prevent you from losing your license in the event you accrued 11 or more points on your driving record

• 4 points are ‘subtracted’ for the purposes of calculating a suspension if you have 11 or more points

• the tickets/points do not physically come off your driving record

• save 10 percent on your automo-bile liability and collision insurance premiums

• 1If you claim that someone else committed a violation on your record, you can request a hearing. But you can-not request a DMV hearing to prove that you were not guilty of the violations.

• 2Once 18 months have passed from the violation date, the points for that violation no longer count toward your total. However, the points remain on your driving record as long as the conviction remains on your record and may be used by your insurance company to increase premiums.

TIF DRIVER INCENTIVESOne of the most important factors for being able to reap the monetary TIF

Program Incentives is to fi rst verify that the TLC has your current address. Your can check this by going to the TLC website to LARS section. Click on Update License Information then click on Uplate Info. Check to make sure your address and phone number is correct on this screen, Then be sure to add an email address being the TLC uses email to send industry notices and other important information.



MEET THE TLC COMMISSIONERSMEET THE TLC COMMISSIONERSCreated in 1971 by Local Law No.

12, the Taxi and Limousine Commis-sion is a Charter-mandated agency, the purpose of which is the continuance, further development and improvement of taxi and for-hire service in the City of New York. The Commission is also responsible for licensing and regulat-ing for-hire vehicle, commuter van and wheelchair accessible van services as it relates to the overall public transporta-tion network of the city; to establish taxicab rates, standards of service, standards of insurance and minimum coverage; standards for driver safety; standards for equipment safety and design; and standards and criteria for the licensing of vehicles, drivers and operators engaged in such services.

The Commission’s Board consists of nine members, eight of whom are unsalaried Commissioners to be ap-pointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the city council; fi ve of said members, one resident from each of the fi ve boroughs of New York City, shall be recommended for appoint-ment by a majority vote of the council members of each respective borough. The salaried Chair/Commissioner pre-sides over regularly scheduled public Commission meetings, and is the head of the agency.

MEERA JOSHI Chair and Chief Executive Offi cer

Meera Joshi has served New York City residents in City government for more than a decade. Most recently, she was the Deputy Commissioner of Legal Affairs and General Coun-sel for the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. During her tenure she developed regulatory frameworks for over thirty initiatives which signifi cantly improved for-hire transportation service in New York City. These included such initia-tives as enhancements to the in-taxi technology, including the ability to pay fares by smart phone; accessible dispatch to connect persons who use wheelchairs to wheelchair accessible taxis, and rules implementing the Street Hail Livery (green cab) pro-gram. Commissioner Joshi was also a principal architect of a settlement with disability advocates that will result in a 50% wheelchair accessible taxi fl eet by the year 2020, making New York City’s fl eet the most accessible in the nation by far.

She previously served as the First Deputy Executive Director of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, an agency tasked with investigat-ing complaints of police misconduct. In addition to improving the quality and effi ciency of the agency’s investiga-tions, she was responsible for initiation of a landmark prosecution program that resulted in the agency’s ability to independently prosecute founded com-plaints against police offi cers. She also served as an Inspector General for the New York City Department of Investiga-tion, responsible for investigation of al-leged criminality and corruption at New York City’s Departments of Correction, Probation, Juvenile Justice and the Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Commissioner Joshi received her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and resides with her family in Brooklyn.

EDWARD GONZALES(Term expires Jan. 31, 2019)

LAUVIENSKA POLANCO(Term expires Jan. 31, 2019)

NORA C. MARINO(Term expires Jan. 31, 2022)

With nearly 20 years of experience in banking, Commissioner Edward Gonzales has held managerial posi-tions in the treasury departments of the former Dime Savings Bank of New York and, currently, Citigroup, both multi-billion dollar financial institutions. Commissioner Gonzales has successfully met the challenges of managing people, processes, and money in support of the residential mortgage business for these financial institutions. Most notably, Commis-sioner Gonzales played a key role in restoring the Dime Savings Bank to a “well-capitalized” designation with the Bank’s primary federal regulator in the early 1990s.

Commissioner Gonzales holds a BBA in Management from the Col-lege of William and Mary as well an MBA in Finance from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, completed on a part-time basis while working full-time. He is also a graduate of Regis High School in Manhattan.

Outside of work, Commissioner Gonzales enjoys running and weight training.

As a lifelong New Yorker, Com-missioner Gonzales is honored to have the opportunity to give some-thing back to New York City with an

agency that has a vital impact on the day-to-day lives of so many of his fel-low New Yorkers. He looks forward to enhancing policies that ensure customer and driver safety as well as business viability for owners.

Commissioner Gonzales was ap-pointed to the Taxi and Limousine Commission in 2005 for a seven year term.

Lauvienska Polanco was born and raised in Santiago, Dominican Republic and relocated to Manhattan to join her family at the age of 16 which is the borough where she has resided ever since. She enrolled at John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she graduated with honors. Having demonstrated a keen and intuitive grasp of politics at an early age, Commissioner Polanco decided to pursue an education in law at Pace University School of Law.

Commissioner Polanco worked briefly as a mediator for insurance defense claims, before spending some years at a personal injury law firm. After that successful stint, Commis-sioner Polanco joined the New York State Unified Court System, first as a Court Attorney in the Lower Civil Court, and now in an elevated role as Principal Law Clerk at the Bronx Supreme Court.

Commissioner Polanco is an active community advocate, as former chair and active member of the Neighborhood Advisory Board of Manhattan Community Board (NAB) #12, which is responsible for identifying the service needs of their local communities (Manhattan #12), a process which guides the City in its allocation of federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) fund-ing to support community-based hu-man service programs in areas such as education, employment, health, housing, immigrant services, senior citizen services and youth develop-ment. Commissioner Polanco also maintains an enthusiastic dedication to her profession while demonstrat-ing a commitment to women’s issues through her board membership in the Dominican Women’s Caucus.

“In the short time I have been

on the TLC’s Board, I have learned much about the importance of our regulated industries to the City’s transportation network. Someday, when I look back on my time here, it is my hope that people will say, ‘she brought something to the table, and she made things better.’” said Commissioner Polanco.

Commissioner Nora Constance Marino, a Queens County resident for 20 years, has been in the private practice of law for well over a de-cade, with a focus on negligence, torts, commercial litigation, medi-cal malpractice, constitutional law, matrimonial and family law, among other areas of specialty. She regularly receives appointments from Supreme Court Justices for various court ap-pointments such as Referee, Court Evaluator, Guardian Ad Litem, and is “Of Counsel” for numerous law firms.

In 2001/2002, Commissioner Marino served her country with distinction as a First Lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the United States Army Reserve. Dedication to her fellow Veterans remains a hallmark of her profes-sional life, as demonstrated by her service as Chief Counsel to Veterans Quality of Life Access Network, Inc., a non-profit organization that assists military Veterans.

A prominent advocate for animals, Commissioner Marino volunteers at New York City Animal Care and Control, and is Chief Counsel to Kin-ship Circle, a non-profit organization that promotes animal advocacy and education.

Commissioner Marino was edu-cated at University of California at Berkeley, New York University, and the City University School of Law at Queens College, and is a member of the American, New York State, New York City, and Queens Bar Associa-tions, as well as the Queens County Women’s and Queens County Colum-bian Lawyers Bar Associations. She is also very active in the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.



Public Advocate Press Conference

By David Pollack

DISABLED STOPPED AT CURBNYC Public Advocate, Leticia James bashed the city’s commitment to the

disabled community with things like curb-cuts that would make like easier for those disabled New Yorkers in wheelchairs. At a Press Conference across the street from city hall on Broadway and Warren Street, the Public Advocate showed crumbled concrete on a curb-cut citing calls to her offi ce like this:”I’ve heard from people who use wheelchairs who feel confi ned to their homes because they cannot move around the city.” James stated that the curbs fail to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. “It’s really a refl ection of our priorities, unfortunately,” James said. “The city has dedicated signifi cant resources to install and upgrade pedestrian ramps in recent years, including a focus on lower Manhattan as the post-9/11 construction winds down,” said Raul A. Contreras, a mayoral spokesman, in a statement. “We are committed to working with the special master and representatives of the disability community to further strengthen this program.”

stone to success! If you are thinking of buying a

medallion, don’t forget that there is no more Owner Must Drive Rule and, the life of your new taxicab will be seven years not three! Get your hack license ready, it’s time to drive!

In my opinion, the city sees the challenges of their medallion owning

It’s Time To(Continued from Page 1)

partners and realizes the industry needs help to stimulate medallion sales. That said, if the “Intros” above pass, we should call or write, to thank the City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito , the Chairman of the Transportation Committee Councilman Rodriquez and the New York City Taxi & Limousine Chairwoman, Meera Joshi.

There should also be a hearing on lease caps and the rate of fare at the TLC in April.

The Fish Stinks(Continued from Page 1)

is proof positive of their utter disregard for the public, especially women who are at greater risk.

The recent class-action lawsuit regarding upfront price and fare dif-ferentiation is just another in a long list of problematic areas that relate to this company’s desire to play fast and loose with laws, regulations and morals. In this case, they are outright stealing from their drivers, or their customers, or both. I suggest that any one of you who has been victimized by this unseemly company join in the class-action lawsuit which has been fi led in San Francisco by attorney Paul B. Maslo for Napoli Shlolnik law fi rm. Do not let them get away with it. Maybe it will wake up current Mayor DeBlasio and current Governor Cuomo, both of whom are intent on making Uber the default taxi provider in New York City and state.

The recent conservatorship of one of the taxi industry’s venerable fi nancial institutions is just another example of the failure of leadership by our local politicians. It cannot be good public policy for an industry that had an asset valuation of $15 billion only a few years ago to suffer as it has with a diminution of asset value by 50% or more. It can-not be good public policy for medallion owners to declare bankruptcy, to lose their life savings and their dream of retirement security. It cannot be good public policy for the taxpayers to bail out the empty credit union and bank insurance fund in order for the city of New York to have benefi tted in the auc-tion of medallions. It cannot be good public policy to transfer the wealth of immigrant families to the oligarchic Silicon Valley investors. And while the

consumers have enjoyed the effi ciency of the technology and subsidization of the Uber system by venture capitalists, their business model is unsustainable and as soon as their monopoly is attained, the consumer will suffer.

Already, the problems that consumers complained about regarding the medal-lion industry are showing up at Uber. Drivers routinely cancel fares that don’t fi t into their idea of profi tability. Already drivers refuse to accept fares based upon factors like race. It is a matter of time be-fore the vehicles start showing their age, and while it might seem advantageous to be able to operate a six or seven year old car, the consumer may not agree.

Finally, the driver experience, whether it be as an owner operator of a medallion taxi or an Uber driver, has declined. The supply of vehicles has outstripped demand and clogged the streets. As driver incomes decline, ex-penses do not, and living expenses have a way of rising geometrically. This will be best illustrated when it’s time for own-ers or drivers to replace their vehicles. As profi tability worsens, so will credit scores and therefore banks willingness to lend will become less likely. This will result in much higher interest rates for drivers or owners, and the cycle of higher expenses will further reduce profi tability. As Uber continues to repossess vehicles and put new unsuspecting drivers into those recycled car deals, this business model will become the norm, and quite possibly the only game in town for car fi nancing. For a taxi industry that has not been allowed by our regulator, the TLC, to put used cars into the rotation of taxis for twenty years, it is ironic. But, then again, there are so many ironies in this horror show that we have been experiencing the last three years that irony is the least of our worries.

OP-EDBy Matthew W. Daus

The Beginning of the End of Trans-portation Regulation As We Know ItProposed NY State TNC Legislation One of the hottest topics in Al-

bany, NY, this year is whether the State will legalize the operation of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs); and if so, what will the new law look like? This so-called upstate legislation could be the beginning of the end of the regulatory paradigm throughout the state and in NYC as we know it. The current bill NY State Governor Andrew Cuomo is pushing will allow Uber and Lyft to not only significantly deregulate the industry in upstate New York, creating safety issues for passengers and the decima-tion of small taxicab and limousine businesses everywhere, but it will also render NYC’s Taxi and Limousine Commission defenseless to stop ille-gal pick-ups in NYC. While taxicabs in NYC will feel the pain, as well as the incumbent industry in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, the livery and black car industry in NYC could be completely overrun, and we may be facing the closure of many For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) businesses. In addition, all versions of legislation introduced and pending create an “un-even playing field” between upstate limousine and taxicab businesses, as TNCs will be allowed to operate at less cost and with less regulation, and many upstate small businesses may go under water – usurping the job creation goal of the TNC bills.

The Governor has made the le-galization of TNCs in upstate New York a priority and part of his plan to jump-start the upstate economy.

In late 2016, during the holidays, the Governor made a major failed push to hold a special legislation session, with no public hearings or floor debate, to tie the passage of the TNC bill - as one of several “quid pro quos” - for a legislative pay raise. In his State of the State speech in Buffalo, the Governor called for the enactment of TNC legislation to spur economic development in upstate NY. A few days later, the Governor presented his TNC bill as part of his executive budget. Among some of the provisions in this “poison pill bill” are:

• TNC drivers will not be required to undergo fingerprinting for their background checks;

• TNCs can conduct the back-ground checks themselves, or engage a third party to do so;

• Creation of TNC group insur-ance;

• Only New York City is exempt from the TNC law, but TNCs may drop off in NYC;

• TNC vehicle trade dress may be a removable logo or insignia (not a commercial license plate);

• TNCs will pay a 5.5% assessment instead of sales tax; and

• TNC trip records are not subject to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), and would be shielded from the public and possibly government agencies.

Senate Republicans recently passed an upstate TNC bill (S.4159) by a 53-5 vote on February 6, 2017, sponsored by Senator James Seward, an upstate Republican. Senator Seward’s bill is similar to the Governor’s, but differs in that it would not exempt trip records from disclosure under FOIL and would impose a lower 2% assessment on TNC trips. The Governor’s bill cat-egorically exempts TNCs and TNC driver records from disclosure under FOIL or “to a third party . . . without prior consent of the TNC. . . .” Based upon recent history, requiring TNCs such as Uber and Lyft to consent to release this information is tantamount to a denial. Just recently, Uber and many others strenuously objected to the adoption of a recent NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) rule to combat driver fatigue because of the requirement that they provide drop-off data. It may be impossible for the TLC and other regulatory agencies to enforce new upstate TNC laws without TNC records. The Gov-ernor’s unprecedented proposal not only eliminates transparency created by “good government” Sunshine laws enacted after the Watergate scandal under President Nixon - allowing most government records and com-munications to be disclosed to the media and the public - but it may actually also prohibit government agencies like the TLC from accessing such information to fulfill its core mission of protecting the public. This bill is a blueprint for deregulation and little or no enforcement, and is possibly one of the worst pieces of legislation introduced in the history of for-hire ground transportation regulation.

The Governor and Senator Seward’s proposals will allow TNCs to drop off passengers in NYC, but would prohibit point-to-point trans-portation within NYC, or pick-ups in NYC to destinations outside NYC. Since TNCs would not be required to have special plates, like other FHVs, it may be a logistical nightmare for enforcement to identify straight plate



LETTERS(Continued from Page 3)


Dear Taxi Dave,I’m an independent accessible medallion (3W15)

owner yellow taxi driver. On 01/22/2017 at 1:20 am I was standing at the red light with two female pas-sengers at 82 East 4th Street in Manhattan. A police vehicle (plate number 3504, NYPD 9 precinct) was just in front of me. Suddenly, driver police offi cer put car in reverse and backed into my taxi and struck. As a result, my taxi got front damage (grill, hood, bumper). My right foot was on the brake. After couple of hours I felt a lot of pain on my right foot. My foot doctor (podiatrist) gave me medication and the pain was not going away. After doing MRI, the podiatrist found fracture (planter plate tear) on my right foot.

UBER Controls AirportsDear Taxi Dave,

I’ve noticed that uber has infl uence with port author-ity at the airports. The taxi lines moved further away from the front doors at the airports. At lga that’s evident at terminals C where the passengers have to walk to the other end while being solicited aggressively. At

terminal B passengers have to cross the street while Uber can take the right lane in front of terminal B to solicit and pick up. Terminal D is probably next.

At JFK, I decided to take a drive to the old terminal 5 taxi line to see why we haven’t moved back yet and to my shock, NOTHING was under construction and it remains the same (see pics). Apparently it’s being used as pickup zones for Uber.

Tommy Nakos

Airport HustleDear Taxi Dave,

Pictured, person hustled passengers on 1/31/17 at 9:57AM just behind the taxi dispatchers booth at Terminal #8 at JFK. A passenger got in my car, the man in the picture put the passenger’s luggage in his car, but they didn’t go because he asked $110.00 for Manhattan. When the passenger told me this I told the dispatcher but he didn’t bother to come out from his dispatcher booth.

Every time passengers come out from arrivals, 1st they get approached by all bus services like NYC Airporter Express, Super Shuttle, then all the hustlers like Uber, Lyft and Town Cars with Pennsylvania license plates.

If passengers survive then they come to a taxi stand. The TLC sold medallions but they don’t have any responsibility. It takes 2 to 3 hours to get a pas-senger from JFK, looks like a conspiracy going on to destroy the Taxi Industry.

New York City/TLC sold medallions and promised to protect our interests. If they can’t keep their prom-ise, they can take back their medallion and give us back our money. Same way – like Trump University. Trump paid back 25 million because he sold false promise or can’t keep his promise.

I request through your paper U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara make an inquiry about approval of APP company. Any one from mayor’s offi ce/TLC chair women or any commissioners involve insider trading put them behind the bar

For destroy the taxi industry.Thank you,

Gobija

Unbelievable Accident!


The Taxi Attorney

$ Z O N E 7 Y E A N G D M4 G E M R L I R B S E Y EJ N N T I T E R E O F F DF I D N A T S N E V E R AK F L C M P L O Y R Y O LP S T E F F I C S U D A LA O R A T E I N C R E A IR A M N S I J W U B A S OK G I A I F F A G E R E NI E H L V E K P T C R F SN A I 5 I R S O A U T O AG S L A T I T R E Y L R LF O E X B K E P E A M D EE R U S A E A S T N E R SE C L O C T C S A H V I X

• CABTIVIST • MEDALLION SALES •• RATE INCREASE FOR DRIVERS •

•EYES OFF ROAD • TIF PAYMENTS ••TRANFER TAX • TERMINAL 5 •

• TRAFFIC SURVEY • CURB ARRO •• JFK STRIKE • HAAS ACT • INTRO 1474 •

• STORAGE • $4 JFK PRKING FEE •• TLC EMPLOYEE BAN • NO STANDING ZONE •

• WAGE CUT • 7 YEAR RETIREMENT •• FORCLOSURE • TORT REPEAL • HAILS •

Do you know the stories behind each word?You would if you listened to Taxi Dave’s Radio Show, Sunday’s at 8:00 PM on WOR710. Brought to you by Melrose Credit Union. You will also understand the puzzle better if you read our articles.

Find the following words/accronyms in the puzzle above

March Taxi Driver PuzzleHello everybody, I hope that you

are working hard and making good money. This month I want to talk about eight topics.

First, please be aware that TLC has been en-forcing revocation for a combination of DMV and TLC points. For instance, if you have a 5 point DMV electronic device ticket and a 3 point failure to yield to pedestrian at DMV and a TLC customer complaint for talking on a cell phone for which you plead guilty at TLC yielding 3 points. Boom. You are revoked. Be careful with TLC tickets, including settlement offers from TLC. Make sure that you contact a lawyer before merely paying a TLC or DMV ticket. It is important. I am available to help and offer a free initial consultation at 212.754.1011. Talk to me and I will try to protect your license and job.

Second, please be careful not to talk on your cell phone in your taxi. At DMV court in the City, it is ex-tremely difficult to get a cell phone/electronic device ticket dismissed. Judges are hesitant to dismiss such tickets because they are so serious. If you are found guilty by a judge of an electronic device or cell phone ticket then you will receive a whopping 5 points on your DMV license. Be careful. Cell phone and electronic device tickets also carry points at TLC. It is vital that you contact me at 212.754.1011 if you receive such a ticket at TLC. I can save you the points in a plea bargain with TLC in many instances.

Third, if you are arrested and you possess a TLC license, it is impera-tive that you hire the best criminal attorney that you can afford. This is so because TLC will hold your license

until the criminal case is finished and the TLC will take it permanently from you if the criminal matters is NOT resolved to the TLC’s satisfac-tion. I work with a very high quality criminal attorney who can speed up criminal matters and obtains excel-lent results, so please call me at 212.754.1011 if you get arrested.

Fourth, please listen to the Taxi Dave radio show on 710 am WOR, on Sunday evenings between 8pm and 9pm. David Pollack is the host. He is smart, entertaining, informative and best of all, knows the truth about what is happening in your Industry. Moreover, he has the highest rated show on radio in his time slot in the NYC Metro area! So, please tune in to listen.

Fifth, remember to bring me your DMV and TLC tickets. It is important to fight all your DMV (issued by NYPD) and TLC tickets. Be careful. Don’t skimp on the lawyer only to lose your license later. Please fight every

yellow or pink ticket you receive from NYPD and every TLC ticket you

receive. If you are un-certain whether to use an attorney for a particular ticket, please come see me and I will tell you, no charge, if the ticket has points and you do or do not need an attorney or representative for a particular summons.

Sixth, please take the defensive driver course every 18 months. Do not wait three years to take

the DDC class that takes points off of your NYS driver’s license. Please take the course every 18 months so if TLC sends you a letter to suspend or revoke your Hack or TLC license you will have taken the class before you get such TLC letter. Now TLC is allowing you to take a course which takes 3 points off your DMV record according to TLC calculations after you get a letter from TLC saying you have a suspension or revocation coming to you. Also, if you get found guilty of a DMV summons it may be best to take a DDC course AFTER the guilty finding at TVB or in other NYS traffic court. Moreover, there is a persistent violator course available to reduce TLC points which are now being combined with DMV points and can result in your losing your TLC license very quickly if you speed or talk on your cell phone while driv-ing. Basically, any moving violation now puts you in jeopardy. Call me at 212.754.1011 if you want to discuss your DMV or TLC tickets.

Also, please note that I will do an excellent job advocating for you at a fair and reasonable price, and I have been doing this business for 20 years now and really know what I am do-ing. Please call me at 212.754.1011 or 866.LAW.MIKE to discuss your DMV or TLC problem.

Seventh, now that the Super Bowl is here and will soon be over, it is time to think about the end of winter and the beginning of Spring, which hope-fully our groundhog friend thinks will be soon. Once the weather gets nicer, the NYPD comes out in force to issue summonses. Vision Zero has only intensified the efforts of the police to summons drivers. As a professional taxi driver with tons of hours on the road, it is almost impossible to not receive at least one summons per year. If you do receive a summons don’t delay. Speak to me and I will try to minimize the impact that the summons carries for you. You must fight every summons you receive that carries points no matter how many summonses you have now.

Eighth, if you receive a pink sum-mons, please call me at 212.754.1011 to discuss it. Sometimes it makes sense to use a lawyer to help you fight a pink summons, which is a criminal summons with ramifications beyond

DMV points, and sometimes you can simply pay such a summons without any negative consequences. My fee is reasonable to go to court for you for pink summonses, and you most often do not need to go to court and I can obtain zero points for you. But, please call me at 212.754.1011 to discuss this with me and don’t wait for the day before court to call me.

Thank you for reading this ar-ticle. Call me at 212.754.1011 for all

your legal needs. Until next month, be well.

Mr. Spevack thanks you for read-ing this article which is for enter-tainment purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, contact Mr. Spevack.http://www.trafficticketnyc.com .

See his advertisement on page 20 of this issue.

This article does not reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Photo by David Pollack


MANHATTAN POLICE PRECINCTS

BRONX POLICE PRECINCTS

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QUEENS POLICE PRECINCTS

STATEN ISLAND POLICE PRECINCTS

Precinct Address Direct line16 Ericsson Place 1-212-334-0611

19 Elizabeth Street 1-212-334-0711

233 West 10 Street 1-212-741-4811

19 1/2 Pitt Street 1-212-477-7311

130 Avenue C 1-212-477-7811

230 West 20th Street 1-212-741-8211

230 East 21st Street 1-212-477-7411

MSP 357 West 35th Street 1-212-239-9811

167 East 51st Street 1-212-826-3211

MNP 306 West 54th Street 1-212-767-8400

153 East 67th Street 1-212-452-0600

120 West 82nd Street 1-212-580-6411

86th St & Transverse Road 1-212-570-4820

162 East 102nd Street 1-212-860-6411

151 West 100th Street 1-212-678-1811

120 East 119th Street 1-212-860-6511

520 West 126th Street 1-212-678-1311

2271-89 8th Avenue 1-212-678-1611

451 West 151st Street 1-212-690-8811

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2207 Amsterdam Avenue 1-212-927-3200

4295 Broadway 1-212-927-9711

257 Alexander Avenue 1-718-402-2270

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830 Washington Avenue 1-718-402-3887

900 Fteley Avenue 1-718-542-0888

2 East 289th Street 1-718-590-5511

2877 Barkley Avenue 1-718-822-5411

2120 Ryer Avenue 1-718-220-5211

4111 Laconia Avenue 1-718-920-1211

450 Cross Bronx Expressway 1-718-299-3900

2121 Eastchester Road 1-718-918-2000

3450 Kingsbridge Avenue 1-718-543-5700

3016 Webster Avenue 1-718-220-5811

2951 West 8th Street 1-718-946-3311

2575 Coney Island Avenue 1-718-627-6611

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5822 16th Avenue 1-718-851-5611

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333 65th Street 1-718-439-4211

9720 Foster Avenue 1-718-257-6211

154 Lawrence Avenue 1-718-851-5511

421 Empire Boulevard 1-718-735-0511

830 4th Avenue 1-718-965-6311

1470 East New York Avenue 1-718-495-5411

1000 Sutter Avenue 1-718-827-3511

191 Union Street 1-718-834-3211

127 Utica Avenue 1-718-735-0611

65 6th Avenue 1-718-636-6411

263 Tompkins Avenue 1-718-636-6611

30 Ralph Avenue 1-718-574-0411

480 Knickerbocker Avenue 1-718-574-1605

301 Gold Street 1-718-875-6811

298 Classon Avenue 1-718-636-6511

211 Union Avenue 1-718-963-5311

100 Meserole Avenue 1-718-383-3879

92-24 Rockaway Beach Blvd. 1-718-318-4200

16-12 Mott Avenue 1-718-868-3400

87-34 118th Street 1-718-805-3200

168-02 P.O. Edwaard Byrne Ave. 1-718-657-8181

64-02 Catalpa Avenue 1-718-386-3004

92-08 222nd Street 1-718-776-9090

103-53 101st Street 1-718-845-2211

71-01 Parsons Boulevard 1-718-969-5100

5-47 50th Avenue 1-718-784-5411

37-05 Union Street 1-718-321-2250

94-41 43rd Avenue 1-718-476-9311

45-06 215th Street 1-718-279-5200

68-40 Austin Street 1-718-520-9311

167-02 Baisley Boulevard 1-718-712-7733

34-16 Astoria Boulevard 1-718-626-9311

92-15 Northern Boulevard 1-718-533-2002

78 Richmond Terrace 1-718-876-8500

2320 Hylan Boulevard 1-718-667-2211

116 Main Street 1-718-948-9311

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Unfi nished Business:A Blueprint For Uber, Lyft and

Taxi RegulationThis report was prepared by Bruce Schaller,

Principal of Schaller Consulting. Developing a policy response should

utilize trip data from TNCs, taxis and other for-hire services.

New York City’s experience shows the importance of trip and mileage data to understand the complex dynamics involved with assessing TNC growth and developing a public policy response. New York’s experience also shows that TNC concerns about data confi dentiality need to be taken seriously, but also that large amounts of detailed anonymized data can be made public with no evident harm to user privacy or company interests.

Part of the reason that New York City is the national leader in collecting TNC trip data is that it had pre-existing requirements and processes for yellow and green cab trip data. The Taxi and Limousine Com-mission began collecting very detailed trip data for yellow cabs in 2007 in a program that also involved installation of credit card payment terminals and conversion from paper to electronic trip sheets. TLC devel-oped the capacity and expertise to process and analyze the resulting mountain of data -- over 13 million trip records per month. Equally important, TLC made the data available to the public, and it can now be downloaded from the TLC’s website.

TLC then expanded its data collec-tion requirements to TNCs and other for-hire ride services. It applied its sys-tems and expertise to these data, and used the precedent with yellow cabs to make clear that the City was not singling out any one industry segment in its data requirements.

Other cities and states have lagged behind these efforts. There was an agreement in January 2015 for Uber to share aggregated trip data with the City of Boston, but the plan was appar-ently fl awed and there has been little use made of these data.47 Portland, Oregon currently obtains Uber and Lyft trip data (although the data are not made public) but is having diffi culty obtaining comparable data from taxi companies that have less advanced technology.48 The California Public Utilities Commission requires TNCs to submit trip data, but keeps the data confi dential and has released very limited and occasional reports.

Uber recently announced that it would make data available for selected cities showing average travel times from one point to another. These data do not ad-dress the issues assessed in this report, however, and Uber has continued to resist New York City’s quest for trip destination information.49

Street management, transit services and road pricing should all be examined in formulating a policy response.

In tailoring a policy response to a particular city, policy makers have a broad range of tools to consider. These include allocating street space and time (via traffi c signals) to speed high-effi ciency transit services, focusing transit service improve-ments on sources of uncertainty and delay in the customer experience, and levying

charges so that fares include costs borne by other travelers, e.g., congestion delay. As they develop individual responses, there will be opportunities for cities to compare experiences and learn from each other. The process of developing policy responses will likely benefi t from the same type of step-by-step testing and subsequent adjustment of different ap-proaches that TNCs have used in rolling out their services.

SUMMARY: The rapid growth of app-based ride ser-

vices such as Uber and Lyft has raised both hopes and fears for their role in American cities. These services are widely embraced as a new transportation option that offers a higher level of availability, reliability and ease-of-use than traditional taxi and transit services. Patrons also avoid the cost and inconvenience of parking one’s own vehicle. But the rise of app-based ride ser-vices has also raised widespread concerns about their effects on traffi c congestion and vehicle emissions and also about their potential to undermine public transit and taxi services that are essential components of urban transportation networks.

The overarching question is how app-based ride services, also called Transporta-tion Network Companies (TNCs), might support or obstruct goals for mobility, safety and environmental sustainability. The dearth of factual information avail-able to date, however, provides little basis to assess the impacts of app-based ride services or decide whether public policy is needed in any of these areas.

This report presents fi ndings from a detailed analysis of the growth of app-based ride services in New York City, their impacts on traffi c, travel patterns and vehicle mileage since 2013, and implications for policy makers. The analysis utilizes trip and mileage data that are uniquely available in New York City, providing a detailed and comprehensive look at the expansion of app-based ride services and their impact on critical City goals for mobility, economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Findings from this analysis show that TNCs have become an important and fast-growing part of the city’s transportation system. In each of the last two years, they have been the leading source of growth in non-auto (i.e., non-personal car) travel in the city. They have also added signifi cantly to vehicular travel and mileage on city streets. Key fi ndings are:

• TNCs transported 15 million pas-sengers per month in Fall 2016 -- nearly as many trips as served by the city’s yel-low cab industry -- in 43,000 licensed vehicles.

• TNC ridership tripled between June 2015 (the end of the period examined by the City of New York’s For-Hire Vehicle Transportation Study) and the fall of 2016.

• After accounting for declines in yel-low cab, black car and car service rider-ship, TNCs have generated net increases of

31 million trips and 52 million passengers since 2013.

• In 2015 and to an even greater extent in 2016, growth in taxi and for-hire rider-ship outpaced growth in transit (subway and bus) ridership and is now the leading source of growth in non-auto travel in New York City. This marks a reversal from the transit-oriented growth that lasted from 1990 to 2014.

• TNCs accounted for the addition of 600 million miles of vehicular travel to the city’s roadway network over the past three years, after accounting for declines in yellow cab mileage and mileage in per-sonal vehicles. The additional 600 million miles exceeds the total mileage driven by yellow cabs in Manhattan

• Total mileage of TNCs, yellow cabs, black cars and car services combined increased from 14 percent to 19 percent of total citywide mileage from 2013 to 2016. (The industry mileage includes transportation of passengers, “dead-head” miles between dropping off one passenger and picking up the next passenger, and drivers’ personal use of driver-owned vehicles.)

• In Manhattan, western Queens and western Brooklyn, TNCs added an esti-mated 7 percent to existing miles driven by all vehicles, an increase of the same magnitude as the 2007 congestion pricing proposal would have decreased vehicle miles traveled.

• Since mid-2015 TNCs have offered and heavily promoted “pooled” options such as UberPool and LyftLine. TNC mileage nonetheless continues to grow rapidly because exclusive-ride trips still predominate, and because most TNC cus-tomers are coming from transit, walking and biking. Migration from public transit translates to increased mileage even if the trips are shared.

• Growth in trips, passengers and mile-age is seen throughout the city as TNCs attracted yellow cab riders, those who would otherwise use the bus, subway or their personal vehicle, and people who would not otherwise have made the trip.

• Trip growth in Manhattan has been concentrated during the morning and evening peak periods, when yellow cab shift changes produced a shortage of cab availability, and late evenings and week-ends when passengers may prefer the comfort and convenience of TNCs over yellow cabs or transit services.

Rapid TNC growth raises important questions about the ability of New York City’s transportation system to support the city’s economic and population growth. From 1990 to 2014, the subway and bus system absorbed all or nearly all the growth of travel in the city generated by increases in population and economic activity. The city depended on the transit system to absorb the growth in travel since already-congested streets could not accommodate the increased traffi c that would occur if growth were channeled to the automobile

A continuation of TNC-led growth in travel is not a sustainable way to grow the city. Adding TNC mileage to already congested streets will lead to mounting costs for businesses and consumers from increasing traffi c delay and hinder prog-ress toward the City’s goals for mobility,

economic growth and the environment.City and transit offi cials can take a

variety of steps to address the rising attrac-tiveness of TNCs while also supporting the mobility benefi ts that TNCs clearly offer. These include many initiatives already underway to improve the speed, reliability, comfort and ease-of-use of bus and sub-way service and the comfort and safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Examples include count-down clocks, dedicated bus and bike lanes and train signaling systems that enable more through-put of subway cars. But more needs to be and can be done. Additional steps can include adapting traffi c signal timing to make bus and bike speeds competitive with auto speeds, and reducing bus delay with off-board fare collection on busy routes when the MetroCard fare payment system is replaced.

Continued TNC growth, particularly as that growth becomes increasingly fu-eled by low fares, also raises the need to return to the subject of road pricing. The City has historically used pricing of taxi-cab fares and parking to discourage auto use in Manhattan. As they steadily cut fares, TNCs are erasing these longstand-ing fi nancial disincentives for traveling by motor vehicle in Manhattan. If TNC growth continues at the current pace (and there is no sign of it leveling off), the ne-cessity of some type of road pricing will become more and more evident. Tech-nological innovations have created new options for design and implementation of a road pricing system that targets the most ineffi cient use of scarce road space during the times and on the streets where additional vehicles contribute the most to traffi c delays. There are thus practical opportunities for offi cials to design, test and gain public acceptance of a road pric-ing scheme carefully targeted to reducing unnecessary traffi c congestion.

Although this report is specifi c to New York City, the fi ndings have important implications for other major American cities. The fi ndings show that as TNCs grow, they are becoming central to changes in how people travel within dense urban areas, with potentially far-reaching im-plications. How they affect traffi c and transit is shaped by the availability and attractiveness of existing transit, taxi and other for-hire services, which vary by city, location and time of day. Even where TNC trips replace personal auto trips, TNC growth can generate additional mileage on city streets because of deadheading to pick-up locations and drivers’ personal use of the vehicle. There is thus a strong need for a public policy response to the growth of TNCs. Developing a policy response should utilize trip data from TNCs, taxis and other for-hire services, as is currently possible in New York. Street management, transit services and road pricing should all be examined in formulating a policy response.

CONCLUSION: The tripling of TNC ridership over

the last 18 months has resolved the central question about whether app-based ride services need to be a central focus of transportation policy in New York City. TNC growth has added nearly 50,000 vehicles and over half a billion miles of



LETTERS(Continued from Page 8)

The healing time for this injury is about 6 to 8 weeks. Now I’m on the special boot. I’m not working since 01/22/2017 for a lot of pain. This is really unbeliev-able how come a police offi cer can do such a mistake on a busy Saturday night at East Village!

Sincerely,Abul Asad Khan

What Open Fair Market?Dear Taxi Dave,

TLC says that NYC is an open & fair market. Maybe for uber & other rideshare apps but the yel-low cab has its hands & feet tied. Up next is being blindfolded. The days of a yellow cab having 2 shifts are pretty much done. If someone who has a mortgage on his cab/home etc is forced to work the good times (6/7am-9/10pm) in order to make some profit after expenses.

We are also forced to have cars that aren’t necessarily built for cabs. The Camry Prius RAV4 etc are economical cars that should last 10 years under normal driving conditions. Not as a cab. If we are lucky these cars last 3-4 years before major repairs need to get done.

Yellow cab industry must have seen another loss this year. Maybe 10-15%. There are way too many rideshare cars on the street. Suppos-edly 13,500 yellow cabs but I highly doubt there are even 10,000 on the street & I’m high balling that # because it’s probably much less. Yet there is 50,000 plus private cars & no cap to stopping them grow. There is no enforcement too. They can park in no standing zones waiting for a hail while that no standing zone can be used for they traffic because others like themselves double park

on one way streets. Tommy

Much As 50%Wage Cut!

Dear Taxi Dave,I talk to cabdrivers almost everyday, and every-

one complaining about the job, how hard is it! We got much as 50 percent wage cut, since uber and other hustlers taking over the yellow taxi business. Riderships are not increasing, because the traffic is so bad, and people are fed up with that; paying 15-20 dollars for 1-2 miles!

Stephen B

15 Minute E-Hail WaitDear Taxi Dave,

TLC should ask, no enforce, these rideshare apps to wait 15 minutes (like ordering a pizza) before a passenger can get a hail.

Tommy N.

UBERBackground Checks

Dear Taxi Dave,In NYC the Taxi & Limousine Commission

Regulates UBER and the drivers are required to have a TLC License. In New Jersey & Connecticut you only need a regular drivers license, which is the rule in most states besides New York. I have a friend who lives in North Carolina and was out of work, so he signed up for UBER & LYFT. He had been driving for about 9 months when he got arrested on a domestic violence issue, for violating an order of protection. After his 1 year anniversary with UBER Everything was fine and he is still able to drive. LYFT on the other hand has banned him from driving for them because they ran another background check as his 1 year anniversary was approaching and found his arrest. So the moral seems to be in states other than NY as long as you join UBER before you are arrested , you are good to work for them. All UBER drivers should be regulated no matter what state they drive for. Myself I only feel safe in NYC Yellow Cabs because I know the drivers well trained and are always being carefully monitored by the NYC Taxi & Limousine for arrests, moving violations, and they are drug tested every year. No Cheap UBER fare is worth putting your personal safety at risk. GO BACK TO YELLOW FOR YOUR SAFETY, LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO TAKE CHANCES.

Xxxxxxx

Executive OrderDear Taxi Dave,

President Trump should sign an executive order to shut down the Taxi Leasing Agents not paying the MTA Taxes & Imp Surcharge Payments. So many Medallion owners are in major financial debt because certain leasing companies think they have the right to pocket the .50 cents & .30 cents from every fare done with the cabs that they are running.

These leasing companies need to pay up or be shut down. The Taxi passengers are paying this money, then the driver turns that money in to the

leasing company, but some of the leasing compa-nies are keeping this money for themselves. So Medallion owners that are leasing their Medallions beware. Do your homework , make sure you check to see that these payments are being made to the proper agencies . So Medallion owners are not only having their monthly leasing payments cut , they are now also in debt for thousands of dollars which they never collected. The leasing companies that are pocketing this money are heartless.

Tim

Mugged By the TLCDear Taxi Dave,

Noticed the very sneaky speed trap TLC en-forcement has placed at the far end of the 1st Ave Tunnel. From a safety concern, I can understand why the police set some traps. I’ll even admit that getting caught once or twice in these traps helped me become a better driver and understand the traffic laws of NYC better. But this speed trap leaves me concerned.

There is no way for a pedestrian to be walking inside the tunnel unless they are walking with traf-fic. There is no way for pedestrians to comfortably cross the street at either the entrance or exit to the tunnel. There are no turns inside the tunnel.. If you can drive straight, there should be no concern with speeding up a bit in this tunnel. The speed limit inside the tunnel should, I think, be permitted at, say, 35 mph. But for the purposes of setting up ambushes, the speed limit is left at 25 mph.

But then in addition, this speed trap is set up only for cab drivers by the TLC! Man pointing a gun (radar) at them before pulling them over. This is fascist abuse of immigrants by the city itself. DiBlasio is bleeding money protecting Baron Trump and he’s using the police to assault passers-by for money. It’s a mugging by the police.

I will not represent an agency like this with my time and effort and talents. (The money is easy enough to leave behind.)

I want to leave this job AND this city. DiBlasio is a progressive fascist.

Cab Driver for 4 Increasingly Troubing Years. <<< If you publish this letter. Please don’t use my real name. Don;t want this to haunt me in TLC court. Thanks for all you do for us.. :)

Annonomus

Laguardia AirportDear Taxi Dave,

It’s a mess at LaGuardia Airport. It took me 2 1/2 hours to get in, drop off passengers, and receive a passenger, and leave airport grounds. Why didn’t Port Authority open up a section of the airport right when u exit Delta terminal to enter Grand Central PKWY? Drivers need to drive all the way to 94th st to enter highway. They never thought of that. So all drivers have to merge from 4 lanes as u exit to ONE Lane. That’s atrocious!!!! Something needs to be done about entering and exiting LaGuardia, passengers are being dropped off in middle of roads. It’s dangerous and chaotic. I’ve heard passengers missing flights due to this. Construction,

I heard will go on for 3 more years. Are u kidding me? How will I drop off passengers? On Ditmars Blvd?? Northern Blvd?

To be continued....Taxi Solomon

Tonight’s ShowDear Taxi Dave,

Great show tonight Taxi Dave!The reason that the “Dope from Park Slope”

won’t settle with us is that the taxi drivers and owners are not unionized and therefore, aren’t a



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in a well-lit area. Do not simply stop on the side of the road. • Avoid driving between 12am and 6am • Keep the temperature cool in the vehicle • Stop every 100 miles or 2 hours to get out of the car and walk around;

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COMING SOON

Turns Out, Uber IsClogging The Streets

As Uber and Lyft burst onto our streets and smartphones, they prom-ised benefi ts to all. Passengers would get a quick, convenient alternative to the hide-bound taxi industry. Shared rides would replace solo drivers. Uber promised to take “1 million cars off the road in New York City.”

Today in New York, we fi nally have the data to see how these promises are working out. It’s not a pretty picture. On-demand companies are fueling a cycle of increasing congestion and declining transit use, and it demands immediate attention by Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo.

Today in New York, we fi nally have the data to see how these promises are working out. It’s not a pretty picture. On-demand companies are fueling a cycle of increasing congestion and declining transit use, and it demands immediate attention by Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo.

Initially, on-demand companies grew mostly by attracting yellow cab passengers. A January 2016 report from Mayor de Blasio, which I helped prepare, concluded that growing Uber and trips were not the primary cause of worsening congestion.

But growth didn’t stop with the mayor’s study. Since June 2015, on-demand companies’ passenger volumes have tripled, to 500,000 per day. That has far outpaced the drop in yellow cab rides. And most trips are still ex-clusive rides, not the long-envisioned shared trips with passengers traveling on overlapping routes.

I’ve analyzed Taxi & Limousine Commission trip and vehicle odometer

records to see how this translates to the streets of New York. The results: On-demand ride companies drove 600 million miles on New York City streets in 2016 — more than the same year’s total yellow cab mileage in Manhatta n. Most of the added driving is in Manhat-tan and congested parts of Brooklyn and Queens near the East River, piling more cars onto already crowded streets.

On-demand trips that aggravate already-slow traffi c speeds undercut the essential role of mass transit in absorb-ing growth in residents, workers and visitors. In 2016, subway ridership fell for the fi rst time in years. Bus ridership dropped for the third consecutive year. Uber, Lyft and the other companies are making up the difference. They — to-gether with bikes — are now serving the new travel demands generated by our growing city.

That’s not a sustainable way to grow the city.

But we shouldn’t blame the com-panies or their customers for adding to traffi c woes. Riders are voting with their feet for what they value most: prompt, responsive, reliable and comfortable transportation.

Mayor de Blasio has recognized the need for the city to act, promising an anti-congestion plan in his State of the City speech. His plan will need to more effi ciently use scarce street space by tackling transit delays, slow speeds, and crowding so that buses and subways are a viable choice when up against deep-pocketed, nimble and aggressively customer-focused private sector companies.

He should aim to speed up bus ser-

vice by rapidly expanding the number of bus lanes and vigorously enforcing bus lane and double-parking rules. And time traffi c signals on avenues with high-ridership bus service so that buses get from stop to stop without wasting time at red lights.

Cuomo must act, too. He should direct the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to expand off-the-bus fare collection, enabling people to board through all doors on high-ridership routes where long delays for getting on and off buses are an everyday, every-stop fact of life.

He should also insist that the MTA implement all-door boarding on all high-ridership routes when the Metro-Card fare payment system is replaced in a few years.

Finally, the MTA and state Legis-lature should revamp contracting pro-cedures so that system-wide improve-ments like new subway signal systems can be built more quickly and cheaply. New signals can make possible higher

frequency and more reliable subway service.

These initiatives are far more critical than splashy but low-ridership distrac-tions like the LaGuardia AirTrain and BQX streetcar. Without system-wide improvements, the on-demand compa-nies will keep attracting transit riders at an ever-increasing pace.

That will mean slower travel for everyone, from motorists to bus pas-sengers to truck drivers, and higher costs for goods and services. It’s not the future we were promised. Nor is it one we can live with. Fortunately, it’s one that city and state offi cials can avoid, but only by acting now.

Schaller is the former deputy com-missioner of traffi c and planning at the New York City Department of Transportation and author of “Unsus-tainable? The Growth of App-Based Ride Services and Traffi c, Travel and the Future of New York City.”

Reprinted with permission from The Daily News.


“Call Sunny Save Money”&

NYS DMV Point SystemSpeeding (mph over posted limit)

Reckless Driving

Failure to stop for a School Bus

Following too closely (tailgating)

Inadequate Brakes

Failing to Yield Right-Of-Way

Violation Involving Traffic Signal,

Stop Sign, or Yield Sign

Railroad Crossing Violation

Improper Passing or Lane Use

Leaving scene of an incident involving property

damage or injury to an animal

Safety restraint violation involving person

under 16

Any other moving violation

1 to 10 . . . 3 points

11 to 20 . . 4

21 to 30 . . 6

31 to 40 . . 8

More than 40 . . 11

. . . . 5

. 5

4

. . 4

(while driving employer's vehicle)2

. . . 3

. . . 3

3

. . 3

. . 3

. 3

2

points

points

points

points

points

points

points

points

points

points

points

points

points

points

points

pointsNote: Speeding when speed not indicated is 3 points


MOTORISTS & PARKINGMunicipal Parking Facilities

The BronxBelmont Municipal Parking Field2356 Hoffman Street, Bronx, NY

1045857 spaces, (including 3 spaces for

people with disabilities)Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pmUnattended metered facility (Pay and

Display)Accepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC

Parking Cards and credit cards.Rates25¢ per 15 minutes. 3 hour parking

limitEast 149th Street Municipal Parking

Garage315 East 149th Street, Bronx, NY

10451 (between Courtland and Morris Avenues)

311 spaces, (including 8 spaces for people with disabilities & 3 Electric vehicle charging spaces)

Monday to Sunday, 6 am to 10 pmCashier/Toll OperationRatesFirst hour: $5, additional hours: $1.50.

12 hours max: $17 Jerome-190th Street Municipal Ga-

rage2478 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY

10468 (East 190th Street at Fordham Road)

416 spaces, (including 12 spaces for people with disabilities & 3 Electric ve-hicle charging spaces)

Open 24 hours a day 7 days a weekCashier/Toll Operation (395 spaces)RatesFirst hour: $2.50 per hourAdditional hours: $1.50 per hourLost ticket charged from 12:01 am

(day of entry) Jerome-Gun Hill Road Municipal

Parking Garage(CONTROLLED BY MULTI-

SPACE PARKING METERS)3510 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY

10467 (just north of Gun Hill Road)240 spaces, (including 8 spaces for

people with disabilities & 3 Electric vehicle charging spaces)

Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pmAttended Permit/Metered Facility

(Pay and Display)Accepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC

Parking Cards and credit cards.Rates25¢ per 15 minutes. 3 hour limit (36

spaces, including 3 spaces for people with disabilities)

White Plains Road Municipal Park-

ing Field2071 White Plains Road, Bronx, NY

10462 (between Maran Pl and Brady Ave, south of Pelham Pkwy IRT station)

93 spaces, (including 5 spaces for people with disabilities)

Unattended metered facility (Pay and Display)

Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pmAccepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC

Parking Cards and credit cards.Rates

25¢ per 15 minutes, 4 hour limit (15 spaces, including 2 spaces for people with disabilities)

25¢ per 15 minutes, $8 max, 14 hour limit (22 spaces, including 2 spaces for people with disabilities)

BrooklynAvenue M Municipal Parking Field1624 Chestnut Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

11230 (near the Avenue M station of the Brighton Line)


Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pmUnattended metered facility (Pay and


Parking Cards and credit cards.Rates25¢ per 15 minutes, 4 hour limit (9

spaces, includes 1 space for people with disabilities)


Bay Ridge Municipal Parking Ga-rage

8501 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 (between 85th and 86th Streets)

205 spaces, (including 6 spaces for people with disabilities & 3 Electric vehicle charging spaces)

Monday to Sunday, 8 am to 10 pmCashier/Toll Operation (70 spaces)RatesFirst hour: $3.00, additional hour:

$1.50Max to close: $19.50Bensonhurst #1 Municipal Parking

Field1763 86th Street, Brooklyn, NY

11214, (at the 18th Avenue “D” train Station)


Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pmUnattended metered facility (pay &

display)Accepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC


spaces, 2 spaces for people with dis-abilities)

25¢ per 15 minutes, $8 max, 14 hour limit (38 spaces, 2 spaces for people with disabilities)

Bensonhurst #2 Municipal Parking Field

1 Bay 26th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11214

24 spaces, (includes 1 space for people with disabilities)



Parking Cards and credit cards.Rates25¢ per 15 minutes, 3 hour limitBay Ridge Municipal Parking Ga-

rage8501 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

11209 (between 85th and 86th Streets)205 spaces, (including 6 spaces for

people with disabilities & 3 Electric

vehicle charging spaces)Monday to Sunday, 8 am to 10 pmCashier/Toll Operation (70 spaces)RatesFirst hour: $3.00, additional hour:

$1.50Max to close: $19.50Bensonhurst #1 Municipal Parking

Field1763 86th Street, Brooklyn, NY

11214, (at the 18th Avenue “D” train Station)






25¢ per 15 minutes, $8 max, 14 hour limit (38 spaces, 2 spaces for people with disabilities)

Bensonhurst #2 Municipal Parking Field

1 Bay 26th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11214

24 spaces, (includes 1 space for people with disabilities)



Parking Cards and credit cards.Rates25¢ per 15 minutes, 3 hour limitGowanus Municipal Parking Field

Temporarily closed due to construc-tion

Third Avenue between 30th and 41st Streets

324 spacesMonday through Friday, 9 am to 7

pmUnattended metered facilityAccepts quarters onlyRates30¢ per 15 minutes, 2 hour limit (58

spaces) Short-Term30¢ per 15 minutes, $2.00 max, 12

hour limit (106 spaces) Long-TermFree parking (320 spaces) Grant Avenue Municipal Parking

Field581 Grant Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

11208 (Sheridan Avenue to Eldert Lane & Pitkin Avenue)


Monday through Friday, 8 am to 10 pm

Pay and Display facilityAccepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC

Parking Cards and credit cards.Rates25¢ per 15 minutes, $8 max, 14 hour

limitSheepshead Bay #1 Municipal Park-

ing Field2602 East 17th Street, Brooklyn, NY

11235 at Avenue Z60 spaces, (including 3 spaces for



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LIC, NY 11101(718) 937-8668

A0011J & I Maintenance Corp.

341 Bergen StreetBrooklyn, NY 11217

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A0014Midtown Operating Corp.

42-50 24 StreetLIC, NY 11101(718) 937-2080

A0017521 West 21st St Management

Corp.415 West 127 Street

New York, NY 10027(212) 665-4900

A0110Winners Garage Inc.

34-14 64 StreetWoodside, NY 11377

(718) 458-7000

A0113Checker Management Corp.

22-10 Jackson AvenueLIC, NY 11101(718) 361-6300

A0201Green Apple

Management Corp.34-20 31 StreetLIC, NY 11106(718) 361-5555

A0202All Taxi Management Inc

41-25 36 StreetLIC, NY 11101(718) 361-0055

A0204B. Taxi Management Inc.

314 West 53 StreetNY, NY 10019(212) 957-0033

A0206AJB Taxi Management Inc.

662 10 AvenueNY, NY 10036(212) 956-3177

A0213J T L Management Inc.36-16 Skillman Avenue

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A0217Medallion Maintenance Inc.

11-38 44 RoadLIC, NY 11101(718) 472-9000

A0224S & R Medallion Corp.

625 West 51 StreetNew York, NY 10019

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A0232Wailing Management Inc.31-08 Northern Boulevard

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A0280Eddie’s Management Corp.

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LIC, NY 11106(718) 392-0250

A0324AstoRia Taxi Leasing Corp.

32-56 49 StreetLIC, NY 11103(718) 932-3312

A0326Gotham Yellow LLC.

134-02 33 AvenueFlushing, NY 11354

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A0336Taxi World Inc.


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A0289Boulevard Taxi Leasing Inc.

32-56 49 StreetLIC, NY 11103(718) 932-3312

A0290United Taxi Mgmt. Group,

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A0292City Transport Mgmt

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Listen to Podcasts ofThe Taxi Dave Show

and Read Taxi Insider on-line @NYCTAXINEWS.COM

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Trump May Be The Gift That Keeps On Giving

By Jerry KremerSince November’s

election, it hasn’t been easy to be a Democrat. Most of us assumed that Hillary Clinton would win in a walk, and the media gave us the same impres-sion. The shock of her loss hasn’t totally subsided, as no matter where I go, I hear rumblings of unhap-piness and anger from the most placid people I know. But it’s time to look at the bright side of defeat and realize that Democrats, Republicans or independents who didn’t vote now have the gift that will keep on giving. It’s President Donald Trump.

Throughout December and most of January, the political experts were describing the Democratic Party as being in a state of disarray. Democrats are still feuding over the selection of a party chair. But the person do-ing the most to unite the country for the next round of change is the new president.

The worldwide demonstrations the day after the inauguration were a massive coming together of people who won’t just sit back and let Trump do his thing. The demonstrations since then have kept millions of peo-ple ready, willing and able to march again. On almost any day of the week there are reported protests reacting to his latest actions. There’s no way the Democratic Party could energize the public the way Trump has.

There are massive numbers of voters who stayed home, or thought that a vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein wouldn’t affect the outcome of the election. Many of those people are experiencing buyer’s remorse now that they have seen the antics of the man who is supposed to be the leader of the free world. I can point to numerous actions by the president that are succeeding in creating a new national coalition that will not stay home in 2018.

For starters, let’s look at the Muslim ban. The word ban isn’t my language. Forget about the progres-sive movement or the free-speech groups. The technology industry in Silicon Valley is being hobbled by its inability to hire overseas talent, which helps make this country so great. Current employees are afraid to travel anywhere outside the U.S. for fear that they won’t be able to come back. Foreign students, who

have become the lifeblood of our private and public colleges and our hospital system, have been unable to return to America due to the ban.

There’s no doubt that a large number of people think that Trump’s ac-tion, to keep us safe from “terrorists,” is a good thing. But it constitutes a Muslim ban, basically labeling all Muslims as terrorists. For those who

follow history, it is a reminder of the internment camps for Japanese-Americans during World War II, or the movement in the 1930s to keep Jews out of the country because they were alleged to be some kind of security threat. Stay tuned to the action in federal courts.

Those of us who value our public school system and the education it of-fers to millions of Americans have to be frightened by the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be secretary of education. A harsh critic of public education and a proponent of a voucher system, DeVos is uniting new groups of citizens who fear for the survival of public schools. Some of the president’s other cabinet choices are eager to take away clean-air protection and laws dealing with food safety. Some of the billionaires being considered for the cabinet can hardly wait until they can get tax law changes that will further reduce their payments to the Treasury.

Regardless of political party, the vast majority of Americans worry about whether this country will be spared taking part in another war. Having a president who argues with our friends, like Australia, and fires off random daily tweets attacking our allies is one sure way to get us into a war that could be the last one for all of us.

So let’s give President Trump some credit. He is doing for the Democratic Party something it can’t do for itself — recruiting a whole new generation of unhappy voters who will get a chance to express their dissent in 2018.

Jerry Kremer was a state assem-blyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Commit-tee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? [email protected].

Quoteable Quotes

“Why come to speak to a captive audience of public offi cials? And the answer is that I have come to really love the sound of nervous laughter”

Preet Bharara, at a speech in midtown• • • • •

“We’re getting into a situation where the growth of the city is being absorbed by vehicles on the street and that’s not a sustainable way to grow the city,” he said. “The streets are already crowded with cars and trucks and buses and as traffi c increases, obviously it slows down and will impede the economy. It raises costs and delays, it makes transit even less attractive if you’re stuck on the bus, so you start a downward spiral that will not serve New York well.”

Bruce Schaller

Photo By David Pollack


Op-Ed(Continued from Page 18)

TNC vehicles attempting illegal pick-ups while in NYC. The NYC TLC already faces staffing and legal challenges in enforcing existing laws against unlicensed FHVs, and may not be able to effectively keep stealth upstate TNCs out of NYC. Without stringent and effective enforcement (including significant penalties), the upstate TNC bill may put NYC TLC-licensed FHV companies out of business, as they will face diffi-culty competing against services with less regulatory costs. As mentioned above, enforcement will be diffi-cult as trip data that existing NYC FHV companies and taxicabs must already provide to regulators, may be exempt from disclosure under the state TNC law for TNCs only. Also, case law now prohibits the previously longstanding practice of seizing or confiscating unlicensed FHVs and law enforcement personnel may be prevented from legally stopping many TNCs picking-up passengers, as administrative stops may not be permitted for personal motor vehicles without commercial/license plates absent an alleged traffic or other civil or criminal violation. Envisioning a TNC car stop where TLC inspectors may need to ask passengers to see their smartphones would be awkward and unworkable. The only other way to effectively police the so-called up-state/NYC border would be to obtain data from TNCs and geo-fence TNC vehicles.

One issue that may prevent the enactment of a TNC bill is local regulation. Traditionally, for-hire vehicles, such as taxicabs and limou-sines, have been regulated by local municipalities. Assembly Member Kevin Cahill, who has been a primary proponent of TNC legislation and has, in the past few years, sponsored TNC legislation with Senator Seward, has said that he wants to enact TNC leg-islation, but only if local regulation

is preserved. Assembly Member Fred Thiele, a member of the Independence Party (who caucuses with Assembly Democrats, and represents parts of eastern Long Island), recently stated his opposition to the Governor’s pro-posed TNC bill because it stripped local municipalities of their author-ity to regulate TNCs. Both Cahill and Thiele said they would support a law to create group insurance for the TNCs, but insist that local regula-tion of for-hire vehicles continue. In the NY Senate, State Senator Martin Golden, one of the few Republicans from NYC, has called for “equity and fairness” in any TNC legislation, and has been a true and consistent champion in fighting to ensure a level playing field for all for-hire ground transportation businesses.

As of November 2016, 41 states and the District of Columbia have enacted some form of TNC legisla-tion. While every jurisdiction’s TNC bills are different, the proposed Governor’s bill is especially favor-able to TNCs, allowing them to is-sue permits to their own drivers and exempting almost all TNC records from disclosure. New York appears to be the ultimate battleground state this year. With the legislature’s recent dust-up on the special session, and the important issues being raised about local regulation and public safety, the enactment of statewide TNC legisla-tion may not be the slam dunk that the TNCs and the Governor anticipated. However, prevailing thought is that some bill will pass, and the result of this legislative battle will have ripple effects for the rest of the nation and the world as most regulatory jurisdictions look to NYC as the gold standard of for-hire regulation, as it is the only city where Uber and Lyft are subject to the same rules as other FHVs. Hopefully NYCs’ gold will not be tarnished forever by a state law that is unworkable, unfair and unsafe, but it is simply hope that will keep the upstate taxi and for-hire industry alive if any of the TNC laws pass.

Motorist and Parking(Continued from Page 15)Display)

Accepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC Parking Cards and credit cards.

Rates25¢ per 15 minutes, 3 hour limit (42

spaces)Sheepshead Bay #2 Municipal Park-

ing Field1602 Voorhies Avenue, Brooklyn,

NY 11235 (near Sheepshead Bay B,Q train station)





spaces including 2 spaces for people with disabilities)


ManhattanDelancey and Essex Municipal Park-

ing Garage105-113 Essex Street & 112-120 Lud-

low Street, New York, NY 10002356 spaces, (including 6 spaces for

people with disabilities, 3 Electric vehicle charging spaces)

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekCashier/Toll OperationRates$4.50 for the fi rst hour, $2 per hour for

additional hours (66 spaces, including 6 spaces for people with disabilities)

Lost QueensBayside Municipal Parking Field214-32 41st Avenue, Queens, NY

11361 (at 214th Place, east of Bell Bou-levard)







Broadway-31st Street Municipal

Parking Field32-11 31st Street, Queens, NY 11106

(south of Broadway)61 spaces, (including 3 spaces for



Parking Cards and credit cards.RatesRates25¢ per 15 minutes, 4 hour limit (47

spaces, 2 spaces for people with dis-

abilities)25¢ per 15 minutes, $8 max, 14 hour

limit (14 spaces, 1 space for people with disabilities)

College Point Municipal Parking

Field121-26 14th Avenue, Queens, NY






Court Square Municipal Parking

Garage45-40 Court Square, Queens, NY

11101 (between Court Square East and Court Square West (Anable Street), ap-prox. 500 feet south of Jackson Avenue behind Court House)

703 spaces, (including 22 spaces for people with disabilities & 3 Electric ve-hicle charging spaces)

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Cashier/Toll OperationRatesFirst hour: $2.50; additional hours:

$1.50; $10.50 max, 12 hours (447 spaces, inclucing 22 spaces for people with dis-abilities) & (46 Authorized Vehicles – DOT Issued)

Lost ticket charged from 12:01 am day of entry

Ditmars #1 Municipal Parking Field22-18 33rd Street, Queens, NY 11105

(south of Ditmars Blvd)57 spaces, (including 3 spaces for



Parking Cards and credit cards.Rates25¢ per 15 minutes, 4 hour limitDitmars #2 Municipal Parking Field22-70 33rd Street, Queens, NY 11105

(about 40 feet north of 23 Avenue)67 spaces, (including 3 spaces for





25¢ per 15 minutes, $8 max, 14 hour limit (41 spaces, including 1 space for people with disabilities)

Far Rockaway #2 Municipal Parking

FieldBeach 21st Street, Queens, NY 11691

(between Mott and Cornaga Avenue, near IND terminal)





limit Flushing #2 Municipal Parking



people with disabilities)Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pmPay and Display facilityAccepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC

Parking Cards and credit cards.Rates25¢ per 10 minutes, 3 hour limit Flushing #4 Municipal Parking

FieldNorthern Boulevard between College

Point Blvd and Prince Street93 spaces, (including 3 spaces for




limit (53 spaces, including 3 spaces for people with disabilities)

Queens Borough Hall Municipal Park-

ing Garage and Field(UNDER DESIGN PHASE)80-25 126th Street, Queens, NY

11415 (Kew Gardens, Queens, block bound-

ed by 126th & 132nd Streets and 82nd Avenue / Union Turnpike)

Closed as of Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Queens Village Municipal Parking (Continued on Page 23)


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Motorist and Parking(Continued from Page 18)

Field218-02 Jamaica Avenue, Queens,

NY 1142852 spaces, (including 3 spaces for

people with disabilities)Unattended metered facility (Pay and


Parking Cards and credit cards.RatesMonday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm25¢ per 15 minutes, 4 hour limit (26


25¢ per 15 minutes, $8 max, 14 hour limit (26 spaces, including 1 space for people with disabilities)

Queens Family Court Garage150-07 Archer Avenue, Queens, NY

11432 (near Jamaica subway and LIRR station)

207 spaces, (including 5 spaces for people with disabilities & 3 Electric Ve-hicle Charging Spaces)

Monday to Saturday: 7 am to 9 pm. Sundays: 8 am to 8 pm

Cashier/Toll OperationRatesFirst hour is $3.50, each additional

hour: $2.50. $18 max (110 spaces, includ-ing 5 spaces for people with disabilities)

Rockaway Park Municipal Parking

Field248 Beach 116th Street, Queens, NY

11694 (between Beach Channel Drive and

Rockaway Beach Blvd, at Rockaway Park A Train Terminal)


Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pmPay and Display facilityAccepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC



25¢ per 15 minutes, $8 max, 14 hour

limit (104 spaces)Lost ticket charged from 07:01 am

(day of entry) Rosedale Municipal Parking FieldFrancis Lewis Blvd, Queens, NY

11422 (between Sunrise Highway and North Conduit Blvd, near Rosedale LIRR Station)


Monday to Saturday, 7 am to 10 pmPay and Display facilityAccepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC


limit (41 spaces, including 2 spaces for people with disabilities)

Permits$110 per quarter (123 spaces, includ-

ing 3 spaces for people with disabilities) located in the West Field

Steinway #1 Municipal Parking


11103 (and 38th Street, west of Steinway Street)







Steinway #2 Municipal Parking

FieldSteinway Street, Queens, NY 11103

(between 31 Avenue and Broadway)46 spaces, (including 2 spaces for

people with disabilities)Unattended metered facility (Pay and

Display)Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm

Accepts quarters, dollar coins, NYC Parking Cards and credit cards.

Rates25¢ per 10 minutes, 2 hour limit Sunnyside Municipal Parking FieldQueens Boulevard between 32nd

Place and 48th Street, near the Rawson, Lowery and Bliss 7 train stations


Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm

Street Parking Rates Metered Parking RatesParking rates for vary across the

five boroughs. Parking rates are posted on each parking meter, and the legal parking duration is posted in the top left hand corner of the green meter signs. Legal parking durations vary from 1 hour to 12 hours. Parking meters do not have to be paid on Sun-days. Always check signs carefully before parking. Rates and rules for commercial vehicles are different.

New York City uses some of the most sophisticated parking equip-ment available today. All meters accept coin payment. Select meters accept credit cards. Many meters al-low you to pre-pay for parking using the NYC Parking Card, which you can purchase online.

LocationThe Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens,

Staten IslandHourly Rate

$1.00LocationManhattan above 110th StreetHourly Rate$1.00LocationManhattan from 96th to 110th

StreetHourly Rate$1.50LocationManhattan below 96th StreetHourly Rate$3.50Locationcommercial vehicle spaces in

ManhattanHourly Rate$4.00 (first hour)$5.00 (second hour)$6.00 (third hour)Locationcharter bus metered spaces in

Manhattan

Hourly Rate$20.00 (three hour maximum)PARK Smart NYCPARK Smart is a program devel-

oped with the community to make parking easier while reducing con-gestion and improving safety. PARK Smart aims to increase the number of available metered parking spaces by encouraging motorists to park no longer than necessary. The meter rate is higher when demand for parking is greatest and decreases when demand is lower.

LocationGreenwich Village - 6:00 to 10:00

pmHourly Rate$5.00All Other TimeHourly Rate$3.50LocationPark Slope- noon to 7:00 pmHourly Rate$2.00

All Other TimeHourly Rate$1.00LocationAtlantic, Court and Smith (Brook-

lyn)Jackson Heights (Queens)Hourly Rate30 minutes - $.501 Hour - $1.501 hour 30 minutes - $2.502 Hours - $4.00ParkNYCParkNYC is an easy and conve-

nient way to pay for on-street parking and municipal parking lots using a mobile phone or web browser.

What are the benefits of using ParkNYC? Pay for parking using your phone, rather than coins or credit card. There’s no need to go to a meter and no need to place a receipt on your dashboard. Receive mobile alerts prior to your time expiring and extend your parking time remotely, up to the maximum time allowed.

Pay and Display facilityAccepts quarters, dollar coins,

NYC Parking Cards and credit card payment

Rates25¢ per 15 minutes, 4 hour limit (309


25¢ per 15 minutes, 14 hour limit (185 spaces, including 10 spaces for people with disabilities)

ticket charged from 12:01 am (day of entry)



Don’t risk a summons trying to fi nd a Relief Stand on the list that the TLC web site provides. Texting or searching on-line while in your cab is against the law. Keep this list in your taxi for future use!

TAXI AND FOR-HIRE VEHICLERELIEF STANDS

DOT is not responsible regulating taxis. Taxis are regulated by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. DOT does regulate taxi relief stands

Taxi relief stands allow drivers to park their vehicles for up to one hour. This affords drivers the opportunity to leave their vehicles and take care of personal needs. Taxi relief stands should not be confused with taxi stands, which are locations where drivers can wait, in their cars, to pick up passengers.

The type column indicates if the relief stand is for taxis alone, or both taxis and For-Hire Vehicles (FHVs). Staten Island currently has no relief stands.

BRONXTYPE LOCATION CROSS STREETTaxi Jerome Ave. (E. Side) Eliot Pl. & E. 170th St.Taxi Metropolitan Ave. (N. Side) Purdy St. & Red Oak Dr.

MANHATTAN EAST SIDE ABOVE 23RD STREETTaxis E.77th St.(N. Side) First & Second Aves.Taxis E. 86th St. (N. Side) Henderson Pl. & York Ave.Taxis E. 78th Street (N. Side) Lexington & Third Ave.Taxis E. 78th St. (S. Side) Lexington & Third Ave.Taxis & FHVs E. 29th St. (S. Side) Madison & Fifth Ave.Taxis E. 27th St. (N. Side) Park Ave. S. & Madison Ave.Taxis & FHVs E.28th St. (N. Side) Park Av. S. & Lexington Ave.Taxis & FHVs Madison Ave. (W. Side) E. 26th & 27th St.Taxis E. 26th Street (S. Side) Third & Second Aves.

MANHATTAN WEST SIDE ABOVE 23RD STREETTaxis W. 55th St. (S. Side) Tenth & Eleventh Aves.Taxis & FHVs Sixth Ave. (W.Side) W. 55th & 56th Sts.Taxis & FHVs Eighth Ave. (E. Side) W. 52nd & 53rd Sts.Taxis Broadway (E. Side) W. 48th & 47th Sts.Taxis Eighth Ave. (W. Side) W. 46th & 47th Sts.Taxis & FHVs Sixth Ave. (W. Side) W. 39th & 40th Sts.Taxis & FHVs Sixth Ave. (W. Side) W. 38th & 39th Sts.Taxis Broadway (E. Side) W. 43rd & 42nd Sts.Taxis Ninth Ave. (E. Side) W. 42nd & 41st Sts.Taxis West 39th St. (S. Side) Eighth & Ninth Aves.Taxis Ninth Ave. (E. Side) W. 30th & 29th Sts.

MANHATTAN BELOW 23RD STREETTaxis E. 23rd St. First & Second Aves.Taxis & FHVs Sixth Ave. (W. Side) W. 22nd & 23rd Sts.Taxis Third Ave. (W. Side) E. 14th & 15th Sts.Taxis & FHVs Third Ave. (W. Side) E. 15th & 14th Sts.Taxis & FHVs Sixth Ave. (W. Side) W.13th & 14th Sts.Taxis Sixth Ave. (W. Side) Thompson & Grand Sts.Taxis & FHVs Canal St. (N. Side) E. Broadway & Essex St.Taxis Park Row (SE. Side) Ann & Beekman Sts.Taxis & FHVs Fulton St. (S. Side) Broadway & Church St.Taxis & FHVs South St. (N. Side) Old Slip & Broad St.Taxis & FHVs Water St. (W. Side) Whitehall & Broad Sts.Taxis Whitehall St. (W. Side) South & State Sts,

BROOKLYNTaxis N. Sixth St. (N. Side) Berry St. & Wythe Ave.Taxis Fourth Ave. (W. Side) Third & Sixth Sts.

QUEENSTaxis & FHVs 43rd Ave. (N. side) 11th & 12th Sts.Taxis 44th Rd. (N. Side) 21st & 11th Sts.Taxis & FHVs Hunterspoint Ave. 27th & 30th Sts.Taxis 31st St. (W. Side) 34th & 35th Aves.Taxis & FHVs 43rd Ave. 36th & 37th Sts.Taxis 34th St. (W. Side) 37th & 38th Aves.Taxis Skillman Ave. 37th & 36th Sts.Taxis Queens Blvd. (S. Side) 50th & 51st Sts.Taxis Queens Blvd. 55th & 54th Sts.Taxis & FHVs 45th Ave. (S. side) Jackson Ave. & 23rd St.Taxis & FHVs Pearson St. (W. Side) Jackson Ave. & dead endTaxis 49th St. Newtown Rd & Northern Blvd.Taxis 55th St. Queens Blvd & Roosevelt Ave.Taxis Van Dam St. Queens Blvd & Skillman Ave.Taxis & FHVs 36th St. Skillman & 43rd Aves.

Letters To The Editor(Continued from Page 12)

built-in voting block for this fall’s election!

Pat

Pay UsDear Taxi Dave,

Great radio show. Yellow taxi drivers should be guaranteed fare payment so if a passenger runs out of the cab, drivers still get paid.

Ima

What YouShould Know

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz District 32

Bronx County, New York Tel 718-991-3161

Andrew Cuomo, Bill de Blasio and Eric Schneiderman, the Great Defenders of the Immigrants: Please, Give Me A Break!

You should now that the top leaders of this State and City have come out, ac-cording to their own pronouncements, to defend the immigrants from the abuses that are being committed by Donald Trump. Among these leaders are Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

These three great leaders are now competing among themselves to show the world which of them loves the im-migrants the most.

The problem with all of this, my dear reader, is that the abuses, the oppressions, the discrimination, and the bad treatment against the immigrants have been happen-ing for many, many years before Donald Trump.

These three leaders: Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Attor-ney General Eric Schneiderman, are the ones who, right under their noses have either been persecuting the immigrants, or have been allowing the same abuses they blame Donald Trump for causing to the immigrants.

You should know that for many years before Donald Trump, New York State Assemblyman Francisco Moya and New York State Senator José Peralta have been fi ghting with the Governor to establish a $20 million dollar fund to create what is known as the DREAM Act, in order to help immigrant students obtain a college education.

But surprise, surprise!It is important for you to know that

it has been Governor Andrew Cuomo who for many year has been playing with the feelings and sentiments of the DREAM’ers, and behind doors has done everything possible to kill the DREAM Act.

Now our beloved Governor, in a loud voice, is busy bragging about how he has come out against Donald Trump, making believe he is the great defender of the im-migrant …. Please, give me a break!

On the other hand, here in the City of New York, we have more than 100,000 immigrant men and women who work in the livery taxi industry.

For years and years, the abuses and persecutions committed against these im-migrant men and women who drive livery taxis are longstanding and pervasive.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission, under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Administra-tion, has oppressed, persecuted and abused these immigrant livery and taxi drivers like no one else in history.

These taxi and livery drivers are be-ing subject to abuse, entrapment, fi nes that range from $1,000 to $10,000, and license suspensions without even giving them the opportunity to come before a Taxi and Limousine arbitrator to listen to their story.

These immigrant drivers are pun-ished with points on their licenses for traffi c infractions bigger that what the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles applies for the same infraction to you and me.

It is important for you to note that the City of New York and the Taxi and Lim-ousine Commission, under Mayor Bill de Blasio and years before Donald Trump, has persecuted, abused and mistreated im-migrants without compassion, preventing these immigrants from bringing food to their families’ tables.

Now our Mayor is busy organizing big demonstrations against Donald Trump to defend the immigrants because he is a great defender of the immigrant. Please, give me a break!

Mr. Mayor, you should fi rst solve the problems of those thousands and thousands of immigrant men and women here in the City of New York who under your Administration, are trying to make a decent living driving in the streets of our city.

Bring down those fi nes and have more compassion for the livery and taxi drivers, if in fact, you love the immigrant as you say you do.

The third leader, the Honorable and Distinguished New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, another great defender of the immigrant, has also come out against Donald Trump.

It is important for you to know, my dear readers, that many years ago, the State of New York created a Workers compensation fund exclusively to help the livery taxi drivers.

For years and years, drivers have been complaining that this fund has not been properly managed, and that they are not receiving the help they need when they get hurt on the job.

To that effect, on November 15, 2016, I wrote a letter to New York State Eric Schneiderman (please see the attached) asking if the Attorney General would look into these complaints to see if, in fact, the livery and taxi drivers’ workers compensation fund has been improperly run or not.

As of today, the Attorney General has completely ignored my letter, and I have not even received a response to it.

Now, Attorney General Eric Schnei-derman has brandished his sword as Don Quixote de la Mancha against Donald Trump to defend the immigrant.

But right here, in the State of New York, right under his nose, thousands and thousands of immigrant livery taxi driv-


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TAXI INSIDERMANHATTAN HOTEL LIST !!!Dear Readers of Taxi Insider,Drivers always tell me that they cannot know the location of every hotel in

Manhattan. A lot of work went into the list of Manhattan Hotels below. Drivers,please send Taxi Insider any corrections or additional hotels not mentioned.Also, when you are finished reading this issue of Taxi Insider, do not throw thisnewspaper in the garbage, give it to another taxi driver ! Thank you !


60 Thompson StreetBetween Broome and Spring Streets

Algonquin Hotel59 W 44th Street

between 5th & 6th Avenues

Americana Inn Hotel69 W 38th Street


Ameritania Hotel230 W 54th Street at Broadway

Amsterdam Inn Hotel

340 Amsterdam Avenueat W 76th St.

Beacon Hotel2130 Broadway at 75th Street

Belvedere Hotel

319 W 48th Streetbetween 8th & 9th Avenues

Benjamin Hotel

125 E 50th Street at York Avenue

Bentley Hotel500 E 62nd Street at York Avenue

Best WesternConvention Center Hotel


Best Western Hospitality House 145 E 49th Street

between 3rd & Lexington Avenues

Best Western President Hotel234 W 48th Street

between 7th & 8th Avenues Best Western Seaport Inn Hotel

33 Peck Slip at Front Street

Bryant Park Hotel40 W 40th Street


Carlyle Hotel35 E 76th Street

between Madison & 5th Avenues

Carnegie Suites Hotel229 W 58th Street


Casablanca Hotel147 W 43rd Street


Chelsea Hotel222 W 23rd Street


Chelsea Savoy Hotel204 W 23rd Street


Chelsea Star Hotel300 W 30th Street at 8th Avenue

Comfort Inn Central Park Hotel31 W 71st Street between

Central Park West & Columbus Ave.

Comfort Inn Manhattan Hotel42 W 35th Street

between 5th & 6th Avenue

Comfort Inn Midtown Hotel129 W 46th Street


Comfort Inn New York Hotel442 W 36th Street

between 10th & Dyer Avenues

Courtyard Manhattan 5th Avenue3 E 40th Street


Courtyard Midtown East Hotel866 3rd Avenue

between 51st & 52nd Streets

Courtyard Times Square Hotel114 W 40th Street


Crowne Plaza Times Square Hotel1605 Broadway

between 49th & 50th Streets

Crowne Plaza UN Hotel304 E 42nd Street

between 1st & 2nd Avenues

Doubletree Times Square Hotel1568 Broadway


Edison Hotel228 W 47th Street


Elysee Hotel60 E 54th Street

between Park & Madison Avenues

Embassy Suites Hotel 102 North End Ave.

World Financial Center, Manhattan

Fairfi eld Inn & Suites Chelsea- 116 W. 28th St(near 6th Ave)

Four Points Manhattan SoHo-

66 Charlton St.(near Spring St)

Fairfi eld Inn & Suites Times Square

330 W. 40th St(near 9th Ave)

Fairfi eld Inn & Suites Fifth Avenue

21 W. 37th St

Four Points Sheraton Chelsea Hotel160 W. 25th Street


Four Points Midtown Times Square326 W. 40th St (near 9th Ave)

Four Seasons Hotel

57 E 57th Streetbetween Park & Madison Aves.

Flatotel International Hotel135 W 52nd Street


Gramercy Park Hotel2 Lexington Avenue at 21st Street

Grand Hyatt New York HotelPark Avenue & 42nd street

Grand Union Hotel34 E 32nd Street

between Park & Madison Avenues

(Hampshire Hotel)Quality Times Square Hotel


Hampton Inn

Times Square Hotel851 8th Avenue at 51st Street

Hampton Inn SoHo

54 Watts St(near Varick St)

Helmsley Carlton House Hotel

680 Madison Avebetween 61st & 62nd Sts.

Helmsley Middletowne Hotel

148 E 48th Streetbetween Lexington & Park Aves.

Helmsley Park Lane Hotel

36 Central Park Southbetween 5th & 6th Avenues

Hilton Garden Inn Time Square

790 8th Avenuebetween 48th & 49th Streets

Hilton New York Hotel

1335 6th Avenuebetween 53rd & 54th Streets

Hilton Times Square Hotel

234 W 42nd Streetbetween 7th & 8th Avenues

Holiday Inn

Downtown Hotel138 Lafayette Street

between Howard & Canal Streets

Holiday Inn Martinique HotelBroadway & W 32nd Street

Holiday Inn Midtown Hotel440 W 57th Street


Holiday Inn Wall Street Hotel 15 Gold Street at Platt Street

Hudson Hotel

356 W 58th StreetBetween 8th & 9th Avenues

Inter-Continental Barclay Hotel

111 E 48th Streetbetween Lexington

Park Avenues

Iroquois Hotel49 W 44th Street


JW Marriott Millennium160 Central Park South

between 6th & 7th Avenues.

Kitano Hotel66 Park Avenue at 37th Street

La Quinta Manhattan Hotel

17 W 32nd Streetbetween 5th & 6th Avenues

Le Parker Meridien Hotel


Lucerne Hotel

201 W 79th Street atAmsterdam Avenue

Manhattan Broadway Hotel


Manhattan Seaport Suites Hotel

219 Front Streetbetween Pine & Wall Streets

Maritime Hotel

363 W 16th Street at 9th Avenue

Marriott Financial Center Hotel85 West Street

between Albany & Carlisle Streets

Marriott East Side Hotel525 Lexington Avenue

between 48th & 49th Street

Marriott Marquis Hotel1535 Broadway at 44thStreet

Mayfair Hotel


Metro Hotel


Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel

569 Lexington Avenue at 51st Street Michelangelo Hotel152 W 51st Street


Milford Plaza Hotel270 W 45th Street at 8th Avenue

Millenium Hilton Hotel

55 Church Streetbetween Fulton & Day Streets

Millennium Broadway Hotel

145 W 44th Streetbetween 6th & 7th Aves

Millennium UN Plaza Hotel

1 United Nations Plazaat 1st Avenue & 44th Street

Murray Hill East Suites Hotel

149 E 39th Streetbetween 3rd & Lexington Avenues

Murray Hill Inn Hotel

143 E 30th Streetbetween Lexington & Park Avenues




MEET THE TLC COMMISSIONERSMEET THE TLC COMMISSIONERS(Continued from Page 5)

KENNETH C. MITCHELL(Term expires Jan. 31, 2022)

JACQUES JIHA(Term expires Jan. 31, 2017)

Jacques Jiha was appointed Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Finance by Mayor Bill de Blasio on April 8, 2014. Commissioner Jiha was nominated by Mayor Bill de Blasio to the TLC’s Board and subsequently confirmed by the NYC Council on August 21, 2014. Prior to becoming Commis-sioner, Mr. Jiha was the Executive Vice President / Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer of Earl G. Graves, Ltd., a multi-media company with properties in print, digital media, television, events and the internet. A staunch advocate of public service, Mr. Jiha served on a number of government and not-for-profit boards. He was a board member of the Ronald McDonald House of New York, a board member of Public Health Solutions and a trustee of the Public Health Solutions Retirement Trust, a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the New York Common Retirement Fund, and he was also the Secretary of the board of the New York State Dormitory Authority – one the largest issuers of municipal debt in the country on behalf of public and private universi-ties and medical institutions, and the State of New York.

Previously, Mr. Jiha served as Deputy Comptroller for Pension Investment and Public Finance in the Office of the New York State Comptroller. As the state’s chief investment officer, he managed the assets of the New York State Com-mon Retirement Fund (CRF) – then the nation’s second-largest pension fund valued at $120 billion. He also oversaw New York’s College Savings Program, with assets of $2 billion, and the state’s short-term investment pool of $5 billion. He was also in charge of all activities related to the issuance of New York State general obligation bonds, bond anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, and certificates of participation. Mr. Jiha was also the Co-Executive Director of the New York State Local Govern-ment Assistance Corporation (LGAC)

in charge of the sale of refunding bonds, the ratification of swap agree-ments, and the selection of financial advisors and underwriters. Prior thereto, Mr. Jiha was Nassau County Deputy Comptroller for Audits and Finances. He also worked for the New York City Office of the Comptroller in increasingly responsible positions: first as Chief Economist and later as Deputy Comptroller for Budget. Earlier, Mr. Jiha served as Executive Director of the New York State Legis-lative Tax Study Commission and as Principal Economist for the New York State Assembly Committee on Ways and Means. He holds a Ph.D. and a Master’s degree in Economics from the New School for Social Research and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Fordham University.

BILL AGUADO(Term expires Jan. 31, 2022)Taxi and Limousine Commission

Member Bill Aguado was nominated and confi rmed by the City Council to the Bronx seat of the Commission in May 2015, for a term that would expire on January 31, 2022.

A fi xture in the Bronx since 1972, Commissioner Aguado is regarded as a leading cultural and community activist. Retired in 2011 as Executive Director of the Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA), he is still called upon to lend his expertise on behalf of emerg-ing artists, community cultural groups and community–based organizations. In 1971, Hunter College awarded Bill a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and in 1973; he received his Master of Arts from Fordham University in Sociology and Education. His current board affi li-ations include: Bronx Works, En Foco, and Bronx River Arts Center.

Through Commissioner Aguado’s leadership of the Bronx Council on the Arts, the arts have become a respected and valued asset in the Bronx. During his tenure from 1978 through June 2011 when he retired, funding for Bronx arts organizations and artists increased dra-matically, demonstrating the importance of community arts and artists representing people of color. His many accomplish-ments include but not limited to:

• BRIO – created in 1988, it is an artist fellowship program now offering

25 fellowships to Bronx artists.• The Bronx Writers’ Corp – created

in 1994, places poets and writers in programs serving at-risk children.

• Founded the Bronx Tourism Coun-cil in 1991;

In 1996, Commissioner Aguado helped found The BCA Development Corporation, which was created to develop arts-related workforce and entrepreneurial initiatives.

In honor of his mother, and in refl ec-tion of his strong belief in the impor-tance of supporting and recognizing the sacrifi ces and contributions of single parents as role models in our communi-ties, Commissioner Aguado established the Josephine Aguado Scholarship Fund at Hostos Community College.

As a cultural activist and arts con-sultant, he consulted with The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCO) to shape the vision and development of the Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC), celebrating the musical heritage of the Bronx. He also organized the “Conversing Bricks” permanent sculp-tural installation, created by Hatuey Ramos-Fermin and situated at Hostos Community College. In September 2013, Aguado curated an exhibit at the Longwood by the artist and cancer survivor Esther Pagan: My Colors of Cancer a multi-media installation of photographs, handcrafted hats, sculp-ture and poetry.

Commissioner Aguado has also been an accomplished and longtime community activist. Among his many projects and recognitions are:

• Commissioner Aguado was a founding member of the New York City Latino Commission on AIDS.

• Appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo, Commissioner Aguado served as a Trustee of SUNY at Purchase.

• In 1972, he started the fi rst alter-native school in the Bronx in partner-ship with NYC School District 10 and Fordham University.

• He is a frequent panelist and pre-senter at conferences in New York City and beyond.

• In May, 2014 Lehman College awarded Bill Aguado an Honorary Doctorate in Arts.

Kenneth C. Mitchell is Execu-tive Director of the Staten Island Zoological Society, Inc., a position he has held since September 2011. Mitchell is responsible for the overall administration and the day-to-day operation of the Staten Island Zoo, a destination for more than 190,000 visitors annually.

Under his guidance, the 80-year-old zoological park has more than doubled its collection to 1,200 ani-mals, representing 350 species, 72 of which are endangered or threatened in the wild. Since 2014, the zoo has experienced the development of a 4,500-square-foot outdoor habitat for the zoo’s Amur Leopards – the world’s rarest big cat – and a Con-servation Carousel composed of 25 hand-sculpted wildlife, most of which are vulnerable in their native habitats. Most recently, the zoo developed its sprawling Sahara Exhibit, where a Scimitar Horned Oryx was born as part of an international effort to repopulate an extinct species. The Zoo is in the process of renovating its Aquarium with an expected comple-tion in the spring of 2018.

Previously, Mitchell was a mem-ber of the New York City Council, representing Staten Island’s north shore communities, following his service as Chief of Staff and General Counsel Office to former council member Michael E. McMahon.

A native Staten Islander who grew up less than 100 yards from the Zoo, Mitchell graduated St. Peter’s Boys High School, and later earned a Bach-elor of Science degree in business administration at Wagner College. Awarded his law degree at New York Law School, he was admitted to the bars of New York, New Jersey, and the eastern and southern directs of New York.

Mitchell remains active in the Island community with particular interests in the Staten Island Eco-nomic Development Corporation; United Activities Unlimited, and Lifestyles for the Disabled. Upon the recommendation of the Staten Island borough delegation of the New York City Council he was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission in November 2016.

He is married to Jacquelyn Mahon-ey; the couple lives in New Brighton with their son, Charles.



NYC ECONOMYAverage Gas Prices

As of March 2, 2017New York Regular Mid Premium DieselCurrent $2.459 $2.720 $2.931 $2.730Week Ago $2.458 $2.717 $2.929 $2.725Month Ago $2.500 $2.754 $2.964 $2.741Year Ago $1.941 $2.222 $2.428 $2.303


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Transit & TourismIndicators of tourism in New York City remained relatively stable in the most

recent data with airport traffi c moderately up and hotel revenue per available room moderately down from last year. Broadway, which has had a mixed year, saw revenues fall 3.1% between December 2016 and December 2015. Despite a mixed year, Broadway fi nished the year with 1.0% higher total revenue and 1.9% higher attendance than in 2015. Regional transit saw a modest reversal of recent growth in transit modes serving the metro area outside the city, while New York City transit ridership—which includes subways and buses—increased slightly from last year.

Sources: Port Authority or New York and New Jersey; Metropolitan Trans-portation Authority; Broadway League; CBRE.

TRANSIT CHANGE COMPARED TO 2015

Housing & Real EstateResidential rents in New York City remained unchanged between December

and November 2016. At $2,322/month, December rent rates were down 0.5% from December 2015; the fi rst time year-over-year price change has been negative in recent years. Median home values, however, continue to rise. In December 2016, home values reached 626,600 – an all-time high and 10.9% higher than last year. In contrast, the Manhattan offi ce market has been relatively steady through 2016. The direct average rent per square foot of Class A offi ce space was $81 in December, a 2.2% increase from last year. Over the same time, the direct vacancy rate rose 0.8 percentage points to 8.8%.

Sources: Zillow; Cushman & Wakefi eld.

TOURISM CHANGE COMPARED TO 2015


NYC ECONOMY(Continued from Page 29)

Manhattan Hotel List(Continued from Page 26)

Muse Hotel130 W 46th Street

between 6th & 7th Aves.

Palace Hotel455 Madison Avenue

between 50th & 51st Streets

Novotel Hotel226 W 52nd Street


Paramount Hotel235 W 46th Street


Park Central Hotel870 7th Avenue at 56th Street

Park Savoy Hotel158 E 58th Street


Peninsula Hotel700 5th Avenue at 55th Street

Pennsylvania Hotel401 7th Avenue

between 32nd & 33rd Streets

Pierre Hotel2 E 61st Street at 5th Avenue

Plaza Hotel

768 5th Avenue at Central Park South

Plaza Athenee Hotel37 E 64th Street


Radio City Suites Hotel142 W 49th Street


Radisson Lexington Hotel511 Lexington Avenue at 49th Street

Ramada New Yorker Hotel481 8th Avenue at 34th Street

Renaissance Hotel714 7th Avenue at 48th Street

Regency Hotel540 Park Avenue at 61st Street

Roger Smith Hotel

501 Lexington Avenue at 47th Street

Roger Williams Hotel131 Madison Avenue at 31st Street

Roosevelt Hotel

45 E 45th Street at Madison Avenue

Salisbury Hotel123 W 57th Street


San Carlos Hotel150 E 50th Street

between 3rd & Lexington Avenues

Sheraton Manhattan Hotel790 Seventh Avenue

between 51st & 52nd Streets

Sheraton New York Hotel811 Seventh Avenue

between 52nd & 53rd Streets

Sheraton Russell Hotel

45 Park Avenue at 37th Street

Sherry Netherland Hotel781 5th Avenue at 59th Street

Shoreham Hotel33 W 55th Street


Skyline Hotel725 Tenth Avenue at 49th Street

Sofi tel Hotel


SoHo Grand Hotel310 W Broadway

between Canal & Grand Streets

Solita SoHo Hotel159 Grand St

St. Regis Hotel

2 E 55th Street at 5th Avenue

Travel Inn Hotel515 W 42nd Street


TriBeCa Grand Hotel

2 6th Avenuebetween White & Walker Streets

Trump International Hotel

1 Central Park West at Columbus Circle

W Court Hotel

130 E 39th Streetbetween Lexington & Park Avenues

W New York Hotel

541 Lexington Avenue at 49th Street

Waldorf Astoria Hotel301 Park Avenue


Warwick Hotel65 W 54th Street at 6th Avenue

Westin NEw York Grand Central

212 E 42nd Streetbetween 2nd & 3rd Avenues

Health Care Fraud orHealth Insurance Fraud

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FRAUDEquipment manufacturers offer “free”

products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered.

“Rolling Lab” SchemesUnnecessary and sometimes fake

tests are given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes, or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare.

MEDICARE FRAUDMedicare fraud can take the form of

any of the health insurance frauds de-scribed above. Older citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signa-ture is in place, the manufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING HEALTH CARE FRAUD OR HEALTH

INSURANCE FRAUD: • Never sign blank insurance claim

forms.• Never give blanket authorization

to a medical provider to bill for services rendered.

• Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket.

• Carefully review your insurer’s explanation of the benefi ts statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.

• Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.

• Give your insurance/Medicare iden-tifi cation only to those who have provided you with medical services.

• Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.

• Know if your physician ordered

equipment for you. FUNERAL AND

CEMETERY FRAUD Tips for Avoiding Funeral and Cem-

etery Fraud:• Be an informed consumer. Take time

to call and shop around before making a purchase. Take a friend with you who may offer some perspective to help make diffi cult decisions. Funeral homes are required to provide detailed general price lists over the telephone or in writing.

• Educate yourself fully about caskets before you buy one, and understand that caskets are not required for direct cremations.

• Understand the difference between funeral home basic fees for professional services and any fees for additional ser-vices.

• Know that embalming rules are governed by state law and that embalm-ing is not legally required for direct cremations.

• Carefully read all contracts and pur-chasing agreements before signing and make certain that all of your requirements have been put in writing.

• Make sure you understand all contract cancellation and refund terms, as well as your portability options for transferring your contract to other funeral homes.

• Before you consider prepaying, make sure you are well informed. When you do make a plan for yourself, share your specifi c wishes with those close to you.

• As a general rule governing all of your interactions as a consumer, do not allow yourself to be pressured into making purchases, signing contracts, or committing funds. These decisions are yours and yours alone.

TELEMARKETING FRAUDIf you are age 60 or older—and

especially if you are an older woman living alone—you may be a special target of people who sell bogus products and services by telephone. Telemarketing scams often involve offers of free prizes,



March Book Signings

NYCNYCRecommendations to passengers always increase the opportunity for a big tip!

Here is is a listing that will help keep all taxi drivers in the loop on what's going onin New York City! Mention these events & promotions and watch the tips grow !

EVENTS AND MORE IN THE BIG APPLE

Maddie Ziegler, star of “Dance Moms” and Sia music videos,signing copies of The Maddie Diaries 3/7/17 6:00 PM at Barnes & Noble

Fifth Avenue. New York, NY . 3/9/16 6:00 PM at BookEnds

East Ridgewood Avenue. Ridgewood, NJ.

Tia Mowry, star of “Sister, Sister”signing copies of Whole New You

3/14/17 6:00 PM at Barnes & NobleWarren Street. New York, NY .

Cheech Marin, half of Cheech & Chongsigning copies of Cheech Is Not My Real Name; But Don’t Call Me Chong

3/15/17 7:00 PM at Barnes & NobleUnion Square. New York, NY .

Paul Shaffer, band leader for David Letterman,signing copies of The World’s Most Dangerous Band

3/18/17 1:00 PM at Barnes & Noble82nd & Broadway. New York, NY .

Tiger Woods,golfi ng great,signing copies of The 1997 Masters: My Story


Misty Copeland, ballet legend,signing copies of Ballerina Body


Laurie Hernandez, Olympic Gold Medalistsigning copies of I Got This

3/23/17 6:00 PM at Carteret High SchoolWashington Avenue. Carteret, NJ.

Books sold by BookEnds.

Andrew McCarthy, star of “Pretty In Pinksigning copies of Just Fly Away


John Oates, half of Hall & Oates,signing copies of Change of Seasons 3/28/17 7:30 PM at The Strand

Broadway. New York, NY.

Katey Sagal, star of “Married With Children” and “Futurama”, signing copies of Grace Notes

3/30/17 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble Union Square. New York, NY .

3/31/16 7:00 PM at BookEndsEast Ridgewood Avenue. Ridgewood, NJ.

Health Care(Continued from Page 30)

low-cost vitamins and health care prod-ucts, and inexpensive vacations. There are warning signs to these scams. If you hear these—or similar—“lines” from a telephone salesperson, just say “no thank you,” and hang up the telephone:

• You must act now, or the offer won’t be good.”

• “You’ve won a free gift, vacation, or prize.” But you have to pay for “postage and handling” or other charges.

• “You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier.” You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.

• “You don’t need to check out the company with anyone.” The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone, including your family, lawyer, accoun-tant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency.

• “You don’t need any written in-formation about the company or its references.”

• “You can’t afford to miss this high-profi t, no-risk offer.”

Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud:

It’s very diffi cult to get your money back if you’ve been cheated over the telephone. Before you buy anything by telephone, remember:

• Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses under-

stand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.

• Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose fi nancial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware—not every-thing written down is true.

• Always check out unfamiliar compa-nies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad busi-nesses can be identifi ed through these organizations.

• Obtain a salesperson’s name, busi-ness identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.

• Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, fi nd out what percentage of the money is paid in com-missions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment.

• Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. “What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?”

• Don’t pay in advance for services. Pay services only after they are deliv-

ered.• Be wary of companies that want

to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.

• Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won’t pressure you to make a snap decision.

• Don’t pay for a “free prize.” If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law.

• Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are—the kinds of fi nancial information you will and won’t give out on the telephone.

• Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or fi nan-cial advisor. It’s never rude to wait and think about an offer.

• Never respond to an offer you don’t understand thoroughly.

• Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank ac-count numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar compa-nies or unknown persons.

• Be aware that your personal infor-mation is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties.

• If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance.

• If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local, or federal law enforcement agencies.

Internet FraudAs web use among senior citizens

increases, so does their chances to fall victim to Internet fraud. Internet Fraud includes non-delivery of items ordered online and credit and debit card scams. Please visit the FBI’s Internet Fraud web-page for details about these crimes and tips for protecting yourself from them.

Investment SchemesAs they plan for retirement, senior

citizens may fall victim to investment schemes. These may include advance fee schemes, prime bank note schemes, pyramid schemes, and Nigerian letter fraud schemes. Please visit the Com-mon Fraud Schemes webpage for more information about these crimes and tips for protecting yourself from them.

Reverse Mortgage ScamsThe FBI and the U.S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development Offi ce of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) urge consumers, especially older citizens, to be vigilant when seeking reverse mortgage products. Reverse mortgages, also known as home equity conversion mortgages (HECM), have increased more than 1,300 percent between 1999 and 2008, creating signifi cant opportunities for fraud perpetrators.

Reverse mortgage scams are engi-neered by unscrupulous professionals in a multitude of real estate, fi nancial services,



LICENSEDREPRESENTATIVES

AND ATTORNEYSTony Falese, Industry Rep.

TIXFIX(718) 361-3081

Michael Spevak, Esq.97-77 Queens Blvd., Suite 1120

Rego Park, NY 11374(212) 754-1011

Karen Friedman, Esq.30 East 33rd Street • 4th Floor

New York, NY 10016(212) 213-2145

NYCDAC34-11 Queens Blvd.

Long Island City, NY 11101(718) 729-4700

Celeste Katz, Esq.Law • DMV • Criminal TLC

[email protected](917) 548-9907

ACCIDENT ATTORNEYSMarc Albert

(347) 472-5080www.MSAINJURYLAW.com

ACCOUNTANTSAction Tax Services21-03 44th Avenue

LIC, NY 11101(718) 932-3737

BUY A TAXI CABKoeppel Nissan

74-15 Northern Blvd.Flushing, NY 11372

(718) 898-7800

Hudson Toyota599 Route 440Jersey City, NY(877) 422-0289

Lees Toyota139-65 Queens Blvd.Jamaica, NY 11435

(718)

Plaza Toyota2721 Nostrand AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11210

(347) 554-6215(347) 554-6000

MV-1(877) 681-3678

LEASE A TAXIAll Taxi Management

41-25 36th StreetLong Island City, NY 11101

(718) 361-0055TLC#202

D&J Management of Queens34-14 64th Street

Woodside, NY 11377(718) 458-6609

TLC#236

Eddie’s Management40-08 24th StreetLIC, NY 11101(718) 707-0072

TLC#A0280

JTL Management36-16 Skillman Avenue


TLC#213

McGuinness Management330 McGuinness Blvd.Brooklyn, NY 11222

(718) 349-8448TLC#A0259

On Our Way Management Corp.6814 5th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11220(718) 833-8125TLC# A0249

S & R Medallion625 West 51st StreetNew York, NY 10019

(212) 957-9200 TLC# A0224

Taxifl eet Management LLC54-11 Queens Boulevard

Woodside, NY 11377(718) 779-5000

TLC#307

Taxifl eet Management LLC34-14 31st Street LIC, NY 11101(718) 361-6363

TLC#A0308

Winners Garage34-14 64th Street

Woodside, NY 11377(718) 458-7000

TLC#110

LICENSED BROKERS TOBUY MEDALLIONS

Briarwood Transfer Services LLC@Melrose Credit Union Center

139-30 queens Blvd.

Briarwood, NY 11435(718) 658-9800 ext. 1019

TLC# R0057

Chelsea Taxi Brokers287 10th Avenue

NY, NY(212) 947-9833(212) 695-0601

TLC#R0004

Jericho Taxi Brokers36-16 Skillman Avenue


TLC#R0001

LOMTO Generation Brokerage435 West 45th StreetNew York, NY 10036

(212) 582-5721TLC#R0018

Mystic Brokerage Inc.330 McGuinness Blvd.Brooklyn, NY 11222

(718) 349-7610TLC#R0050

Pearland Transfer Corp.36-01 43rd Avenue

LIC, NY 11101(718) 361-0033

TLC#R0020

Westway Medallion Sales657 Tenth Avenue

NY, NY 10036(212) 977-4590

TLC#R0039

Friendly Group Ltd.287 10th Avenue

New York, NY 10001(212) 947-9833

INSURANCECOMPANIES FOR

WORKER’S COMPENSATION:Hereford Insurance Company

36-01 43rd AvenueLong Island City, NY 11101

(718) 361-9191

LOANS/FINANCINGAll Boro Funding, LLC330 McGuinness Blvd.Brooklyn, NY 11222

(718) 349-8448

Bay Ridge Federal Credit Union1750 86th Street

Brooklyn, NY 11214(718) 680-2121

LOMTOFederal Credit Union

50-24 Queens BoulevardWoodside, New York 11377

(212) 947-3380

Melrose Credit Union139-30 Queens Boulevard

Briarwood, NY 11435(718) 658-9800

Rapid Funding657 Tenth Avenue

NY, NY 10036(212) 977-4083

TLC FACILITIESTLC Headquarters33 Beaver Street,NY, NY 10006

(212) 676-10003

Licensing and Adjudications32-02 Queens Boulevard

LIC, NY 11101(212) 852-4636

Uniformed Services Bureau24-55 BQE West

Woodside, NY 11377(718) 267-4555

TAXI TECHNOLOGYVeriFone Transportation Systems

(d/b/a Taxitronic)37-01 21st StreetLIC, NY 11106(718) 752-1656

CMT(Creative Mobile Technologies)

11-51 47th AvenueLong Island City, NY 11101

(718) 349-7700

PRINT & GRAPHICSSERVICES

Dragonfl y Graphics LLC4 Court Square • 2nd Floor



Commissioner’s CornerBy Meera Joshi


WOR-710AM8:00 – 9:00 PMEVERY SUNDAY!

NEW LEADER IN UNIFORMED SERVICES BUREAU

I would like to begin this column by warmly welcoming Dianna Pen-netti as our new Chief Enforcement and Inspections Officer. Chief Pennetti will oversee the agency’s field enforcement, as well as safety and emissions. She retired from the NYPD as a lieutenant, and was the head of campus security at both Long Island University and Barnard College. Chief Pennetti brings tre-mendous experience to the job, both in the public and private sector, and we are already benefitting from the wisdom she has brought to this im-portant role.UPDATE TO DRIVER FATIGUE

RULES APPROVEDIn February, the Commission

unanimously approved an update of our fatigued driving prevention rules. These rules are more precise, and will make our city’s streets safer for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Driving while fatigued can be as risky as driving following heavy drinking, and it is important that drivers stay within safe limits so they can go home every day to their families.

You may have questions about how the hours are counted, and when the rules will be enforced. The only driving that will count toward the daily and weekly limits is when there is a passenger in the car. This means that time spent waiting at the airport, driving to pick up a passenger, taking a break or cruising will not count. Passenger time will be limited to ten hours in each 24-hour period, and 60

hours in each week. Drivers have the option to reset

their daily clock following eight con-secutive hours without passengers. This part of the rule allows drivers to change their daily start times or have a shorter but busier work week while still getting enough rest. In addition, you will not be penalized if your final trip of the day or week is longer than expected, as long as you were under the hour limit when the trip began.

Bases will be responsible for not dispatching trips to a driver beyond the limits, but they are only respon-sible for their own dispatches, and not any time spent by drivers working for other bases.

The TLC will conduct outreach and education to make sure that driv-ers and bases understand the risks of fatigued driving, as well as the new hour limits. If you have questions, please contact TLC External Affairs at [email protected]. The earliest that summonses may be issued to drivers or bases is August 15, 2017. If your base needs techni-cal help in complying with reporting requirements, the TLC can offer you support.NEW YORK CITY WELCOMES

IMMIGRANTSThis has been an anxious time for

many immigrant communities in New York City. Despite recent policies that have come out of Washington, D.C., the City of New York welcomes im-migrants. We embrace the diversity that makes us who we are.

The taxi and for-hire industry in New York City represents almost 170 countries, and driving for-hire to create a better life for your fam-ily is a classic part of the American Dream.

The City of New York and many other cities across the country have committed to using the tools at our disposal to prevent harm to our resi-dents that arises out of new federal policies.

The City will also continue to provide a rich array of services, regardless of immigration status, and encourages access to resources like legal help, protection from dis-crimination, emergency food and

shelter, healthcare, and childcare. If you or your family, friends and neighbors need to connect with these resources, call 311 or go online to access them.

You can say “ActionNYC” when you call 311 to access free, safe im-migration help from trusted commu-nity organizations and attorneys. Be cautious of unlicensed immigration service providers, who may want to take advantage of people’s fears. Use only trusted, licensed attorneys.

If you or someone you know could use support during this dif-ficult period, the City also offers free, confidential mental healthcare through phone, text, and online chat. It is available at all times and in more than 200 languages. You can call 1-888-NYC-WELL, text WELL to 65173, or visit www.nyc.gov/nycwell.

At the TLC, we have a unique view

of the richness of our City’s diversity and the value that immigrants bring to all our communities. Thank you all for your continued service to our City.TOP REASONS FOR VEHICLE

INSPECTION FAILURESI would like to take a moment

to share some of the most common problems that we see in the vehicle inspection process. These items can be easily avoided or repaired before an inspection. A failure of these items below can hurt your vehicle’s ability to safely navigate the roads.

1. Worn tires2. Headlight, brake, and license

plate lights not working3. Oil Leaks4. Emergency brake 5. Seatbelts not visible or working Until next month, stay safe, stay

warm and drive like your family lives here!



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taxi newstaxi newsfrom aroundthe world

Letters To The Editor(Continued from Page 24)ers are still waiting for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to tell them if there is anything wrong with their workers compensation fund.

Mr. Attorney General Schneiderman, please solve the problems of the immigrant livery and taxi drivers’ workers compen-sation fund right here if you really love the immigrant and want to defend the immigrant, because otherwise, I am going to say: Please give me a break.

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

SchallerConsulting ReportDear Taxi Dave,

“A continuation of TNC-led growth in travel is not a sustainable way to grow the city.”

Michael Simon

MaybeDear Taxi Dave,

Maybe the City is beginning to realize what kind of monster they created.

When they realize they got to put the brakes on Uber and all the livelihoods that will be affected.

Sebastian

A Taxi Driver Who Battled With AnAssassin In Burma Is Hailed As A Hero

People place roses at a memorial for lawyer Ko Ni and taxi driver Nay Win, who were killed at the Rangoon airport. Lawyer Ko Ni, a legal adviser from the National League for Democracy (NLD) party and airport taxi driver Nay Win,

a member of NLD, were shot dead by a gunman Jan. 29.

Aung San Suu Kyi rarely gives speeches these days.

But over the weekend, the leader of Burma’s government stood behind

a lectern at the Royal Rose restaurant to praise the lives of two very differ-ent men.

The better known, U Ko Ni, was a prominent legal adviser, constitutional law expert and, rare for political life in Burma, a Muslim.

The lesser known was U Nay Win,

a taxi driver, working man, and, like the majority of the population here, a Buddhist.

Fate drew them together one month ago at the Rangoon airport, when an assassin crept up behind the 63-year-old adviser as he waited for a ride and shot him in the back of the head. He had been holding his grandchild, who tumbled to the ground but was some-how unhurt.

Bystanders yelled “Shooter! Shoot-er!” Nay Win, 42, and others chased the suspect, identifi ed later as U Kyi Lin, as he tried to cut across a main road and parking lot. Nay Win hurled a brick at the man, who shot back, fatally wounding him.

For weeks, Suu Kyi had not spoken about the deaths in public. But in her remarks she described both men as he-roes and martyrs. Ko Ni’s death was a “deep loss” for the party and Nay Win’s bravery set a “good example” for the country. Her administration has called the killings an act of terrorism.

Three suspects, including the al-leged shooter, are in custody. A fourth is on the run.

Home Affairs Minister Lt. Gen. Kyaw Swe has said that the plotters were motivated by feelings of “extreme nationalism,” but also fl oated a contra-dictory idea that the assassins could have come from Ko Ni’s own community.

Ko Ni helped create the powerful role of state counselor for Suu Kyi after she came to power nearly a year ago. At the time she was barred from the presidency because of the 2008 military-drafted constitution. Ko Ni’s support for Burma’s Muslim community and interfaith efforts made him even less popular with national-ists than she is.


Events For You and Your Passengers in The Big Apple

Broadway Shows Off Broadway ShowsALADDIN

New Amsterdam Theatre214 West 42nd Street

BEAUTIFULTHE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

Stephen Sondheim Theatre124 West 43rd Street

THE BOOK OF MORMONEugene O’Neil Theatre

230 West 49th Street

A BRONX TALE - THE MUSICAL Longacre Theatre


CATSNeil Simon Theatre

250 West 52nd Street

CHICAGOAmbassador Theatre219 West 49th Street

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PARAMOURLyric Theatre

214 West 43rd Street

THE COLOR PURPLEBernard B. Jacobs Theatre


DEAR EVAN HANSONBelasco Theatre


THE ENCOUNTERGolden Theatre


FALSETTOS Walter Kerr Theatre219 West 48th Street

FIDDLER ON THE ROOFBroadway Theatre

1681 Broadway

THE FRONT PAGE Broadhurst Theatre


HAMILTONRichard Rodgers Theatre

226 West 46th Stret

HOLIDAY INNStudio 54


THE HUMANSHelen Hayes Theatre240 West 44th Street

THE ILLUSTIONISTLunt-Fontanne Theatre205 West 46th Street

IN TRANSIT Circle in the Square Theatre

1633 Broadway

JERSEY BOYSAugust Wilson Theater245 West 52nd Street

KINKY BOOTSAl Hirshfi eld Theater203 West 45th Street

LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES Booth Theatre


LES MISERABLESImperial Theatre


THE LION KINGMinskoff Theatre


MATILDATHE MUSICALShubert Theater


NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812

Imperial Theatre249 West 45th Street

OH, HELLO ON BROADWAY Lyceum Theatre


ON YOUR FEET!THE STORY OF EMILIO AND

GLORIA ESTEFANMarquis Theatre1535 Broadway

THE PHANTOM OFTHE OPERA

Majestic Theatre242 West 45th Street

SCHOOL OF ROCKWinter Garden Theatre

1634 Broadway

SOMETHING ROTTENSt. James Theatre


WAITRESSBrooks Atkinson Theatre

256 West 47th Steet

WICKEDGershwin Theater

222 West 51st Street

THE ACCIDENTAL PERVERT13th Street Repertory50 West 13th Street

THE AMAZING MAXTheater at Blessed Sacrament

152 West 71st Street

AVENUE QNew World Stages


THE BABIESSt. Luke’s Theatre

BLACK ANGELS OVER TUSKEGEE

Actors Temple Theatre339 West 47th Street

BLUE MAN GROUPAstor Plae Theatre

424 Lafayette Street

CAGNEYWestside Theatre


THE DOZEN DIVAS SHOWMetropolitan Room34 West 22nd Street

DRUNK SHAKESPEAREThe Lounge at Roy Arias Theatre


DRUNKLE VANYATolstoy’s Lounge Upstairs at The

Russian Samovar256 West 52nd Street

THE FANTASTICKSSnapple Theater Center


GALLI THEATER FAIRY TALESGloria Maddox Theater


GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOWNew World Stages


I LIKE IT LIKE THAT – A MUSICAL

Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre204 West 47th Street

THE IMBIBLE: A SPIRITED HISTORY OF DRINKING

New World Stages350 West 50th Street

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM

Laura Pels Theatre111 W 46th Street

LOVE, LOVE, LOVELaura Pels Theatre at the Harold and

Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre111 West 46th Street

LUCKY CHENG’S DRAGCABARET

Lucky Cheng’s605 West 48th Street

MANIFESTOPark Avenue Armory

643 Park Avenue

MARTIN LUTHER ON TRIALThe Pearl Theatre


MOTHER AFRICA: MY HOMEThe New Victory Theater


MURDERED BY THE MOBArno Ristorante


NAKED BOYS SINGINGKirk Theatre


NEWSicalKirk Theatre

410 West 42nd StreetPERFECT CRIME

Snapple Theatre Center210 West 50th Street

THE PIGEON INTHE TAJ MAHAL

Irish Repertory Theatre132 West 22nd Street

PIP’S ISLANDSkylight Modern


THE PORTALMinetta Lane Theatre

18 Minetta Lane

THE QUANTUM EYE:MAGIC DECEPTIONS

Theatre 8080 St. Marks Place

SEX TIPS FOR STRAIGHT WOMEN FROM A GAY MAN

The 777 Theatre777 Eighth Avenue

SHEAR MADNESSNew World Stages


SISTAS: THE MUSICALSt. Lukes Theatre


STOMPOrpheum Theatre

126 Second Avenue


Museums along Museum MileEl Museo del Barrio at 104th Street

Museum of the City of New York at 103rd StreetJewish Museum at 92nd Street

Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design at 91st StreetNational Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts at 89th Street

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum at 88th StreetMetropolitan Museum of Art from 82nd to 86th StreetsGoethe House German Cultural Center at 82nd Street

Other MuseumsThe Museum of American Finance, the nation’s only independent public ... Museum

of American Finance, 48 Wall StreetAfrican Burial Ground - corners of Duane and Elk Streets

American Folk Art Museum 45 W. 53rd St.American Museum of Natural History 77th St Central Park West

Children’s Museum of the Arts 250 Lafayette St # A,Children’s Museum of the Arts

Free Art Island Outpost Program at Governors IslandHarbor Defense Museum - 230 Sheridan Loop, Brooklyn

Italian American Museum-155 Mulberry StKehila Kedosha Jania Museum-280 Broome St

Luxce Project 53 Stanton StThe Morgan Library and Museum-225 Madison Ave.

Museum of Chinese In America-211 Centre StMuseum of Jewish Heritage- HolocaustEdmond J. Safra Plaza - 36 Battery Place

Museum at FIT-Seventh Ave.Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) 11 W 53rd StMuseum of Modern Art Design-81 Spring St # A

National Museum of the American IndianAlexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, 1 Bowling Green

New Museum of Contemporary Art-235 BoweryNew World Art Ctr-250 Lafayette St # 5

New York City Police Museum-100 Old SlipPoets House - Ten River Terrace

Queens Museum of Art-49th Ave. and 111th St.Rubin Museum of Art-150 West 17th Street

Skyscraper Museum - 39 Battery PlaceSouth Street Seaport Museum - 12 Fulton Street

The Tenement Museum-108 Orchard St

Online Fraud Spikes, Study FindsAmerica’s migration to EMV has

crippled some types of card fraud, but the risk of online fraud is on the rise — especially during the holidays — ac-cording to new data from the Merchant Risk Council and fraud-technology company Forter.

The indexed fi ndings showed a 79% spike in fraud risk for domestic holiday orders in the fourth quarter of 2016 versus the fourth quarter of 2015, and an 8.9% increase in online fraud attacks for 2016 as a whole.

“Following the October 2015 adop-tion of EMV (microchip cards) in the United States, Forter’s fraud research team was not surprised to have observed a rise in the amount of domestic online fraud attacks,” the study said. “Since domestic U.S. fraudsters were most adversely affected by not being able to copy physical cards as easily, it makes sense that these criminals have shifted online, boosting domestic CNP (card not present) fraud.”

Though domestic fraud attacks rose, the international fraud attack rate fell by 13% from 2015, Forter added.

New data shows retail fraud grew 31% during the 2016 holiday season.

The attack rate is the dollar value of fraudulent orders (both declined orders, where the fraud was caught in real-time, and undetected fraud transactions that were later reported) as a proportion of total sales for the quarter.

“Forter’s researchers attribute this decrease to a growth in genuine inter-national orders rather than a decrease in fraud, however, and this may parallel the increasing value many merchants are seeing in the international market. The value of international orders explains the willingness to take a risk which is still not negligible – despite the 13% decrease, international orders were found to be 62.4% riskier than domestic ones in 2016,” it said.

Fraudsters also appear to be shifting their tactics, moving from merchant account takeovers to online payment account takeovers. Merchant account

takeovers involve breaking into ac-counts on the merchant’s website in order to look like returning customers, but online payment account takeovers aim straight for services such as PayPal or Apple Pay. Forter reported a 131% uptick in attempts to takeover online payment accounts.

The report also noted a 69.9% increase in the fraud attack rate for ap-parel retailers. As of the end of 2016, they represented $17.60 of every $100 of sales in the sector; early data for the fi rst quarter of 2017 show that rising to $19 per $100 of sales.

“This may be related to the new fraudsters who’ve joined the online criminal community following EMV adoption in the U.S. and are perhaps sticking to a vertical they understand. It may also refl ect the increased comfort of genuine shoppers with the idea of buying fashion items online and return-ing as necessary,” Forter CEO Michael Reitblat explained.

Food and beverage retailers also saw a 49.8% rise in the frequency of fraud attacks, but some retail sectors did see decreases. The travel and hospitality sector was down 33%, according to the report, and digital goods saw a 22.6% decrease. Attacks in the luxury sector and electronics sector also fell 8.4% and 1.8%, respectively.

Fraudsters still love luxury goods, though — the average fraud rate is $5.91 at risk out of $100 of sales, which is 41% higher than electronics, accord-ing to Forter.

“The general increase in fraud at-tack rate refl ects the appealing nature of the online channel to the criminal community. The growth of e-commerce and mobile commerce, the abundance of stolen data, the opportunities for obfuscation, the tools available to them, the unlikelihood of reprisals for fraud attempts and more all combine to make online attacks attractive to criminals,” the report said.

Reprinted with permission from Credit Union Trust.

Health Care(Continued from Page 30)

and related companies to steal the equity from the property of unsuspecting older citizens or to use these citizens to unwit-tingly aid the fraudsters in stealing equity from a fl ipped property.

In many of the reported scams, victim citizens are offered free homes, invest-ment opportunities, and foreclosure or refi nance assistance. They are also used as straw buyers in property fl ipping scams. Older citizens are frequently targeted through local churches and investment seminars, as well as television, radio, billboard, and mailer advertisements.

A legitimate HECM loan product is insured by the Federal Housing Authority. It enables eligible homeowners to access the equity in their homes by providing funds without incurring a monthly pay-ment. Eligible borrowers must be 62 years or older who occupy their property as their primary residence and who own

their property or have a small mortgage balance.

Tips for Avoiding Reverse Mortgage Scams:

• Do not respond to unsolicited advertisements.

• Be suspicious of anyone claiming that you can own a home with no down payment.

• Do not sign anything that you do not fully understand.

• Do not accept payment from individ-uals for a home you did not purchase.

• Seek out your own reverse mortgage counselor.

If you are a victim of this type of fraud and want to fi le a complaint, please submit information through the FBI’s electronic tip line or through your local FBI of-fi ce. You may also fi le a complaint with HUD-OIG at www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm or by calling HUD’s hotline at 1-800-347-3735.

Read the FBI’s intelligence bulletin on reverse mortgages.

Unfi nished Business(Continued from Page 11)

driving to the city’s streets in just three years. Much of this growth occurred in Midtown Manhattan and other already-congested areas of the city. Managing the impact of this growth on traffi c congestion, vehicle emissions and traffi c safety is thus a critical public policy challenge.

In addition, TNCs have become the leading source of growth in non-(personal) auto travel in the city, displacing the tran-sitoriented growth of the 1990s through 2014. This shift is simply not a sustainable way to serve the growing transportation needs generated by the city’s expanding population and economic activity. The central task for public policy is to shift growth back to sustainable, high-capacity modes, ranging from bus to subway to bik-ing, while at the same time maintaining the mobility improvements that TNCs offer.

Within a newly competitive envi-ronment, transit must compete with deep-pocketed, nimble and intensively customer-focused private sector trans-portation providers. Policy makers need to respond with an equal focus on what makes TNCs attractive -- the end-to-end travel experience with an emphasis on fast, reliable, comfortable and easy-to-use service.

Policy makers also need to address the pricing disparities that are becoming increasingly apparent between TNCs and other modes. TNC fares cover, at best, the direct costs of providing TNC rides (vehicle, auto insurance, dispatch system, driver income, etc.). TNC fares do not refl ect the costs to the public in increased traffi c delay, emissions and potentially safety. These costs are very

real, driving up costs of bus operations, freight movement, goods delivery and provision of on-site services. As TNCs move to further reduce fares, the imbal-ances in traveler incentives will grow steeper, and impacts on traffi c, emissions and travel will intensify. Pricing the use of scarce roadway space is essential to correct this imbalance, making inevitable a return to this politically fraught policy area. Technological developments since the congestion pricing proposal of 2007, however, have created opportunities for systems targeted at ineffi cient use of roadway space, and potentially helping to overcome political barriers.

While this report can serve to update and deepen public understanding of how TNCs are affecting travel and traffi c in New York City, additional research is also needed to diagnose how TNC, population and economic growth and overall travel volumes are affecting traffi c congestion, vehicle emissions and traffi c safety. The TLC’s recent adoption of a rule mandat-ing that TNCs and other for-hire bases disclose trip destination as well as origin data is a step in this direction. These data need to be mapped to the street network, and data needs to be collected on overall traffi c volumes.

TNCs as a mode also need to be incorporated into regional transportation models, which currently undercount taxi and for-hire trips and take no account of TNC growth at all. This is another impor-tant step in adapting planning and policy making to TNCs’ newly critical place in the transportation network.

The rapid growth of TNCs thus offer reason for both hope and fear for their role in New York and other large, dense cities....


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Documents

VOL. 18, NO. 3 “The Voice of the NYC Transportation ... · VOL. 18, NO. 3 “The Voice of the NYC Transportation Industry.” MARCH 2017 JULY 2010 † TAXI INSIDER † PAGE 1 INSIDER