For Immediate Release: April 28th, 2009

Dozens of taxis caravanned to Albany on Tuesday, April 28th turning the streets and highways of New York into a sea of yellow from Manhattan to Albany and across the Thruway. Taxis from NYTWA and LOMTO (League of Mutual Taxi Owners) covered window to window with signs of, “No Taxi Tax,” “Not On Our Backs,” and “Support Jet Fuel Tax” traveled 300 miles round trip to stop lawmakers from passing a $1 taxi tax as toward a bailout of the MTA and to fix upstate roads and bridges. The proposal is now in the Rules Committee and a full Senate vote is expected the week of May 4th. The bill would then go to the Assembly. Fifty taxis, seventy drivers and industry representatives traveled to make Albany hear the pleas of over 47,000-licensed taxi drivers: We are struggling enough. Don’t single us out. The taxi tax has been under growing criticism. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called it bothersome and impractical. Governor Paterson said the $1 would be too burdensome to already struggling drivers.

The caravan crusaders held an energetic rally at the gathering point across the Javits Center in front of live cameras from 5:30am until send off at 6:45am. In Albany, they circled the Capitol building with upstate TV crews and photographers filming their every turn. The crew then assembled at the steps of the Capitol for a press conference with Assemblyman Peter M Rivera and proud former taxi driver Assemblyman Jose Rivera.

“Why are we being singled out?” asked NYTWA Organizing Committee Member Victor Salazar, capturing the general sentiment among all NYC’s 40,000-plus licensed yellow taxicab drivers. “It’s more work for less pay because we now add tax collecting to our already hectic 12-hour shifts.”

Managing Director of LOMTO, Vincent Sapone, was also outraged, “While the MTA has enjoyed raises & bonuses every year, Cab Drivers have to survive by working 6-7 days a week with no benefits and we have to wait years for an increase. The dollar tax will destroy our income.” NYTWA estimates that business is already down by over 20% from the recession.

The drivers and industry representatives stood in support of Assemblyman Peter M Rivera’s proposed modest increase by $2 per gallon in the jet fuel tax paid by airlines. According to AM Rivera, "There are over 86 million boarding of airliners in New York State airports yearly. The heavy passenger traffic at New York airports requires the maintenance of road, bridge and rail infrastructure to transport all those passengers. It is only fair to ask for a modest increase in the cost of jet fuel which will have negligible impact on the prices of airline tickets and on the operations of airlines." The Assemblyman’s proposal would also spare businesses and New Yorkers from the controversial payroll tax and tolling of the Harlem River and East River bridges.

“We are supporting the Assemblyman’s proposal because it’s the most fair. It will get the state the money without overburdening any one group,” said NYTWA Executive Director Bhairavi Desai.

“(The $1 taxi tax) will do nothing to help New York's mass transit system and the New Yorkers who pay this tax will never use those upstate roads,” added Executive Director David Pollack of the Committee for Taxi Safety, an industry trade association representing 2,500 taxi medallion agents.

After the spirited speeches, the group divided into meetings with various legislators, including Senate Transportation Committee Chair Martin Malavé Dilan and Senator Bill Perkins, Assembly Labor Committee Chair George Onorato and Assembly Transportation Committee Chair David Gant.

NYTWA is headed to Albany again next week, asking drivers and supporters are being asked to call and visit their state representatives.
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