By Kamal Ahmed
Brighter days are ahead for New York City’s struggling Taxi and For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) drivers as Zohran Mamdani officially took his midnight (in the New Year) oath of office, raising hope for them and future generations. Approximately 180,000 to 200,000 TLC-licensed drivers are in the city, and they operate one million rides per day.
Mamdani became the mayor at a time when taxi drivers had long been suffering from various issues – particularly rising cost of living, exorbitant insurance rates, widespread insurance fraud, regulatory abuse, and imbalanced opportunities that are badly impacting their livelihoods.
Taxi drivers have countless expenses, including insurance payments, vehicle maintenance, house rents, sales tax, Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) tickets and summons for violations, and several others irrational fines.
I recently spoke to MD Moinul Hossain, an app-based driver, who underscored the need for reducing insurance rates to help drivers feel more comfortable amid the rising costs of living.
“You see, we are bleeding thanks to the cost of living, which is on a sharp rise. Reducing insurance rates should be number one priority for Mamdani. It could be a good one for us,” said Hossain, who opined that taxi and app-based drivers who keep the city moving deserve a better standard of living to achieve adequate support for their families.
Shaheen Hossain, another FHV driver, expressed his optimism over the Mamdani administration, saying this mayor will go for extra miles for the TLC drivers.
“I hope NYC Mayor Mamdani and Governor Kathi Hochul will work hand in hand for the greater interests of taxi and app-based drivers,” said Shaheen.
Referring to bill Intro 276 (which passed Dec 18, 2025), Shaheen said, Mamdani’s support of this bill reflects his genuineness in helping hard-working drivers. Hossain, who has over 30 years of driving experience, came down heavily on the Technology Networking Companies (TNCs), saying drivers who have worked for decades should not be rated by the companies as “bad” or “unsafe.”
“We are not the employees for TNCs. If they want to control taxi and FHV drivers they should consider us as employees and provide benefits, like healthcare, 401K and much more,” he pointed out.
Kazi Amir Hossain, an app-based driver, said he is optimistic that “Mamdani will change the fate of the taxi and app-based drivers,” adding that the Intro 276 bill will help solve the crisis of unjust firing of app-based drivers. “It gives us a sort of bargaining power,” he noted.
New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), a 28,000-member-strong union of the city’s taxicab drivers and FHV drivers, has described Mamdani as a “pro-driver” mayor and said they firmly believe Mamdani will bring some regulatory changes to modernize the taxi and FHV industry.
“I believe Mamdani’s tenure will be a golden time for taxi drivers, and FHV drivers, we are in such a dream,” Mohammad Tipu Sultan, a NYTWA organizer and drivers’ advocate, told me.
Mr. Sultan, who was behind a driving force in the 2021 hunger strike and City Hall protest that led to historic debt relief for drivers, said: “We will do everything possible to protect the rights of the drivers.”
Mamdani is now New York City’s 112th mayor. In his election manifesto, he promised to change the city’s direction, making it more affordable – with ideas like a rent freeze, fare-free buses, and city-run grocery stores in each borough.
Kamal Ahmed has a Masters’ Degree in Economics. He has been in the fore-hire industry for over 10 years, and has worked with the American Transit Insurance Company (ATIC). He is now a consultant. Previously, he worked for leading daily newspapers in Bangladesh and the country’s national news agency. He also worked for international news agencies (REUTERS, AFP, PTI) as a stringer.
