Hello to all, and happy Spring! I hope you have all been enjoying the warmer weather after what felt like a historic winter. I have a lot of exciting news from The Black Car Fund this month, so I’ll jump right into it.
Last month, we officially got our new Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) Chair, Midori Valdivia. Her confirmation hearing with the City Council’s Committee on Rules, Privileges, Elections, Standards and Ethics went very well and she received widespread support from those testifying.
I testified myself as well, as I have had dealings with Midori in the past. In fact, I have known Midori since her days as a Deputy Commissioner at the TLC, and what has always stood out to me was that she listens. She understands that good policy is strengthened when agency leadership is open to input from the stakeholders who live with the consequences of those decisions every day. These qualities matter enormously at the TLC, where the issues are rarely simple. The best outcomes will usually come from serious engagement, practical judgment, and a willingness to consider thoughtful ideas.
I have seen this to be true throughout my years working in this industry. I was Chief of Staff at the TLC myself for almost 10 years, so I know what this job entails. I know the complexity of the agency, the competing pressures it faces, and the importance of having a Chair who is both knowledgeable and steady. I look forward to working with Commissioner Valdivia for the betterment of TLC-licensed drivers and businesses, and for making this City a better and safer place.
Moving onto lighter news, our Steering Towards Success: Driver Resource Fair held in early March was another successful event. I have enjoyed seeing these events grow and continue to provide valuable services to drivers. Our partners truly take this event to the next level, by providing critical services such as on-site blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screening, prostate and colorectal cancer screening, as well as many additional health, finance and mental wellness related benefits.
Thank you to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Mount Sinai Health System, the Hebrew Free Loan Society, Workers Benefit Fund and the Independent Drivers Guild for their continued partnership and support.
Our next resource fair down at our Driver Education Center in Long Island City is set for Monday, June 22nd. Please keep an eye out on our social media, as well as your email inboxes, for the formal announcement!
This month, we are taking our Resource Fair upstate and will be back at the North Tonawanda Football Hall of Fame. We have a two-day fair set for Tuesday, April 14th, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, and Wednesday, April 15th, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Come and join us on either day to get connected with The Black Car Fund and our Drivers Benefits Program, so you can learn more about what benefits and resources are available to you, and ask any questions you may have. As always, there will be free raffles for great prizes – like dashcams and gift cards – and the first 20 drivers who attend each day will receive an exclusive BCF Swag Bag!
Space is very limited at these events, so you must RSVP in advance to save your spot. You can do so at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SpringUpstate2026. Please help spread the word to any drivers you know who may have moved to the Upstate region, too! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at COM@nybcf.org.
Now onto some exciting announcements! As of April 1st, our Driver Education Course has a new name. It is now known as The Road Instruction and Driver Education (RIDE) Course, or simply: The RIDE Course. This is just a name change, so the curriculum and payments to drivers are all staying the same. It will also continue to be available either online or in-person at our Driver Education Center.
However, one of our Earn While You Learn™ opportunities IS getting a pay increase. As of April 1st, drivers who complete our Defensive Driving Course (DDC-6) will now earn $400, up from $300, once every three years. This applies to courses that are completed on or after April 1st, 2026, and please note that your anniversary date does not “reset” from this pay increase. If you’ve recently taken the DDC-6 course, the next time you will be eligible for payment is still three years from the date you last completed it, and up to 100 days before that.
Finally, also effective April 1st, is our newest benefit that has joined the ranks of the Drivers Benefits Program. Introducing our Hospital Indemnity Insurance benefit. This new benefit is designed to provide Eligible Drivers, who are enrolled in the Drivers Benefits program, with financial protection by offering cash payments during covered hospital stays resulting from an accident or illness.
With this benefit, you can receive a cash benefit of $100 for each day you are in the hospital, plus an additional $65 per day if you are in the ICU, and a $500 payment for a covered stay when you are admitted into the hospital. When you’re being admitted to the hospital, the last thing you want is to be surprised by an expense or bill that is not covered by your existing health coverage, like out-of-network care, or even just everyday costs. With this benefit, you get peace of mind, plus claims are paid directly to you, so you can decide how the funds are used.
As with all of our income-protection benefits, you MUST be enrolled in the Drivers Benefits program BEFORE an accident, illness or injury occurs. You cannot enroll after the fact, so please make sure you are enrolled TODAY by visiting ny.driversbenefits.org.
Until next time!
