It may appear as if Eric Adams has the mayoral race in the bag, but I hope that all of you get out there and make sure you vote for him anyway. I stopped trusting polls years ago, and complacency is one of the biggest dangers our nation faces, when it comes to electing our leaders.
Mr. Adams has shown through words, action, and the people he has aligned himself with that he is by far the best chance our industry has for reaching parity and a full recovery. Mr. Adams has a history of actively supporting our industry – going as far as co-authoring an op-ed with Ira Goldstein, the Executive Director of the New York Black Car Fund (NYBCF), early in the pandemic, about the many benefits the NYBCF has had on our industry.
Simply put: Mr. Adams’ plans for the future make sense, and his knowledge of the industry and its history is impressive by any standard.
The following is a recap of some of Mr. Adams’ perspectives, observations and plans for the future of NYC’s transportation industry:
- He said he supports allowing small businesses – such as traditional Black Car and Luxury bases – to obtain additional FHV licenses while the moratorium continues on the true source of city’s congestion: HVFHVs.
- He understands the critical role small businesses play in the city’s economy and said he would push forward smart policies to create a better government that delivers for ALL New Yorkers.
- A 20-year veteran of the NYPD, he understands the importance of public safety and has outlined plans for addressing the recent spike in crime.
- He acknowledged that many of the city’s transportation laws are outdated and disorganized. He said he would prioritize a full review and updates.
- He said he wants groups like the BCAC – as well as other stakeholders – to be more involved in decision making on issues that affect the industry.
- He supports creating a “transportation czar” to more closely involve stakeholders and industry leaders in decisions that affect the industry.
- He acknowledged there are too many personal vehicles on NYC’s streets and is open to exploring the idea of “municipal car sharing.” He said he supports a program to provide vouchers to municipal employees for taxis, black cars, and liveries, rather than having workers use their own personal vehicles.
- He plans to dramatically expand the city’s charging infrastructure, which is currently a barrier for the widespread deployment of electric vehicles in NYC.
- The proliferation of ridesharing and the gig-worker economy has led to numerous problems for New York – including a spike in “wandering vehicles” that add to congestion and decimated the taxi industry. He welcomes help from “industry insiders” to lead a conversation on a paradigm shift.
- He supports drivers and base owners.
- He supports a medallion bailout, adding that NYC did a disservice to the yellow cab industry and must be held responsible.
All of these things are a far cry from what we experienced under the current Mayor. YOUR VOTE MATTERS. Please consider the above points and do what is best for our industry and the city at large: Please, vote for Adams!
