November 4 will bring one of the most unusual and important elections in recent history, particularly when it comes to choosing the next mayor of New York City. Please, do not squander the opportunity to have your voice heard. Every vote counts – and with so many consequential issues affecting our industry up in the air – the next mayor will have a huge impact on your financial well-being, health and safety.

Before I continue, I want to urge EVERYONE to make sure you are registered and to get out and vote, regardless of who you decide on. If you are not registered or you are not sure if you are, visit https://vote.nyc/page/register-vote. The deadline to register is October 25.

If you choose to vote in person, visit https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ to find nearby polling sites. You can also request a mail-in ballot at https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot. Just make sure it is postmarked by Nov. 4.

For me, deciding which NYC mayoral candidate is best for our industry was more of a process of elimination than anything else, but once I took a deep dive into the various candidates, the choice seemed clear: I would like to see Andrew Cuomo take on the role, and I’ll explain why, as well as provide direct quotes from Mr. Cuomo – in response to a slew of questions that I asked him – on a wide range of issues that directly affect our industry.

All of the candidates are flawed in their own ways, and Mr. Cuomo is no exception, but let me take a moment to explain the issues I have with the other candidates.

The Incumbent

Although many of us had high hopes for Mayor Eric Adams at the beginning of his term, Crain’s New York Businessrecently reminded us that “federal prosecutors last year charged Adams with bribery, conspiracy and breaking campaign finance laws. The Justice Department dropped the charges, and a federal judge dismissed the case, but it still muddied the waters and his polling numbers are so low right now, I’m not even sure why he’s still in the race.

I was also deeply alarmed by the way he’s handled the introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) into the city… and I’m not alone. In August, the Independent Drivers Guild (IDG) slammed Adams for so quickly approving Waymo’s request to test their “experimental” AVs on city streets.

The Republican

Curtis Sliwa is clearly a brave man, whose “crime prevention organization” – the Guardian Angels – protected and literally saved the lives of New Yorkers. He’s done a lot of good for the city in that regard, but I just can’t take his candidacy seriously. His polling numbers are very low, and he seems ill-equipped to serve as the mayor of the financial capital of the world.

The Democratic Socialist

Speaking of NYC being the financial capital of the world… Although there is a lot I like about Zohran Mamdani, I have serious concerns about electing a democratic socialist to serve as mayor of New York City. It seems like a poor fit, and his lack of experience just adds to my apprehension.

Even more concerning for our industry’s drivers is his party’s stance on crime. The New York Post recently reported that “the Democratic Socialists of America want to wipe out the enforcement of all misdemeanor offenses.” It seems like that would include criminal behaviors like fare beating and some “simple” assaults, putting our industry’s drivers at great risk. It also seems like a recipe for making the city’s streets less safe, which could deter potential tourists – a huge source of income for our industry.

Why Andrew Cuomo?

Andrew Cuomo is certainly not perfect – he has made some serious mistakes over the years – but he has, by far, the most experience of any of the candidates, along with a list of accomplishments as governor that tangibly improved the lives of New Yorkers. He also took the time to answer a series of questions specifically about our industry. The following are direct quotes from Mr. Cuomo on a variety of topics:

  • Autonomous Vehicles (AVs): “I share reservations about the impact of allowing autonomous vehicles in New York City. Driving here is arguably more difficult than in any other city in America, so AVs would face serious challenges. I think there are [also] legitimate questions about the economic impact of AVs. We really did not understand the potential impact of Uber and Lyft when they started out. Before we allow AVs, we need, at a minimum, to have studied the potential impact on existing drivers in the market.”
  • The EV Mandate: “Any mandate that all for-hire vehicles in New York City be electric vehicles (EVs) should take into account the existing state of the charging infrastructure, as well as the economic impacts. Particularly now, when the economy is softening, we should try to avoid imposing costly mandates on businesses and workers. New York City [needs] to develop a detailed plan for building out its EV infrastructure. We need to find sufficient space to allow vehicles to charge during the day for this to be practical.”
  • Restroom Access for Drivers: “This is an important issue and it shows what happens when there is insufficient planning before thinking through the downstream effects of something like Uber, that greatly increases traffic. I know there have been hearings in the City Council on this issue, and I’m open to working with the industry on solutions.”
  • The TLC: “One of my priorities during the first hundred days of my administration will be to appoint an industry advisory committee to identify outdated and inefficient regulations. Some TLC regulations certainly fit that description. And, I agree that one of those slots [on the TLC board] should go to an operator. They would bring a good deal of industry knowledge to the table.”

As we approach election day on November 4, it’s essential to look at the big picture. Take the time to consider which mayoral candidate most closely matches your priorities, which one will protect your financial and physical health, and help clear the path for New York City to thrive. Regardless of who you decide best fits those criteria, I strongly urge everyone to GET OUT AND VOTE!

Your Vote Matters

Article by Neil Weiss

Neil Weiss is the Editor/Publisher/Owner of Black Car News and Livery Times. He has been involved in the ground transportation industry since 1991, writing thousands of articles on a wide variety of subjects.

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