Hello to all! October seems to have quickly flown by, and it’s hard to believe there’s just two months left in the year. As we enter the homestretch, there are a few things I’d like to update you on and a couple of reminders I think are important. I’ll jump right into it.
As you may have heard, in October the MTA released the revenue numbers that congestion pricing has generated so far. It was $356 million at the end of August! With that, the congestion pricing program is on track to hit its $500 million revenue target by the end of the year.
MTA data has shown that the number of vehicles entering the congestion zone in Manhattan has gone down by 12% since the program started, with 87,000 fewer vehicles entering Manhattan each day. Anecdotally, I have been hearing that traffic levels seem to be creeping back up in recent months, so I’m curious to see what the data will show in a few months.
Despite the apparent successes of congestion pricing, the program is still in the crosshairs of the Trump Administration, which has sought to block the program for months. Back in May, Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York had blocked the Trump Administration from shutting down congestion pricing or retaliating against New York transit projects while his ruling was in progress. It is expected to be issued in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, the Trump Administration already began pulling funds from some MTA projects. We will continue closely watching this issue as it progresses.
Another issue which has been on my radar for some time is the company Empower. Many of you have likely heard about it, particularly since the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) has begun issuing messaging and warnings about it.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Empower, they are the latest company trying to frame themselves as a “booking platform” rather than a transportation provider. However, the fact of the matter is that Empower is NOT licensed by the TLC to dispatch TLC-licensed vehicles. If you accept a ride through the Empower app, you are unquestionably in violation of TLC rules and are risking fines and even the suspension or revocation of your license.
In addition to these risks and the risks posed by using an unlicensed app in general, it is important to understand that you are also not going to be protected by The Black Car Fund in the event of an accident. Empower is not a Member Base of The Fund, and any dispatch from them is not protected. If you are involved in an accident, injured and cannot work while driving for Empower, your workers’ compensation claim will be denied. To make matters worse, driving for Empower could also affect your eligibility for our Drivers Benefits program.
It is simply not worth the risk to drive for an unlicensed company like Empower, and I strongly urge you to take this advice to heart and spread it among your fellow drivers.
On another note, now that we are in the last two months of the year, I want to take this time to remind you to use the dental benefit in our Drivers Benefits program. This benefit covers 100% of all covered basic and major restorative care when you use an in-network dentist, up to an annual max of $2,000.
That annual max is the important part because it resets each year! That means that you have less than two months to use up your annual $2,000 dental benefit before it resets. Don’t miss out on this benefit! As someone who has had many different dental insurances throughout my life, I can say that the dental insurance we offer is by far the best, with no deductible, no co-pays, and $0 out-of-pocket expenses. Learn more about this benefit, all our other benefits, and ensure you’re enrolled in Drivers Benefits, by visiting https://ny.driversbenefits.org/en/benefits/dental.
As I wrap up, I want to remind you all that coming up on November 17th is our last resource fair of the year! As usual, it will be held at our Driver Education Center in Long Island City and there will be two sessions – morning and afternoon – to keep things comfortable and easy for everyone. Our last resource fair had the highest attendance we’ve seen yet, so that is also why we are requiring that drivers RSVP in advance.
As you’re registering, remember that each of the two sessions have the same information, prizes, and raffles, so you can pick whichever time works best for you. While there’s no set program and you can arrive any time during the session you RSVP for, the first 20 drivers who arrive to their session will be receiving a special BCF swag bag.
You can also win a free dashcam by referring other drivers to the fair! For every Covered Driver or Member Base you get to RSVP, you will earn an entry into a special raffle for a dashcam. Just make sure the people you refer include your name and TLC or NYSDMV license number when they RSVP. The more people you refer, the better your chances of winning!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at com@nybcf.org. Looking forward to seeing you there!
On a final note, I hope that everyone has a happy and healthy Thanksgiving, with friends and loved ones. Until next time!
