New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced in April the nomination of David Do to serve as chair and commissioner of the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC). If confirmed by the New York City Council, Do would take over the helm of the agency as its licensees continue to struggle from the impact of the pandemic, in an industry that has seen significant disruption in recent years.
“I am so proud to welcome a groundbreaking and supremely qualified and capable nominee like David Do to the TLC,” said Mayor Adams. “After a financial crisis and a devastating pandemic, a strong taxi industry is a prerequisite to a just and equitable economic recovery for our city, and this administration is going to deliver that for New Yorkers.”
An experienced leader and regulator, Do currently serves as director of the Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV) in Washinton, D.C. He led the agency’s COVID-19 response, overseeing the distribution of protective vehicle barriers and personal protective equipment to help keep drivers safe.
“David Do has the experience and expertise to guide TLC into the future, while ensuring drivers and operators have the support they need to move our industry and our recovery forward,” said Ira Goldstein, executive director, Black Car Fund. “The Black Car Fund looks forward to working with David to create safer streets, a better transportation network, and conditions that allow drivers and the for-hire vehicle industry to thrive.”
“As the former chair and commissioner of the TLC, I know what is needed to regulate an ever-changing and vital transportation mode, and David Do clearly has what it takes,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “His depth of industry experience, collaborative perspective, and data-driven approach will bring innovation, accessibility, and equity to drivers and riders alike, and I look forward to working with him as he leads the agency.”
Do previously served as the director of the Washington, DC Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, where he led the team to improve the quality of life for thousands of DC Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) through advocacy and engagement. In 2019, he received the Catalyst Award from the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Association – a federation of AAPI LGBTQ+ groups – for his work in the DC LGBTQ+ community.
“I want to thank Mayor Adams for putting his trust in me to lead the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission at this pivotal point in the history of our industry,” said David Do, a graduate of the University of California, Merced and the University of Maryland, College Park. “Increased competition and the global pandemic have put our industry at a crossroads, and I look forward to partnering with Mayor Adams to deliver a strong economic recovery for our yellow and green taxi, livery, and for-hire industries. We will continue to work closely with our communities to ensure we protect our drivers, visitors, and passengers through advances in innovation, safety, accessibility and equity.”
