In his monthly column (on page 23), David Do, Chair/Commissioner of the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), highlighted the progress that’s been made in recent years on his watch, and it is admittedly a solid list – including the expansion of the Medallion Relief Program, the first taximeter rate increase in a decade, a pay raise for Uber/Lyft drivers, and new rules designed to end unfair lockouts.
As we enter a new era, with newly-elected Mayor Mamdani at the helm, I hope the good work being done by Mr. Do continues – but the biggest, most threatening issues facing the industry still remain, unfortunately. These include the encroachment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on NYC streets, spiking airport access fees, a lack of enforcement against unlicensed operators poaching rides from legit TLC-licensed drivers, and the ongoing insurance crisis.
“I am incredibly optimistic,” Do noted in his column this month. “Our incoming mayor-elect went on a hunger strike with taxi drivers to win support for MRP+. You can bet he’s going to fight to protect the city’s largest independent workforce from being exploited by big business or paralyzed by future disruptions.”
Although I initially had concerns about Mr. Mamdani – a self-proclaimed democratic socialist – taking the reins of the financial capital of the world, I have been encouraged by what I’ve read regarding his policy plans and his choices to lead various agencies. That said, Mamdani and Do – assuming he remains in charge of the TLC – have serious work ahead to get our industry fully back on track.
The most potentially-devastating issue, the one rightly being described as an “existential threat,” is the aggressive attempt by companies like Waymo and Tesla (and others) – who seemingly have nearly unlimited resources to potentially sway politicians – to introduce AVs to city streets and take a bite out of the Big Apple.
At the 2025 Somos Inc. Puerto Rico Conference – held at the El Caribe Hilton in San Juan from November 5-9 – members of New York City’s diverse transportation sector shared ideas and discussed AVs in a session titled, “The Technological Disruption to the Hispanic Community’s Transportation Eco System.” According to the session’s panel, which was moderated by Cira Angeles, spokesperson for the Livery Base Owners Association (LBOA): “On the surface, autonomous vehicles offer cheap and efficient service, but that efficiency and cost savings may come at a price: the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and the very soul of the community.”
Ms. Angeles was joined by LBOA’s president, Jose Altamirano; Ira Goldstein, executive director of The New York Black Car Fund; Dr. Avik Kabessa, president of The Livery Roundtable; Josh Gold, Policy Director for Uber; Quemuel Arroyo, Chief Accessibility Officer at the Metropolitan Transit Authority; and Aziz Bah, an organizer for the Independent Drivers Guild. The group shared their fears, strategies for coping with the disruption, and a wish-list for the future as they planned a series of ongoing meetings in the months and years ahead.
According to coordinators, SOMOS is “an extension of the work from a Justice in Action meeting in Albany, [and seeks] to carry that momentum into policies and projects impacting the daily lives of the Latino community… and beyond. SOMOS was born in New York to promote political representation, civic participation and access to resources for the Latino community,” but the conference has expanded its scope of influence and established itself as an annual bridge between the island and the millions of Latinos living in New York City… along with their neighbors.
Although AVs may be the most significant long-term threat to the industry, the most pressing, time-sensitive issue for the for-hire vehicle (FHV) sector is a Port Authority proposal to double local airport access fees in 2026, paid by traditional black car, livery and luxury bases, along with high-volume bases like Uber and Lyft. As Mr. Goldstein explains in his column this month (on pages 8 & 9) “The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) issued their proposed 2026-2035 Capital Plan. Among the various proposals is one that… would instantly double, from $2.50 for pick-ups and drop-offs ($5 round-trip), to $5 for each ($10 round-trip).” Yellow cabs, who pay $1.75 for pick-ups and nothing for drop-offs, will be receiving a phased-in 75-cent increase over three years. Taxi drop-offs would continue to be exempt from any airport access fee.
More details about this massive spike in access fees, along with details on how to have your voice heard at upcoming Port Authority hearings, can be found on the next few pages of this issue, in Mr. Goldstein’s monthly column.
The Port Authority claims some of the proceeds from the increase will be used to “deter predatory drivers illegally soliciting rides,” but as we have reported in the past, very little is actually being done to prevent these activities on WhatsApp and various social media platforms. It’s also IMPORTANT to note that the cost of enforcement SHOULD NOT, once again, fall on the shoulders of struggling drivers and bases representing a competing industry, in a stumbling economy.
As we prepare to enter 2026 – with the insurance crisis still looming and no clear-cut solutions in sight – I once again want to encourage drivers and company executives from all sectors of NYC’s transportation industry, along with representatives from local businesses that rely on it to survive – to join forces, speak up and have your voices heard. It has never been more important than now. As steep as these challenges appear, the best chance of coming out ahead is continuing cooperation between the various sectors. Stay strong, stay focused, step up and have your voice heard in 2026, as we all wish for a successful Holiday Season, and a safe, healthy, happy and profitable New Year!
