The Taxi & Limousine Commission Should have a Temporary Moratorium on For Hire Vehicles Industry Hails

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

District 32 Bronx County, New York

You should know that the New York City Council Speaker Mr. Corey Johnson, has created a new committee with power of subpoena to deal only and exclusively with any vehicles for rental, hired or leasing under the supervision of New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.

This included but not limited to Uber, Lift, Via, Yellow, Black, Green, Livery and Para-Transit Vehicles.

You should know that I had been chosen by Speaker Johnson to be the Chairman of the newly created committee.  And as a Chairman of these committee I am calling for an emergency public hearing on Monday February 12, at 10:00 am in the City Hall Chamber, to deal with specific issues pertaining to   enforcement, entrapment and the excessive fines imposed by the TLC to the For Hire Vehicles industry especially in the Bronx County and Upper Manhattan.

It is also very important for you to know that I am calling upon Commissioner Meera Joshi to immediately impose a temporary moratorium on all outer Boro livery seizures and summoned for on street hails and focus on hotels airports and midtown Manhattan. 

I am calling for this temporary moratorium based mainly on a regrettable TLC action of a seizure and ticketing of a livery last night in the Bronx which resulted in damage to a city owned vehicle. I do not condone such action by the drivers, but understand the frustration which exists within the drivers.

I personally had met with Commissioner Meera Joshi on many occasions and had brought to her attention regarding the abusive enforcement by the TLC Inspectors and their Agents.

This is Councilman Rev.  Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

First, we think that Ruben Diaz Sr. needs to look this statement over from the heading. We wonder why he opens as State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., and ends the letter as Councilman Ruben Diaz. The election was last November, and the good councilman is already sitting in the City Council. 

Second, we wonder why he calls the TLC out for enforcement, entrapment, and excessive fines imposed on For Hire vehicles especially those in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Does the new committee chair of Horse Buggy and Stagecoaches have any figures to back up his claims? Or is Marshal Diaz Sr.'s statement based on what the For Hire industry has told him?

Third, we suggest That Councilman Diaz Sr. see what is exactly going on by For Hire drivers who pick up passengers after making illegal U-Turns, put pedestrian safety in jeopardy, and have no regard for other vehicles on the road. Chair Diaz Sr. should look at police records for traffic summonses to see what type of vehicle they were given to. It is unfortunate that with most UBER, LIFT, VIA or other non TLC plated For Hire cars there is no way to tell that they are For Hire vehicles. Instead Chair Diaz Sr. should be looking into having said non TLC plated vehicles be required to have TLC plates along with the other requirements of those vehicles which have TLC plates. 

Know what you are talking about.

That is what you need to know.