MAYOR DE BLASIO: TLC COMMISSIONER MEERA JOSHI STEPPING DOWN

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that Meera Joshi, CEO and Chair of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, plans to step down from her role in March.  Commissioner Joshi’s tenure was marked by such progressive innovations as the protection and enhancement of driver earnings, citywide access to For-Hire services for persons with disabilities, a 50% reduction of fatalities in crashes involving taxis and For-Hire vehicles in the last year, significant advances in consumer protections, and a first-ever pathway to the effective management of congestion and environmental impact relating to TLC-licensed services — all of which was enabled by the collection of previously-unavailable data.

“In this unprecedented period of growth, Meera has brought about equally unprecedented and vital change that will serve as a model for cities throughout the nation and the world,” said Mayor de Blasio.  “Under her leadership New Yorkers who use wheelchairs can get service, passengers are assured that every driver and vehicle is safe, our city has detailed records of the one million daily trips and New York City is the only place where app drivers have pay protection.  She will leave an unparalleled legacy and has raised the bar for good government.  I am grateful for her service.”

“It has been an honor to serve New York City through the effective regulation of almost 200,000 drivers in over 130,000 vehicles moving over a million people each day,” said Commissioner Joshi. “Thanks to a skilled and principled TLC staff, a Commission dedicated to doing the right thing and engaged industry members and advocates, through public debate and data we increased accountability, safety, access, modernized taxi regulation, protected drivers and increased consumer protections. I am deeply grateful to the TLC community that made this possible.”

The Administration will announce a replacement for Commissioner Joshi in the coming months. Created in 1971 by Local Law No. 12, the Taxi and Limousine Commission is a Charter-mandated agency, the purpose of which is the continuance, further development and improvement of taxi and for-hire service in the City of New York.