MIDTOWN, Manhattan – In a united effort, taxi drivers are reaching out to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging her assistance in challenging a newly proposed congestion pricing fee. Gathered outside Hochul’s Midtown office on Sunday, they rallied for an exemption from the impending toll system.
The concern at the heart of their plea revolves around a planned $1 surcharge per trip, which passengers would ultimately shoulder. This additional fee feels like a third tax to taxi drivers, further squeezing their livelihoods.
Bhairavi Desai, representing the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, emphasized, “Ordinary New Yorkers empathize with the challenges faced by cab drivers, recognizing the inherent unfairness and injustice that these drivers have been enduring.”
An illuminating study underscores the significance of this issue. It reveals that yellow cab drivers embark on an average of 12 trips within the congestion pricing zone each day.
As discussions continue, taxi drivers are hopeful that Governor Hochul will consider their plea and work towards a fair resolution to alleviate their financial burdens.
