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New York Times: Cabdrivers Protest $1 Fare Surcharge Plan

April 29, 2009
By A. G. Sulzberger

Fifty New York yellow cabs traveled to Albany on Tuesday to protest a proposal to add a $1 surcharge to each ride, which they say would threaten the livelihood of the city’s 25,000 drivers.

In a different context, the 300-mile round trip would have been the fare of a lifetime, but for the drivers it was an unpleasant journey made necessary by concern that the added cost would discourage people from taking cab rides, particularly during a recession.

Read more here
 
Daily News: Amended MTA Bill Moves
Amended MTA Bill Moves, Yellow Cabs Get 'Screwed'
April 28, 2009

By Elizabeth Benjamin

An amended version of the Senate Democrats MTA bailout bill moved from the Finance Committee to the Rules Committee this afternoon, bringing it one step closer to a full floor vote despite the fact that the magic 32 number has yet to materialize.

Adding a new wrinkle to an already complex situation, it's unclear whether the changes made to the legislation reset the aging clock, which would mean another three days have to pass before the measure can be taken up.
 
NY1: Taxi Surcharge

Taxi Surcharge, Gay Marriage Demonstrations Come To Albany

NY1 News
Updated 04/28/2009

A caravan of yellow cabs left the city for Albany Tuesday morning to protest a proposed one-dollar surcharge on taxi rides as part of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bailout plan.

Drivers and advocates gathered in Manhattan in the morning before heading up to the state Capitol.

Read here
 
WNYC News Blog: Cabbies Hurt by Recession Too…

...and They’re Taking That Pain to Albany
By Sarah Kramer

April 28, 2009

A fleet of NYC yellow cabs is driving up to Albany this morning to protest the state senate’s latest proposal to balance the MTA budget–a $1 surcharge on cab rides. Taxi drivers say they’ll be bearing the brunt of the tax. Joe Morone says he knows from his 35 years of experience:

Read more and listen to interviews

 
Times Union: Taxi drivers ride, rally against $1 surcharge

Proposed MTA deficit-closer called regressive
Capitol bureau
Tuesday, April 28, 2009

A sea of yellow taxis arrived in Albany today, as drivers incensed by the proposed $1 taxi tax to bail out the MTA and build bridges and roads upstate are taking their message to state lawmakers.

The caravan of around 40 cabs circled the Capitol and held a press conference on the east lawn, and drivers met with individual Senators and Assembly members.

Read article here
 
Recent Taxi Tax Articles

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--recession-taxis0425apr25,0,4372699.story

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/mta.malcolm.smith.2.994307.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/04/even-a-one-house-bill-looks-go.html

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04242009/news/regionalnews/_166023.htm

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/04/24/06/1652-82/index.xml
 
Gotham Gazette: Taxi Cab Protestations

April 23rd, 2009

Assemblymember Peter M. Rivera and Councilman John Liu will gather with taxi drivers on the steps of City Hall at 1 p.m. tomorrow to protest the State Senate’s proposed $1 per ride fee to be assessed on all taxi cabs in the 12-county region served by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The fee is part of the Senate’s new MTA rescue plan.

The group is proposing a temporary tax on jet fuel sold in New York to replace the taxi cab fee in the Senate’s MTA rescue plan. The taxi fee would raise revenue to fund the MTA and the maintenance of roads in upstate New York...

Read entire article here
 
NY Post: MAYOR RIPS TAXI FARE HIKE

By DAVID SEIFMAN and TOM NAMAKO
April 24, 2009

Might want to check that water bill.

Mayor Bloomberg, exasperated about an MTA bailout plan that would tax taxi rides $1, pondered whether Big Apple residents' bathroom activities might get taxed next.

"They could charge $1 every time you take a shower. Who knows? I don't know how they collect it. The state legislature can do anything they want," Bloomberg quipped on WOR Newstalk radio today...

Read entire article here
 
Politics on the Hudson: Assemblyman says jet-fuel tax could solve MTA’s woes

April 22, 2009

As the Legislature and governor continue to negotiate on a bailout of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Assemblyman Peter Rivera, D-Bronx, is pushing a proposal to raise $2 billion a year by taxing jet-fuel sales. His plan would raise the state levy on jet fuel by $2 per gallon.

The MTA, which serves New York City and seven surrounding counties, including Westchester, Putnam and Rockland, is facing a budget gap of at least $1.2 billion. MTA leaders have said they will have to cut services dramatically and raise fares by 25 percent or more if they don’t get help from the state.

Read article here
 
NY1 Senate Democrats Push New MTA Bailout Plan

By: NY1 News

Democrats in the State Senate are vowing to vote on a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bailout plan as early as next week.

The latest proposal does not include new bridge tolls, but does include a one-dollar-per-ride surcharge on taxi and livery cab rides.

Half of the money would go to the MTA, while the other half would be used to finance road and bridge projects upstate and on Long Island, which has been a concern for senate Republicans.

"Not only are they expecting taxi drivers and riders to balance the MTA budget, but now on top of that we're supposed to pay for the roads and bridges upstate, this is unbelievable. We feel like complete punching bags of ALbany right now," said Bhairavi Desai of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance.

Read article here
 
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