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Media Room Press Releases Apr 24: Drivers Rally with AM Rivera to Reject Taxi Tax
Media Room Press Releases Apr 24: Drivers Rally with AM Rivera to Reject Taxi Tax
| Apr 24: Drivers Rally with AM Rivera to Reject Taxi Tax |
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Immediate Release: April 24, 2009
Assemblyman Peter Rivera and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, joined by League of Mutual Taxi Owners (LOMTO) and the Committee for Taxi Safety, held a spirited and LOUD press conference at the steps of City Hall to rally behind AM Rivera's rejection of the $1 taxi tax and alternative proposal for a modest increase in the state's jet fuel tax to balance the MTA budget. NYS Senators Eric Martin Dilan and Bill Perkins have introduced a bill to raise the taxi meter by $1 per fare. The money would not go to drivers. It would go to bailout the subways and buses (MTA) and to fix the roads and bridges in upstate New York. The proposal has ignited the rage of taxi workers tired of being scapegoated, ignored, and trampled on. Drivers received more support as Mayor Michael Bloomberg upped his criticisms of the proposed taxi tax, calling it bothersome and questioning its fairness and practicality.& nbsp; NYS Senator Martin Golden has also been a major critic, citing the tax as an unfair imposition to balance the budgets on taxi drivers' backs. City Council Transportation Committee Chairperson John Liu also spoke in support of the proposed alternative which would raise the tax on airlines from present six cents to 25 to 50 cents. AM Rivera says enough money would be generated to discard the taxi tax, Harlem and East River tolls and payroll tax. The Senate is to vote the week of April 27th, followed by the Assembly. If both of these houses of the NYS legislature do not approve the same proposal, then the leadership Caucus will negotiate a final decision. The issue has already lead to a historic united front between taxi drivers, owner-operators, taxi brokers and garages who came together at City Hall steps to stand in unity for one cause. Earlier in the day, the union and industry trade associations had also rallied at Penn Station to bring home the message of unified opposition to this assault on taxi workers' livelihoods. Already struggling taxi workers, at a loss of 25% ridership from the recession, would lose tips, ridership, opportunity for health care and have a raise for themselves delayed by another 5 to 10 years. NYTWA has visited Albany, organized a massive Call-In & E-mail Campaign and held several press conferences. The union is now making plans for a taxi caravan to the state capital. |