What you should know
- Outraged by what they say is a lack of help, yellow taxi drivers and owners, mostly immigrants, gathered in protest before the Mayor’s Office demanding that the city cancel the debt due to the high costs of the medallions.
- For the past two weeks, yellow taxi drivers and owners have been camping and protesting in front of the Mayor’s Office in Lower Manhattan in frustration at the city’s multi-million dollar relief program to alleviate medallion debt, which it deems insufficient.
- The average debt per medallion for these taxi drivers is $ 500,000, but the current value of it is considered to be just under $ 100,000 and considering the expenses and the enormous competition, by companies like Uber and Lyft, the taxi drivers feel financially drowned.
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NEW YORK – Outraged by what they say is a lack of help, yellow taxi drivers and owners, most of them immigrants, gathered in protest once again Friday before the Mayor’s Office demanding that the city cancel their debt due to high costs. of the medallions and the crippling crisis that they affirm has generated the presence of other transport services.
For the past two weeks, yellow taxi drivers and owners have been camping and protesting in front of the Mayor’s Office in Lower Manhattan in frustration at the city’s multi-million dollar relief program to alleviate medallion debt, which it deems insufficient.
“The union is asking for a grant that guarantees us $ 145,000 – paying $ 800, more or less once a month for 30 years, with low interest to survive,” said Ángel Maquí, a yellow taxi driver.
The average debt per medallion for these taxi drivers is $ 500,000, but the current value of it is considered to be just under $ 100,000 and considering the expenses and the enormous competition, by companies like Uber and Lyft, the taxi drivers feel financially drowned.
“Insurance, maintenance, taxes, and my house debt, how can I cover it if they have done this to us, if they have made the sleep we had cheaper?” Said Maquí.
The City Council held public hearings on Friday to discuss the issue and seek new solutions and thus raising new hope from some of the drivers who have not given up in their fight.
The president of the Transportation Committee of the City Council, Ydanis Rodríguez, assures that he is committed to saving the industry.
“For me the important thing today is to make it very clear, to recognize that this is an industry that we have the responsibility to save, that we promised those who bought the medallions that when they bought it they were the only ones who could have the right to collect it. passengers, “Rodriguez said.
However, although taxi drivers have already been camping for 20 days and raising their voices before the Mayor’s Office, they say they will continue to protest until they achieve their goal.
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