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A couple days after what nesses are teetering on the brink of classification for NYC drivers as seemed like a very productive City bankruptcy, a lot of bases have al - Independent Contractors (ICs) is Council hearing in November, I ready gone under and drivers are being threatened. New Jersey, checked in with some of the leaders struggling to feed their families. which uses the same test to deter - of the Black Car and Livery indus - FHV industry leaders submit - mine whether someone is an em - tries. I was still feeling pretty opti - ted a draft of a restricted license ployee or an IC, is claiming Uber is mistic. bill months ago, so whether Ro - misclassifying their drivers, and After all, Council Member Yda - driguez worked off of that frame - hit the company with a $650 mil - nis Rodriguez, who chairs the work to create his own bill or the lion bill for unpaid employment Transportation Committee, TLC made whatever minor adjust - taxes and fines ($523 million in un - showed support for the “restricted” ments to it they deemed necessary employment and disability insur - licenses traditional For-Hire Vehi - to create a new rule, things were ance taxes for 2014-2018 and cle (FHV) bases had been propos - looking up. another $119 million in penalties ing for more than six months. He Except now I’m hearing it could and interest). even held a rally outside City Hall take another six months to become Leaders of the Black Car and just prior to the hearing, calling on a reality, and there’s no guarantee Livery segments of the industry the [Taxi & Limousine Commis - it will happen at all. Within days of are requesting an exemption from sion] to “correct a loophole in the the meeting, there were suddenly any legislation that might force current for-hire vehicles regula - concerns the restricted licenses NYC drivers to be classified as em - tions, which is killing the City’s could hurt the City in existing and ployees, citing the industry’s his - [traditional FHV bases]… to potential lawsuits – including ones tory and the many benefits and amend the For-Hire Vehicle licens - brought by the High-Volume FHV workers’ comp insurance drivers ing regulations and across-the- companies, questioning the City’s receive through organizations like board cap, so that drivers lost to authority to implement the initial the New York Black Car Fund. retirement, career change and FHV license cap. other common causes could be re - This is unacceptable. Nobody Sign Up for Your Free Benefits! placed.” said it would be easy, but either the Speaking of benefits, a bill is This would help traditional TLC or City Council needs to step still sitting on Gov. Cuomo’s desk FHV bases regain some of the up and help correct a serious prob - that will provide even more bene - ground lost to unfair competition lem that they both played a big fits to drivers in the Black Car created when app-based services part in creating. Don’t let the fear Fund, but more drivers need to descended on NYC some years ago. of a lawsuit get in the way of doing sign up for the ones already avail - Councilmembers and the TLC the right thing and promulgating a able to them. SIGN UP TODAY for also said they want to form an FHV good policy, one that could literally your FREE FLU SHOTS, get a Task Force, specifically represent - save lives. FREE EYE EXAM & GLASSES, ing traditional bases. The top pri - There are, of course, details to use the FREE TELEMEDICINE ority for this new task force, of iron out. There has yet to be a con - PROGRAM and enjoy discount pre - course, would be the restricted li - sensus on how the restricted li - scriptions! EARN MONEY by at - censes, which would only be avail - censes will work – whether they tending wellness and defensive able for FHVs affiliated with a will be granted based on a percent - driving classes. The governor said traditional Black Car, Livery or age of fleet size, if it will be a flat he wants to be sure the benefits Luxury Limousine base – but not number, or there will be some that are already in place are actu - app-based services, which have other metric to decide how many ally helping people – and they ab - shown a propensity to over-hire, will be made available and who solutely are, when people take which is the reason the cap was in - will get them. The wheels of gov - advantage of them. troduced in the first place. ernment often turn very slowly, but For more information, contact At the hearing, Rodriguez even a framework already exists, so this the Black Car Fund today by call - mentioned a bill he planned to in - can be done quickly. We just need ing 212.269.4800 or visit troduce to create the new category a little courage and the will do to www.nybcf.org . Please take a mo - of licenses in the coming weeks. It’s the right thing. ment of your time to find out what no secret that the industry is in cri - is available to you for free, just be - sis, and the restricted licenses Employees or cause you are a member of the would go a long way towards pre - Independent Contractors? Black Car Fund. venting more suffering. Many busi - Meanwhile, the longstanding

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IRA’S INSIGHTS BY IRA J. G OLDSTEIN Hello to all! I hope everyone enjoyed sure their rear passenger seat belts are vis - as spread awareness of the unique benefits their Thanksgiving and spent time catch - ible and in good working condition – since, black car drivers are entitled to in New ing up with family and loved ones. The last if they are not, it could potentially result in York by way of The Black Car Fund. leaves are falling off the trees, a signal that a fine for them. Lastly, you may recall I have written winter and the Holiday Season are now ap - Moving onto lighter news, the Black about the BCAC’s push for a new “re - proaching. There are several important Car Assistance Corporation (BCAC) was stricted” vehicle license in previous topics I want to cover in this month’s article proud to be a sponsor for this year’s months. As a quick refresher, the proposed so I will just jump right into it. SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico. new restricted FHV licenses would be de - Legislatively, there are a couple of new SOMOS, Inc. is a non-profit organization signed to allow Black Car, Luxury Limou - developments that everyone should be that raises awareness and advocates for sine and Livery bases to add new vehicles aware of. First, the City Council has pro - public policy and issues in the Latino com - that would only be allowed to operate posed legislation that will require drivers munity. This year’s conference was focused within their specific classes. For example, to stay at least three feet away from cy - on the ongoing crisis and recovery that a black car with a new restricted license clists when passing them in the would be allowed to work for any street. Technically, the 2010 black car base, but not for a high- State bill known as Merill’s Law volume app-based company or liv - already requires drivers to pass ery base. cyclists at a “safe” distance. We continue to make progress However, since that distance on this issue. Earlier this month, isn’t defined in the bill, it has the black car and livery industries been difficult to enforce properly. met with Council Member Ydanis The City Council’s new bill Rodriguez and the City Council would define “safe” distance as Speaker’s staff and had a very pos - three feet and would allow it to itive discussion. Furthermore, be enforced more strictly. Council Member Rodriguez, Chair Secondly, early this year, a of the Committee on Transporta - bill was introduced to the City tion, has taken up this cause and Council that would require all even made it a focal point of an passengers riding in the back oversight hearing he held on No - seat of a vehicle in New York vember 18th. After the TLC moved City to wear a seat belt. That bill forward with their decision to ex - was brought up at a recent City tend the FHV license cap, I said Council Transportation Commit - that this new restricted vehicle li - tee hearing and it’s very likely cense would likely only become a that it will be passed. If the bill were to be - Puerto Rico faces. reality if it was established through the leg - come law, it would be important to under - The BCAC sponsored their Welcome islative process in the City Council. Now, it stand what it entails. Currently as it’s Reception, which kicked off a long weekend seems like we are taking very real steps to - written, the bill would NOT require TLC of service-related activities and dialogues wards that end. I look forward to updating drivers to force their passengers to wear on key issues in Puerto Rico, such as en - you once Council Member Rodriguez intro - seat belts in the back seat. There would be ergy, resiliency, business development, duces legislation in the coming weeks. no onus on drivers. However, passengers health and education. The SOMOS confer - As always, thank you for reading and would have the requirement to wear the ence is a great way to come together and do please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if seat belt and could be hit with a fine if they something good for Puerto Rico. It is also you have any questions or would like to are caught riding without it. Therefore, it’s an occasion for networking with elected of - learn more about The Black Car Fund definitely something that you would want ficials in an informal setting. This provides (http://www.nybcf.org/ ) or the Black Car to relay to your passengers as a courtesy. an opportunity to make them aware of the Assistance Corporation (https://www.nyb - It will also be important for drivers to en - issues facing the black car industry, as well cac.org/ ). Until next time!

Ira J. Goldstein is the Executive Director of the New York Black Car Fund, Chief Operating Officer of the Black Car Assistance Corp. (BCAC), and Treasurer of the Coalition of Transportation Associations (COTA).

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I From the Desk of Diana Clemente ...... 24 Adv. Sales Mgr./Art & Design: The Black Car News is published Michele Norton monthly on the first Tuesday of Commissioner's Corner — By Bill Heinzen ...... 28 Direct line: 856.262.2368 each month except holidays. All S [email protected] I IATR Outlook — By Matthew W. Daus ...... 30 inquires should be directed by Contributing Writers: mail to the above address. The

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T Drivers United — By Brendan Sexton ...... 36 Ira Goldstein vertisements. The views ex - Attorney’s Corner — By Laurence I. Cohen ...... 38 Bill Heinzen pressed in the articles of Bertram Merling contributing columnists are N Street Stories — By RH Stovall, Jr...... 40 Roberta C. Pike solely those of the author and not I Brendan Sexton necessarily those of the Black Industry News ...... 42 RH Stovall, Jr. Car News. Classifieds ...... 49 DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 7 Concord Limousine DRIVERS WANTED no dues, no radio fees 712 3rd Avenue • Brooklyn NY, 11232 Please Ask for Roman or Eugene

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Council Speaker Corey Johnson said St. between Third and Eighth Aves. to because… we need to move people around in Oct. that NYC should consider banning 10.6 minutes, down from 15.1 minutes for quickly and give people options so they cars on major thoroughfares like 34th and a similar trip in September 2018, accord - don’t have to use their private automo - 42nd Streets, due to the success of the ing to the Metropolitan Transportation biles.” 14th Street busway. Johnson admitted he Authority (MTA). Transportation Commissioner Polly was wrong to be skeptical about the pro - Ridership also increased along the Trottenberg agreed the traffic impact from gram, thinking it would create “parking M14A and M14D select bus routes – which the 14th Street car ban has been better lots” on nearby blocks. were among the city’s slowest – serving than predicted, opening the door for simi - Average bus speeds on 14th St. are up 31,031 riders a day from Oct. 2 through lar bans elsewhere in the city. Mayor de about 30% since officials banned cars from Oct. 11, up from a daily average of around Blasio said he wants to see the results of most of the busy crosstown Manhattan 30,195 in September, MTA data shows. the pilot program before he considers sim - corridor. The new restrictions that began Johnson hopes the busway will “be a ilar restrictions on other cross streets. Oct. 3 cut the time of a bus ride along 14th model for other places in New York City Sources: Daily News , New York Post WAV REQUIREMENT NYC’S $1.7 BILLION SAFETY PLAN TO INCLUDE RULE CHANGES FOR 250 MILES OF PROTECTED BIKE LANES Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York’s Mr. de Blasio has completed 100 miles TAXI OWNERS City Council have agreed on a $1.7 billion of protected bike lanes since 2014, but the plan to sharply expand the number of pro - City Council’s plan is more aggressive. In anticipation of proposed rules to re - tected bike lanes, as part of a sweeping ef - After the recent spate of cyclist deaths, de move the requirement to purchase a Taxi fort to transform the city’s streetscape and Blasio’s administration pledged to add 30 of Tomorrow Wheelchair Accessible Vehi - make it less perilous for bikers. This year, miles of protected bike lanes a year, up cle (WAV), the New York City Taxicab & 25 cyclists were killed on city streets – the from an average of 20 miles per year the Limousine Commission (TLC) will no highest toll in two decades. past three years. The Streets Master Plan longer require owners who would like to Under pressure from City Council, the calls for 30 miles of protected bike lanes purchase an accessible taxi other than the city would be required to build 250 miles the first year and 50 miles each subse - Taxi of Tomorrow WAV to first request a of protected bike lanes in the coming quent year. The city must also build 20 waiver. Owners who are considering or years, along with a long list of other street miles of bus lanes that are protected by a who are required to purchase a WAV may safety upgrades. The city now has about barrier or camera enforcement in the first now choose any wheelchair accessible ve - 1,250 miles of bike lanes, including 126 year and at least 30 miles every year hicle approved by TLC for use as a taxi - miles on city streets that are protected by after. cab. a barrier that separates the lanes from ve - Mr. de Blasio and his transportation View the list of approved taxi vehicles at: hicles. commissioner, Polly Trottenberg, have https://www1.nyc.gov/site/tlc/businesses/y The cyclist deaths have prompted an raised concerns about Mr. Johnson’s ag - ellow_cab_hackup.page Source: NYC TLC outpouring of sadness and outrage. Vic - gressive timeline. To gain de Blasio’s sup - tims have included a 10-year-old boy port, Johnson’s office agreed to push back killed near his home by an unlicensed the start date, from October 2019 to De - driver and a 52-year-old man hit by a ca - cember 2021, around the time the next OCEANSIDE RESIDENT reening car, which was captured in a hor - mayor takes office. Until then, the city rifying video. will keep its current commitment to build FALLS OUT OF MOVING The bike lanes are a key part of City 30 miles of protected bike lanes each year. Council speaker Corey Johnson’s Streets At a City Council hearing in June, Ms. LIMO BUS, DIES Master Plan. The de Blasio’s administra - Trottenberg said her agency would need tion initially expressed concerns about the billions of dollars in additional funding to A 28-year-old man died in October after bill, but the mayor got on board. Regard - implement the plans, along with new staff falling out of a moving limo bus in Baiting less, the plan could face some challenges. members, offices and construction equip - Hollow, Riverhead police said. The inci - Bike lanes often face fierce opposition, in - ment. The streets plan is expected to cost dent took place at 1:21pm. When police cluding lawsuits, from community boards about $1.7 billion over 10 years, according arrived, they found Alex Levy, of Ocean - worried about losing parking spaces for to estimates from Mr. Johnson’s office. side, on the road and in need of medical local residents and businesses. The bill also calls for installing so- assistance. It was determined that he was The bill calls for the Transportation called transit signal priority at 750 inter - a passenger on a limo bus traveling west - Department to release a plan every five sections during the first year and 1,000 bound and had somehow fallen out of it. years to make streets safer and to priori - intersections per year thereafter. Transit Levy was assisted at the scene by a med - tize public transit, starting in Dec. 2021. signal priority allows buses to turn traffic ical team and transported to Peconic Bay The city must hit targets every year, in - lights green to speed them up. The city Medical Center for treatment, where he cluding building 150 miles of bus lanes must also create one million square feet of died. The investigation is ongoing, but the that are physically separated from other pedestrian space in the first two years. incident was initially deemed accidental. Source: The New York Times Source: LI Herald traffic lanes or monitored by cameras. CHECKOUT OUR ONLINE EDITION www.BLACKCARNEWS.com DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 9 NEWS CONGESTION PRICING TECH COMPANY CHOSEN, PROGRAM COULD TRIGGER NORTHERN MANHATTAN PARKING RULE CHANGES

The MTA’s plan to heavily tax cars the subway’s signaling system and add spots through congestion pricing,” said driving in the busiest parts of Manhattan accessibility features to an additional 66 City Council Transportation Chair Yda - is taking shape. The agency announced subway stations. nis Rodriguez, who introduced one of in October that the Tennessee-based TransCore’s car-taxing technology three bills last year to set aside parking technology company TransCore has been will be hung on existing street poles spots for neighborhood residents who buy selected for a $507 million, seven-year along the congestion zone. The new infra - city permits. Councilman Mark Levine, contract to “design, build, operate and structure will likely include 40-foot-long who sponsored a similar bill covering maintain” the tolling infrastructure that arms hanging off light poles above city northern Manhattan, said New Jersey will enforce New York City’s congestion streets – rather than “unsightly” drivers already dump their cars uptown. pricing scheme. gantries. According to the city Department of The tolling system will not go live Some fear Congestion Pricing will Transportation, residential parking per - until at least January 2021 – and the take NYC motorists back to the era be - mits may present problems and require prices and exemptions will be set by the fore 1950, when parking rules were so “numerous trade-offs and limits to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority strict it was illegal to leave cars on Man - potential benefits,” like permit auctions board no earlier than Nov. 15, 2020. hattan streets overnight. Others are con - that price out low-income drivers. The TransCore’s technology will need to cerned suburbanites seeking parking will DOT is also concerned about the chal - track every vehicle entering Manhattan clog Manhattan north of 60th St. to avoid lenges of rolling out and enforcing the south of 61st St. Cars on the West Side the congestion fees, raising the possibil - program. Some experts believe city offi - Highway and FDR Drive will be given a ity of a system that restricts parking in cials must take a more radical approach pass. some neighborhoods to uptown residents to managing street space – such as using The system will need to generate who buy city permits. digital meters to charge for residential enough money to pump $15 billion into “This kind of program is a fair thing parking spaces based on local real estate the MTA’s next five-year capital plan, to do for residents who live in transporta - values. which aims to aggressively modernize tion deserts who could lose their parking Sources: Daily News , Daily News FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WWW.BLACKCARNEWS.COM OUR AD RATES

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The National Transportation Safety decrease fatalities. nio Delgado (D-Rhinebeck), Schumer Board (NTSB) recommended New York Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has also plans to introduce the Take Unsafe pass legislation to require mandatory outlined finalized federal limo safety Limos Off the Road Act, creating “a new seat belt use for passengers in limou - regulations he plans to introduce as grant program to support states’ efforts sines, according to a safety report re - part of the SAFE Limos Act of 2019, to impound or immobilize vehicles that leased in Oct. The report follows a pair which mandates recommendations fail inspection for critical safety rea - of deadly limousine crashes in New made by the NTSB but goes further in sons.” He is also calling to eliminate a York, including the 2015 crash in requiring limo manufacturers altering safety loophole that affects stretch Cutchogue that left four young women used vehicles to certify that federal limos altered after manufacture as part dead and the upstate crash in Schoharie safety standards are met. The legisla - of the End the Limo Loophole Act. last year that killed 20. tion would direct the Secretary of The NLA has already said it will The report lists a series of limo Transportation to develop and issue adopt the safety recommendations re - safety recommendations for the Na - guidelines to assist coachbuilders in leased by the NTSB. The NTSB asked tional Highway Traffic Safety Adminis - best practices. It also directs NHTSA to the NLA to “educate” its member com - tration, the NYS Department of conduct research into limousine crashes panies on the “life-saving benefits of Transportation and the National Lim - – including side impact protection, roof proper seat belt use” and to develop pro - ousine Association (NLA). These in - crush resistance and airbag system pro - grams to ensure that limo owners make clude lap and shoulder pads for each tections for occupants. The plan also re - sure seatbelts are functional, accessible passenger on all new vehicles, requiring quires research into limousine to passengers and that passengers are that seating systems installed in new evacuation methods, in the event one or encouraged to use them during rides. vehicles meet minimum performance more exits in the passenger compart - The general counsel for the NLA standards, educating limousine opera - ment are blocked. Lastly, the legislation told the NTSB that it is planning to de - tors on life-saving benefits for proper would require the use of event data velop an educational program around seat belt use and “enact[ing] legislation recorders, much like a “black box,” for seat belt use in limousines that will be that provides for primary enforcement all new limos. presented at its “next two consecutive of a mandatory seat belt use law.” Sev - Working with Sen. Kirsten Gilli - conferences.” eral “safety issues were identified re - brand (D-NY) and U.S. representatives Sources: Riverhead News Review , lated to occupant protection” to Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) and Anto - Times Union TESLA MODEL 3 APPROVED FOR YELLOW CAB DUTY

The New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) officially approved the Tesla Model 3 for taxi duty in October, making it the first electric car to be for - mally certified by the TLC. The Tesla Model 3 does not qualify as an accessible vehicle and is not classified as an alterna - tive-fuel vehicle, which includes the hy - brid vehicles currently certified by the agency. Fewer than 40 vehicles are currently yellow-cab certified, and a dozen of them are variants of common Toyotas. Nissan went to great lengths to get its NV series of vans certified for yellow cab duty but opted not to pursue the certification of its electric e-NV variant, which remains at arm’s lengths for U.S. customers. The next most-likely candidate for similar duty would be DHL’s Speed - Scooter electric utility vehicles, which are slated for introduction to the United States – although there is no specific timetable for stateside availability yet. Source: Green Car Reports

CHECKOUT OUR ONLINE EDITION 24/7 ACCESS TO THE INDUSTRY WWW.BLACKCARNEWS.COM DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 11 NEWS DOCUMENTARY ON NYC DRIVER SUICIDES FEATURES DOUG SCHIFTER

Days of Black and Yellow, a short well as his suicide note, are read by his documentary about the pressures that brother George, who helps narrate the app-based businesses put on For-Hire new Field of Vision documentary short. Vehicle (FHV) drivers, Cabbies and Doug’s words, distorted through a Taxi medallion owners, premiered on ghostlike recording, conjure a grim pic - the website Hyperallergic in November. ture of labor under assault by an under- The short film can be viewed here: regulated competitor: “I’m making half https://hyperallergic.com/527961/days- as much as I used to, and it’s not getting of-black-and-yellow-premiere/ . any better. When I started out, driving Since October 2017, eight profes - was a job you could build a life on. Driv - sional drivers have died by suicide in ers had some dignity. We earned a rea - New York City (that we know of) – a vis - sonable living because the number of ceral manifestation of the immense vehicles was kept below public demand. pressure the New York City transporta - The city regulated – maybe over-regu - tion industry continues to face. lated – things, and there was enough for Featured in the documentary is everyone.” Doug Schifter, a black car driver who Directed by Lotfy Nathan, Willie wrote the column, “The Driver’s Seat” Miesmer and Ray Levé, this somber re - for Black Car News . On February 5, flection on the tragic suicides is con - 2018, Mr. Schifter became a casualty of trasted by “the casual pitilessness of a system that had spiraled out of con - chipper news show pundits reporting on trol. how companies like Uber are thriving.” Selections from Doug’s columns, as Source: Hyperallergic MTA TO LIMIT CHEAP CAB RIDES TO ACCESS-A-RIDE USERS The Metropolitan Transportation ple participating in the program will be ers, who have repeatedly hailed the Authority (MTA) plans to limit a popu - doubled to 2,400, according to Foye’s let - pilot program’s success. lar pilot program that provides some ter. Foye’s letter also calls on the city to New Yorkers with inexpensive, wheel - MTA accessibility chief Alex contribute half of the cost of the MTA’s chair-accessible Taxi and For-Hire Ve - Elegudin said growing the number of Access-A-Ride program. City govern - hicle (FHV) rides. The pilot program users in the pilot program will let the ment currently pays one-third of the currently offers 1,200 people unlimited agency collect more data on riders. He program’s cost. Access-A-Ride trips for $2.75 via an on- also said the changes are similar to pro - The MTA launched the e-hail pilot demand smart phone app. grams in other major cities. program in November 2017 for 200 New A letter sent from MTA chairman “In 2019 we’re probably going to Yorkers, but quickly expanded it due to Pat Foye to Mayor de Blasio’s office said land with more than 50% of Access-A- its popularity. The pilot was set to ex - the program will be curbed so the num - Ride trips being done by taxi,” said pire at the end of April, but the agency ber of taxi-type rides offered to cus - Elegudin. “The more capacity we build extended it. tomers will be capped at 16 per month. on the taxi side, the more we can reduce The change to the e-hail pilot is one Instead of paying $2.75, they’ll ride for the size of our dedicated fleet” of Access- of several that Foye hinted at in an free until the cost of their ride hits $15. A-Ride vans, which are more expensive email sent to MTA board members, After that, they’ll have to pay the re - and offer poorer service. which referenced the agency’s dire fi - mainder of the cost for rides. News of the change disappointed nancial situation. On the plus side, the number of peo - some advocates for disabled New York - Source: New York Daily News N.J. DEMANDS $650M IN UNPAID TAXES, FINES FROM UBER Uber Technologies Inc. was hit with ters sent to the firms that they owe states. A bill in California recently re - bill for unpaid employment taxes and $523 million in unemployment and dis - classified some independent contrac - fines from New Jersey in November, to ability insurance taxes for 2014 through tors, including drivers, as employees. the tune of almost $650 million, mark - 2018. The state added $119 million in N.J officials estimate that misclassifica - ing another setback for the app-hailing penalties and interest. tion across the workforce costs the firm as it struggles to prevent its driv - The firms are contesting the deci - state’s almost 250,000 employers an ad - ers from being classified as employees. sion. A spokeswoman for Uber said: “We ditional $300 per employee because of The state’s Department of Labor and are challenging this preliminary but in - insufficient funding to the state’s unem - Workforce Development demanded correct determination, because drivers ployment insurance trust fund. Uber (and a subsidiary, Rasier LLC) are independent contractors in New Uber reported a net loss of $1.2 bil - hand over the money for failing to pay Jersey and elsewhere.” lion for the three months ending Sept. employment taxes by, the state argues, The move comes as Uber and other 30 and has a deficit of more than $15 misclassifying drivers as independent ride-hailing companies such as Lyft Inc. billion since its 2009 inception. contractors. fend off bids to extend employment pro - The Labor Department said in let - tections to gig workers in other U.S. Source: The Wall Street Journal FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WWW.BLACKCARNEWS.COM OUR AD RATES 12 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019

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This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of New York State. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law of New York State. BLACK CAR NEWS FEATURES DECEMBER 2019 • • 13 WINTER TIRES ARE MUCH BETTER THAN ALL-SEASON TIRES IN SNOW This time of year, many drivers debate Cadillac XTS sedans with all-wheel drive. car needed an extra 27 feet to stop from whether to invest in a dedicated set of win - The white car is equipped with all-season 40mph, compared to the black Cadillac on ter/snow tires. Consumer Reports tests tires while the black Caddy is fitted with snow tires. In the slalom and left turn test, consistently show that winter/snow tires winter tires from Continental. the snow tires held a stout advantage in deliver better grip to start in snow and The video can be viewed here: both speed and control. stop on icy surfaces, offering an extra mar - https://www.motor1.com/news/306550/vid If You Are Considering Winter/Snow Tires gin of performance over all-season and all- eo-proves-winter-tires-superior-snow/ . It terrain tires. Winter/snow tires are good includes acceleration, braking and turning • Always use four matching choices for all cars, whether front, rear or tests – and in each scenario, the winter winter/snow tires for the best balance all-wheel drive. tires outperformed the all-seasons. Al - of handling and grip to stop, start and Winter/snow tires can be identified by though acceleration was similar, the white take a corner on snow-covered roads. a mountain and snowflake symbol on the • Look for the mountain and snowflake sidewall. Studless winter/snow tires typi - symbol indicating the tire meets an cally have slits in the tread acting as bit - industry-defined level of snow trac - ing edges and a tread compound that stays tion. pliable in cold temperatures. Studable • Winter/snow tires will wear more models offer good snow traction and can be quickly than all-season tires, and studded to claw ice, though they can be their performance in winter will de - noisy and leave scratch marks in drive - cline as they wear. As a best practice, ways. Although they offer added perform - replace winter/snow tires before they ance in extreme weather, winter tires are worn out, and if you remove them come with some concessions – shorter treadwear life and a minor compromise of at the end of each winter, you may handling and grip on cleared roads. get three or four seasons of good use To help highlight the differences be - out of them. tween winter and all-season tires, TheS - Sources: Consumer Reports , traightPipes put together a YouTube Motor1.com comparison video showcasing a pair of

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Business events are an important clear for the traveler and the organiza - trained and certified, or contract with a part of many companies’ yearly calendars tion.” professional risk or security management yet planning for employees to attend Another problem organizations face company to support the specialized secu - these events can be a challenge for travel when planning MICE bookings is the as - rity vetting that needs to take place,” managers. The travel arrangements asso - sociated travel data that sits in and WorldAware told Insurance Business. ciated with MICE bookings (meetings, in - across a number of provider systems, The lack of planner knowledge and train - centives, conferences or exhibitions) are which in many cases have not been built ing around risk management is the num - often disjointed and difficult to collect to easily export or share, according to ber one reason gaps in risk management into one place for proper pre-trip risk WorldAware. There are several reasons exist. management, which includes safety and for this: travelers often book travel out - Another major gap in risk manage - security concerns. side the organization’s travel manage - ment exists if an organization is missing Once employees are en-route, organi - ment program and family members that a robust risk assessment for the MICE zations have to monitor employees and are also traveling further complicate the event. Many times, organizations focus the locations to which they’re traveling collection of data. on the main event and do not address for additional travel risks that can arise Getting employees to a meeting or other activities or events that are occur - over the course of a journey to a corporate event safely can be further complicated if ring in conjunction with that event, such event. a travel manager organizes the event, as golf outings, team-building courses “The other challenge which creates who is “not trained in meetings and and volunteer projects. risk around MICE events is when travel - events risk management. As such, many “The most important thing an organ - ers add on leisure travel and turn the trip of the standard risk management prac - ization can do is ensure that travel into a ‘bleisure’ trip. Organizations need tices may not be applied due to lack of around MICE events are explicitly cov - to develop bleisure trip policies, and how knowledge around myriad areas, such as ered in their travel risk policy. This policy issues and incidents will be handled that venue contracts, food and beverage, third- will already cover the requirement to con - are not technically part of the business party services, alcohol, lodging contracts, duct a risk review for every ‘trip,’ [and] it travel portion,” explained risk manage - local ordinances, and excluded activities,” will now broaden or make clear that ‘trip’ ment firm WorldAware. “For example, if said WorldAware. means ALL trips – business and MICE something happens to a traveling com - “If an organization does not have a travel. If they do this, then the TRM pro - panion, how is that handled? What will professional meeting planner, then either gram will cover the rest,” said Worl - or will not be covered from an assistance they should encourage an internal re - dAware. and insurance perspective needs to be source (travel or risk manager) to get Source: Insurance Business America

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Taxi and For-hire Vehicle relief stands allow drivers to park their ve - hicles for up to one hour. This affords drivers the opportunity to leave their vehicles and take care of personal needs. Taxi relief stands should not be TAXI AND confused with taxi stands, which are locations where drivers can wait in their cars to pick up passengers. DOT is not responsible for regulating taxis. Taxis are regulated by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. DOT regulates taxi relief stands. FOR-HIRE VEHICLE The type column indicates if the relief stand is for taxis alone, or for both taxis and For-Hire Vehicles (FHVs). Staten Island currently has no relief stands. The following information was found at www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/taxirelief.shtml ( as of July 24, 2018 ). RELIEF STANDS We recommend checking back periodically, in the event changes are made to these lists.

MANHATTAN QUEENS

Tayxpi/eFH V s 1S0t rAeveet ( E.. .s .i d.e .) ...... W. . C26r oSst s& SWtr 2e8e tSs t Tayxpi e 3S1t rSete (t W .. s. id. e. ) ...... 3C4r Aovses &S t3r5e eAtvse Taxi/FHVs 11 Ave (E. side) ...... W 45 St & W 46 St Taxi 31 St (E. side) ...... 37 Ave & 36 Ave Taxi/FHVs 3 Ave (W. side) ...... E 14 St & E 15 St Taxi 31 St (E. side) ...... 38 Ave & 37 Ave Taxi/FHVs 3 Ave (W. side) ...... E 15 St & E 14 St Taxi 34 St (W. side) ...... 37 Ave & 38 Ave Taxi/FHVs 6 Ave (E. side) ...... Thompson St & Grand St Taxi/FHVs 35 St (S. side) ...... Starr Ave & Bradley Ave Taxi/FHVs 6 Ave (W. side) ...... W 22 St & W 23 St Taxi/FHVs 36 St (E. side) ...... Skillman Ave & 43 Ave Taxi/FHVs 6 Ave (W. side) ...... W 38 St & W 39 St Taxi 43 Ave (N. side) ...... 35 St & 36 St Taxi/FHVs 6 Ave (W. side) ...... W 39 St & W 40 St Taxi/FHVs 43 Ave (N. side) ...... 11 St & 12 St Taxi/FHVs 6 Ave (W. side) ...... W 55 St & W 56 St Taxi 44 Rd (S. side) ...... 21 St & 11 St Taxi/FHVs 8 Ave (W. side) ...... W 46 St & W 47 St Taxi/FHVs 43 Ave (N. side) ...... 36 St & 37 St Taxi 9 Ave (E. side) ...... W 30 St & W 29 St Taxi 49 St (W. side) ...... Newtown Rd & Northern Blvd Taxi Ave A (W. side) ...... E 2 St & E. Houston St Taxi/FHVs 45 Ave (S. side) ...... Jackson Ave & 23 St Taxi/FHVs Church St *E Rdway (W. side) ...... Franklin St & White St Taxi/FHVs 47 Ave (S. side) ...... 11 St & Vernon Blvd Taxi/FHVs E 116 St (S. side) ...... 3 Ave & 2 Ave Taxi 55 St (E. side) ...... Queens Blvd & Roosevelt Ave Taxi E 15 St (N. side) ...... Irving Place & Union Square E Taxi 64 St (W. side) ...... 34 Ave & 35 Ave Taxi E 23 St (N. side) ...... 1 Ave & 2 Ave Taxi/FHVs 61 St (E. side) ...... Roosevelt Ave & 39 Ave Taxi E 26 St (S. side) ...... 3 Ave & 2 Ave Taxi Queens Blvd (S. side) ...... 50 St & 51 St Taxi E 27 St (S. side) ...... Park Ave S & Madison Ave Taxi/FHVs Pearson St (W. side) ...... Jackson Ave & DeadEnd Taxi E 28 St (N. side) ...... Park Ave S & Lexington Ave Taxi Queens Blvd (N. side) ...... 55 St & 54 St Taxi/FHVs E 29 St (S. side) ...... Madison Ave & 5 Ave Taxi 37 Ave (N. side) ...... 32 St & 31 St Taxi E 32 St (N. side) ...... Madison Ave & Park Ave S Taxi/FHVs Van Dam St (W. side) ...... Queens Blvd & Skillman Ave Taxi E 77 St (S. side) ...... 1 Ave & 2 Ave Taxi E 78 St (N. side) ...... Lexington Ave & 3 Ave BRONX Taxi E 78 St (S. side) ...... Lexington Ave & 3 Ave Taxi E 86 St (N. side) ...... Henderson Pl & York Ave Tayxpi/eFH V s ES t2r3e3e St t .( S. .. s.i d. e. ) ...... C. a. r.p .e n. t.e .r .A .v .e .& . CWrhoistes P Slatirnese Rtsd Taxi E 87 St (S. side) ...... 1 Ave & 2 Ave Taxi Park Ave (E. side) ...... E 135 St & E 138 St Taxi/FHVs Grand St (N. side) ...... Forsyth St & Chrystie St Taxi Park Ave (W. side) ...... E 135 St & E 138 St Taxi/FHVs Madison Ave (W. side) ...... E 26 St & E 27 St Taxi/FHVs Pelham Pkwy S (S. side) ...... Wilson Ave & Eastchester Rd Taxi/FHVs Maiden Ln (S. side) ...... Front St & South St Taxi/FHVs W 231 St (N. side) ...... Albany Cr & Broadway Taxi Park Row (E. side) ...... Ann St & Beekman St Taxi/FHVs West Kingsbridge Rd (S. side) ...... Sedgwick Ave & Webb Ave Taxi/FHVs South St (W. side) ...... Wall St & Gouverneur Ln Taxi University Pl (E. side) ...... E 13 St & E 14 St BROOKLYN Taxi W 33 St (N. side) ...... 9 Ave & 10 Ave Taxi W 39 St (S. side) ...... 8 Ave & 9 Ave Tayxpi e 4S tArveee (t W . s. i.d .e )...... C . r.o . s.3s SSt t&re 6e tSs t Taxi W 41 St (N. side) ...... 10 Ave & 11 Ave Taxi/FHVs 4 Ave (E. side) ...... Prospect Ave Taxi W 55 St (S. side) ...... 10 Ave & 11 Ave Taxi N 6 St (N. side) ...... Berry St & Wythe Ave Taxi/FHVs W 181 St (S. side) ...... Pinehurst Ave & Fort Washington Ave Taxi New Utrecht Ave (N. side) ...... 55 St & 13 Ave Taxi/FHVs West St (E. side) ...... Laight St & Vestry St DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 23

FROM THE DESK CLEMENTE OF DIANA President, Black Car Assistance Corp. HATS OFF TO JOANNE YOHANNAN AND BETH STERN… THEIR DREAM IS NOW A REALITY!

Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center, named in honor of Howard and Beth Stern’s beloved furry best friend, is a one-of-a-kind, cage-free environment for rescue cats at the North Shore Animal League America’s (NSALA’s) Port Washington, NY campus. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, Oct. 30th. The amazing story began when Beth’s love for animals left her dis - tressed at the sight of cats in cages at NSALA. She knew she wanted to do something – so she found an amazing partner in Joanne Yohannan, Senior VP of Operations of NSALA. With the support of NSALA colleagues and Rachael Ray, Billy Joel, Hallmark, the Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Char - itable Trust, and of course Howard Stern, their dream became a reality – there are now 12 free-roaming cat areas that feature plenty of shelves and The Billy Joel Room when it Howard Stern's perches so that the cats have vertical space to roam! was still under construction The kitties enjoy lots of natural sunlight, which pours through the ex - Rolling Stone Cover terior windows. Visitors can watch cats play, snooze and interact through the interior curved-glass windows. A highlight is the special nursery de - signed for new mother cats and their litters. Located in a central corridor, the nursery has a large viewing window so the public can watch the moms and kittens as they grow and thrive. For all animal lovers, a visit is a must! And for anyone with young children, a visit is a beautiful foundation for engaging in a discussion about love, compassion and extending a helping hand to a person or an animal in need. What better culmination to the visit than adopting a beautiful “best friend,” seeking only a forever home with a loving family? The holidays are just around the corner, and if you have love in your heart and room in your home won’t you consider adopting? I hope so! Beth Stern (right) with Joanne Yohannan, Senior VP of Operations of NSALA

e World’s Largest No-Kill Animal Rescue and Adoption Organization

Gizmo recently fell upon hard times and needed a shoulder to lean on. We’re happy to be here for this beautiful boy and we’ve promised him a safe, loving home. One look at this long-haired gentleman and it will be love at ﬁrst sight. Gizmo thrives in a calm setting and we know he’ll make the perfect soulmate for someone. #GetYourRescueOn

Tiki & Ronde - Double adoption: Tiki and Ronde came from our sister shelter in upstate NY, and these kittens are the perfect complement for each other. Ronde is nonstop energy while Tiki takes a more laid back approach to his playtime. We predict a lifetime of love awaits them in their very ﬁrst home. #GetYourRescueOn

Vesty is a young adult hound mix who would be a perfect ﬁt for someone who’s active – but at times he can also be a great couch-potato companion. He’s very friendly and would do great in a home with children, as well as another dog. Every year, an estimated 2 #GetYourRescueOn million homeless pets are euthanized. Our goal: a no-kill Leo & Pebbles – Double adoption: Leo, an adult Chihuahua mix and Pebbles, world where all homeless pets a sweet senior Chihuahua mix, are the cutest odd couple you have ever seen. ﬁnd loving homes. Here are some -ey love people and going for nice walks on a sunny day, but most importantly, they love each other. Does your home and heart have room for two? #GetYour- sweet, beautiful animals that RescueOn desperately need a home. #GetYourRescueOn. For information on how to meet our adoptable pets, please e-mail [email protected], call 516-883-7575 or visit animalleague.org/adopt. 24 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019 A LEADER IN NYC TLC RENT ALS

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26 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 27 BLACK CAR NEWS 2C8 • OMMIS• DSECEIMOBER N2019 ER’S CORNER By Bill Heinzen

We hope you enjoy a happy and safe holiday season with your are first-generation immigrants, born in countries including family, friends and community, and that you Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, have a wonderful year ahead! Here is the latest Jamaica, Guyana, Cuba, Trinidad, England, news from our wheelhouse. Ecuador and the Philippines. We are glad to welcome them as our col - New TLC Police Officers leagues and know they will have a positive One major complaint we often hear from li - impact on the streets of New York. censees is that illegal operators are taking busi - ness from TLC-licensed drivers and businesses. A Great Way to Earn More Too often, unlicensed drivers take away trips – If you are a yellow or green wheelchair and thus valuable income – from drivers who accessible taxi driver, don’t forget to sign up have taken the time to meet the TLC’s stan - for the Taxi Improvement Fund (TIF) Driver dards, including driver education, drug testing Program. As of mid-November, almost 5,000 A TLC enforcement car. and having their record vetted for safety. Unli - TLC-licensed drivers earned about $12 mil - censed drivers also put the public at risk, since lion in 2019, up from $8.5 million last year. they have not been properly vet - Any driver of a wheelchair ac - ted, and may not have commercial cessible taxi can enroll. Once you insurance. are a part of the program, you earn We are very pleased to share an additional $1 for every trip that we graduated a new class of taken, regardless of duration. All TLC Police Cadets this fall. These trips qualify, regardless of new officers will significantly in - whether a passenger is using a crease the TLC’s field presence, wheelchair. which is critical to stopping hus - Once you earn $20 or more in tlers at the airports, taking action a two-week period, you will be paid against illegal commuter vans and through a Taxi Improvement Fund deterring unlicensed operators. debit card. If you are interested, There is also significant cul - make sure to enroll as soon as pos - tural diversity among the new sible at http://bit.ly/TaxiImprove - TLC officers, who will help protect mentFund . You will receive the the livelihoods of many immigrant TLC staff member Yesenia Torres enters a wheelchair-accessible taxi. money for trips after you enroll, licensees. Thirteen of our officers not past trips. Congestion Rules and Licensing Pause The rules we passed last summer are pivotal to decreasing congestion in the busiest parts of Manhattan, as well as removing BB-I-C-I-C BROKERAGE the race to the bottom of adding about 2,000 new for-hire vehicle cars a month, which was depressing the income of professional BRONX INSURNACE CENTER drivers. Some of the largest app companies have challenged our rules in court, seeking to flood our streets again with new cars. Last month, a Manhattan judge threw out a suit from Uber 660 E Fordham Rd. • Bronx, NY, 10458 challenging the cap. It followed other legal victories the City has www.bicinsurance.net had this year, including against a lawsuit filed by Lyft and Juno, who did not want to meet a minimum pay standard for drivers on Phone: 718-220-1111 / Fax: 718-220-1161 trips. We are pleased the courts continue to recognize the TLC’s power to address the different problems the apps created when ALL FORMS they oversaturated the market. We will continue to fight better OF INSURANCE: for drivers and less congestion on our streets. Sharing the Street Safely Black Car Yellow Taxi A great way to keep fellow New Yorkers safer is to watch for cyclists when opening vehicle doors – and remind passengers to Car Service do the same. An easy way to do this is to use your far hand, reach Green Car across your body, then Personal Auto turn and look before ex - Home iting the vehicle. When Commercial you use your far hand to open the car door, you Business automatically look out Mon-Fri: 9am - 7pm and scan for bikes and Sat: 11am - 5pm traffic. This move can Sun: closed save lives and prevents injuries. Call Us For A Free Quote If you want to learn English, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, Bangla more Vision Zero safety A driver scans for cyclists tips, you can watch our as he opens his door. What We Have To Offer You: Safety First video at • Help With Claims • High Limits of Liability Up to bit.ly/safetyfirsttlc. • Great Customer Service $1.5 Million Available • Multiple Carriers to Shop From • Staff With Up To 30 Years of Experience DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 29 30 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 31

IATR OUTLOOK By Professor Matthew W. Daus, Esq. IATR ROUNDS UP ITS REGULATORS IN CALGARY, Looks Forward to its 33rd Annual Conference in Memphis!

I am pleased and proud to report that the 32nd We concluded the first day of our conference series of regulations to serve all people, safely, eq - annual conference of the International Association with the highly-anticipated transportation insur - uitably and efficiently, taking into account mobility of Transportation Regulators (IATR) in Calgary, Al - ance primer, where experts from the New York City plans and innovative approaches to getting all berta, Canada, was a resounding success! Our con - Black Car Fund, the Canadian-based insurance modes to work together. ference was attended by transportation firm, HUB International Insurance Brokers, in - professionals from around the world and the net - Driver, and a representative on behalf of the Insti - working, events, program and ratings from atten - tutes Griffith Insurance Education Foundation dees was off the charts! In our latest membership introduced the basic industry, economics, legal, pol - survey, conference attendees were overwhelmingly icy and regulatory concepts, and built upon recent satisfied, with 59% saying the overall conference trends in the U.S., Canada and beyond. was excellent, 15% saying it was very good, and 18% saying it was either the best conference they Day 2: Smart & Equitable City Workshop Our Innovative Frameworks Panelists from ever attended at IATR – or during their lifetime. Following our Sunday line-up of boot camp ses - Left to Right: Jim Peters (Responsible Hospitality In - As we enter the remaining weeks of 2019, we sions, our conference attendees gave a warm wel - stitute), Matthew W. Daus, Esq. (IATR President), are encouraging everyone who is interested in the come to our keynote speaker, Councilor Diane Jarvis Murray (LADOT), Michael Foley (City of IATR to take advantage of an end-of-year discount Colley-Urquhart, who has served on Calgary’s City Mississauga), Rosa Escareño (City of Chicago), program for membership, expiring December 31, Council as a Ward Councilor, City-wide Official and Abdul Rafih (IATR 2019 Conference Host) 2019, for 2020 membership, and for early dis - Deputy Mayor for nearly 20 years, serving in her We rounded off the second day of our confer - counted sponsorship packages and registration seventh term in office as an elected official. Coun - ence with our “Regulator Star Trek – The Next Gen rates for our 33rd annual conference in Memphis, cilor Colley-Urquhart champions initiatives to im - of Mobility Management Professionals” panel. Rep - Tenn. from Sept. 21-24, 2020. Membership benefits prove the lives of Calgarians and has made resentatives from the District of Columbia, the include immediate access to all videos, PowerPoint wellness, prevention, community safety and secu - Montgomery County Department of Transporta - presentations, papers and other information from rity hallmarks in her elected role. tion, the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation the Calgary conference, as well as access and par - and SunLine Regulatory Administration presented ticipation in year-round webinars, committee meet - innovative reforms and initiatives that their agen - ings/calls, weekly newsletters and model cies were working on. Topics included taxicabs for regulations projects. low-income veterans and foster child transporta - In order to take advantage of these discounts tion, as well as the Transport DC grant program and to learn more about becoming involved, renew - and accessibility initiatives, Montgomery County’s ing membership or making plans to attend our 2020 new taxicab-paratransit program with the Wash - conference, visit www.iatr.global and/or reach out ington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WA - to our IATR membership director, Monica MATA), Portland’s legislative attempts to preempt Fainshtein, at [email protected]. Left to Right: Richard Hinse (City of Calgary), local TNC jurisdiction, and SunLine Regulatory Ad - Carlton Thomas (IATR Board Chair), Carmen ministration’s new regulatory frameworks and rec - Day 1: IATR’s 3rd Annual Boot Camp Hindson (City of Calgary), Diane Colley-Urquhart iprocity issues based on the passage of California In keeping pace with the City of Calgary’s slo - (Calgary City Councilor and Keynote Speaker), State law 1069. gan, “Be part of the energy,” the IATR kicked off its Matthew W. Daus, Esq. (IATR President), Abdul 32nd annual conference with an action-packed day Rafih (IATR 2019 Conference Host) of boot camps – and our conference attendees did We then launched into a panel of officials from not disappoint. In fact, our attendees broke the the city of Calgary, who presented the history and record for the number to attend the boot camp ses - current status of transportation mobility gover - sions! To help bridge the information gap between nance, regulations and issues affecting passengers American and Canadian laws and regulations, the and industry stakeholders. Then, representatives IATR curated its program to incorporate experts from Houston, Edmonton and Seattle – Calgary’s and speakers from both the U.S. and Canada. sister cities – joined the panel to provide feedback Our first training session concerned trans - and advice for Calgary’s “Smart City Plan”. portation law enforcement, where regulators from Chicago, Rhode Island, Calgary and Burlington dis - Our Regulator Star Trek Panel from Left to cussed the different methods of regulation in their Right: Michael Tietjen (Government District of Co - jurisdictions. For our driver training session, we lumbia Department of For-Hire Vehicles), Matthew were joined by regulators from Montreal, who dis - Erickson (City of Portland), Carlton Thomas (Mod - cussed ways to implement effective training pro - erator and IATR Board Chair), Matthew Daus, grams and ensure that accessibility issues are Esq. (IATR President), Michal Brock (SunLine addressed. For our training session on meter regu - Our Sister City Panelists from Left to Right: Regulatory Agency), Hannah Henn (Montgomery lation, we were joined by representatives from the Kayla Matteotti (City of Edmonton), Nikki Cooper County DOT), Abdul Rafih (IATR 2019 Conference National Conference on Weights and Measures (City of Houston), Mary Mitchell (City of Seattle) Host) (NCWM), the National Institute of Standards and In the afternoon, we hosted our “Innovative Technology (NIST), Flywheel Technologies, and the Regulatory Frameworks – The Future of Mobility” Day 3: Automated Mobility Kick-Off – Records & Licensing Services in King County, panel. Representatives from the City of Chicago, the Who is Doing What to Prepare Wash. City of Mississauga, the Los Angeles Department for Shared Automated & Connect Vehicles of Transportation (LADOT), and the Responsible Leaders from UC Berkeley, the International Hospitality Institute (RHI) discussed the defini - Association of Public Transport (UITP), Airport tional lines between services (e.g., limo versus bus), Ground Transportation Association (AGTA), Ford public-private partnerships with public transit Smart Mobility, the University Transportation Re - agencies for first-and-last-mile, paratransit and mo - search Center (UTRC) and SAE International dis - bility as a service (MAAS) initiatives, and the intro - cussed a wide-range of issues affecting their duction of nightlife district management by cities constituents and the future of mobility in a fast- (including Nighttime Mayors). They also addressed changing business environment. These panelists partnerships which challenge the ability of frag - discussed the socio-economic and regulatory im - IATR President Matthew W. Daus, Esq. introduces the mented regulatory leadership to plot a course for pacts of automated and connected vehicles and Transportation Insurance Primer Panelists from Left to Right: Ira Goldstein (New York City Black Car Fund), the future. In light of these challenges, the panelists identified the outline of issues to be addressed in David Pooser (on behalf of the Institutes Griffith Insurance focused on various international approaches to rec - the IATR’s Model Regulations for Automated Education Foundation), Sasha Ozeran (inDriver), Ramy onciling or working around the increasingly diverse Transportation. Dasuki (HUB International Insurance Brokers) Continued on page32 32 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019 Continued from page 31

IATR Gets Ready to Rock the Regulatory World in Memphis The IATR is excited to announce its 33rd An - nual Conference in Memphis, Tenn. Please join us at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis from September 21-24, 2020. The “Home of Blues, Soul and Rock - ’n’Roll” is the perfect city to host our “Rocking Reg - Our Automated Mobility Panel from Left to Left to Right: Matthew W. Daus, Esq. (IATR ulators” conference. Named after the ancient Right: Abdul Rafih (IATR 2019 Conference Host), President), Kurt Enders (President and Owner of Egyptian city meaning “Place of Good Abode,” the William Gouse (SAE International), Ray Mundy Checker Cabs), Jass Tatla (2019 Driver of the Year), good will exemplified by our conference hosts has (Airport Ground Transportation Association), Jon Abdul Rafih (IATR 2019 Conference Host), Carlton already excited the IATR base, with thoughts of Coleman (Ford Smart Mobility), Camille Kamga Thomas (IATR Board Chair) Elvis and Beale Street already percolating. (University Transportation Research Center), Jaspal The IATR’s 2019 International Driver of the The theme of the 33rd Annual IATR Conference Singh (International Association of Public Trans - Year was awarded to Mr. Jass Tatla, a well-re - will be “Rockin’ Regulation!” The “Birthplace of port), Adam Cohen (UC Berkeley), Matthew W. spected driver from Checker Transportation Group. Rock’n’Roll” is the perfect place to celebrate a “re - Daus, Esq. (IATR President) Mr. Tatla has been licensed with livery transport birth” of new policy and governance approaches that Following the panel, our attendees joined dif - services since 2009. During the last 10 years, he has are rocking the regulatory landscape. The changed ferent breakout groups to develop a plan for inno - displayed a high level of professionalism by always world of regulation and the many new IATR mem - vative multi-modal integration and preparation for being sincere and polite to his passengers, possess - bers with diverse modal responsibilities will be on the future implementation and introduction of ing a great positive attitude, and ensuring that he full display, with a nod not just to legacy industry shared automated and connected vehicles. The delivers the best possible service to the traveling regulation, but also to futuristic modes and the next benchmarking and best practices blueprint from public. round of disruption to come. this day-long session and workshop will be used to The program for the 2020 formulate the IATR’s Model Regulations for Auto - Memphis Conference will include: mated Transportation – which will result in the drafting of such regulations before the 2020 IATR • NEMT (Non-Emergency Medical Transport) conference, during which there will be an interna - Disruption: The taxicab industry and TNCs tional public hearing to provide final comments. are both disrupting the health care transport field, including both public and private para - Day 4: It’s All About the Drivers! transit businesses and brokerage models, Our final “It’s All About the Drivers” panel dis - Left to Right: Matthew W. Daus, Esq. (IATR and an exploration of the latest technological cussed the major changes that the gig economy President), Jarvis Murray (IATR’s 2019 Regulator and business developments will be coupled transportation workforce is undergoing. This panel of the Year), Carlton Thomas (IATR Board Chair), with NEMT duty of care and certification explored how we got to this stage of unrest, what Abdul Rafih (IATR 2019 Conference Host) programs. the drivers want in terms of work expectations, The IATR awarded its 2019 Regulator of the • Urban Air Mobility: Yes, that’s right, flying wages and benefits, as well as new revenue streams Year award to Jarvis Murray of the Los Angeles De - taxis are coming, and they are real! Some and entrepreneurship opportunities (i.e., advertis - partment of Transportation (LADOT). Since 2016, suggest that the various pilot programs al - ing, food delivery/messenger services). A discussion Mr. Murray has been the Taxicab Administrator for ready underway show the most promise for also ensued about new apps that are entering the the City of Los Angeles. As part of his role, Mr. Mur - future mobility and may be implemented marketplace – to either help manage existing TNC ray is tasked with directing policy for the for-hire more easily and quicker than autonomous options, or totally new TNCs offering different busi - industry and working with stakeholders to develop vehicles. ness opportunities for drivers. partnerships, improve technology, and manage a • Micro-Mobility – The Management of Sus - We concluded our conference with our Technol - regulatory overhaul that is expected to raise the tainable Modes: More and more IATR mem - ogy and Innovation, Canadian Regulators, Accessi - level of service while bringing the for-hire industry bers are responsible for micro-transit, bike ble Transport, Safety, and TNC Working Group into the future. His accomplishments include over - share programs (docked and dockless), scoot - committee meetings. Exclusive presentations about seeing a Taxicab Study along with his colleagues at ers, pedicabs and other modes. The govern - new technological advancements in the transporta - LADOT: Ms. Seleta Reynolds, General Manager, mental administration and oversight process tion industry were delivered by representatives Brian Bass, Senior Management Analyst, and Irene for managing, franchising and licensing from Athena Insights and RedRoute. Sae Koo, Senior Management Analyst. these new modes can be daunting, and expe - The team began the process of determining the rienced regulators will share their insight IATR 2019 Award Recipients best framework for regulating taxis, TNCs, micro - with industry participant input. Hack-A-Thon Winners, Regulator transit, and all forms of for-hire transportation serv - • AVs & CVs: The IATR will hold an Interna - & Driver of the Year Awards ices under a single regulatory framework that tional Public Hearing to receive public com - aligns with the Department’s strategic implemen - ments and input on proposed Model tation plan. Regulations for Automated & Connected Ve - hicles, and will explore deployment, testing Calgarian Festivities and implementation paradigm options and The IATR also organized a site visit to the pic - new regulatory frameworks. turesque Town of Banff, where attendees had the • Global Regulator Spotlight: The IATR will opportunity to explore the shops and take a gondola present an international overview of every ride in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The annual continent, including regulatory challenges, awards night and party took place in the technological developments and the state of Kananaskis Ranch, where our attendees got a taste regulation in all hemispheres as part of Reg - Left to Right: Matthew W. Daus, Esq. (IATR of authentic Calgarian barbecue and a live perform - ulatory Star Trek 3.0 – The Next Genera - President), Monica Fainshtein (IATR Membership ance from the spectacular Side One band. tion. Director), Adam Cohen (UC Berkeley), Assel Dmitriyeva (Hack-a-Thon Winner), Carlton Thomas In addition, the results of the 5th Annual IATR (IATR Board Chair), Reuben Juster (Hack-a-Thon Hack-A-Thon, the theme of which was “Micro-Tran - Winner), Camille Kamga (University Transportation sit” – a jointly sponsored event with the Transporta - Research Center), Avi Itzhakov (Curb Mobility), tion Alliance (formerly TLPA), will fit nicely into the Athan Rebelos (Curb Mobility), Abdul Rafih (IATR micro-mobility frameworks panel. 2019 Conference Host) Also, our 4th Annual Boot Camp will be back, The winners of IATR’s 4th Annual Hack-A- with the following topics under development: Trans - Thon were Assel Dmitriyeva, and Reuben Juster, Our attendees spent the afternoon exploring the beau - portation Data Mining & Analysis; Public & Media who traveled from Kazakhstan and New York City, tiful Canadian Rocky Mountains in the Town of Banff. Relations 101 – Stakeholder Management; and Mo - respectively, on behalf of New York University bility-As-A-Service. (NYU). Their “smart city proposal” focused on how Calgary and other cities could decrease the negative Professor Matthew W. Daus, Esq. is President, impacts of TNCs without limiting peoples’ mobility International Association of Transportation options. They ultimately proposed a Dynamic Ride Regulators ( http://iatr.global/ ); Transportation Technol - Sharing System, which encouraged riders with the ogy Chair, City University of New York, Transporta - same origin to pair their trips if both can be conve - tion Research Center at The City niently served with one vehicle. The team concluded College of New York ( http://www.utrc2.org/ ); and that this solution can be easily implemented, will Rocking’ Regulator Matt Daus heats up his gui - Partner and Chairman, Windels Marx decrease the number of vehicles on the road and will tar over the fire pit during a guest performance with Transportation Practice Group (http://windelsmarx.com ). He can be reached at: better utilize curb space. the Side One band at the Kananaskis Ranch. [email protected] or 212.237.1106. DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 33 NO FEES NO DUES

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Brendan Sexton is Executive Director of the Independent Drivers Guild, an affiliate of the International Association of Machinists, which represents and advocates for more than 80,000 app-based drivers in New York City. We’re Uber, Lyft, Juno and Via workers united for a fair industry. Follow the IDG on twitter at @drivingguild. WWEE WONWON NYC is the first city to set a minimum wage for App-Based Drivers

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WWW .NYBCAC.ORG/MEMBERSHIP 40 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019 STREET STORIES BY RH S TOVALL , J R. SPECIAL REQUESTS I drive a lot of people every day. In the Well-Hydrated Passengers passengers. I have one VIP who specifi - past six years, I’ve probably driven about I offer plastic bottles of Poland Spring cally asks for 880 AM News Radio. 5,000 passengers. A few of my passengers water for all of my passengers. They really Because my 2019 Lincoln Continental are “VIP Regulars,” who have special re - appreciate this gesture, especially if they allows the passenger to change radio sta - quests and expect their requested items to are coming off a long international flight. tions, he will switch back and forth be - be in the vehicle when I pick them up. One of my special requests is a 12- tween 710, 770, 880 and 1010 AM stations. ounce bottle of orange juice for a “regular” Well-Read Passengers executive. He always says thank you and Anticipated Requests I subscribe to and offer all my passen - lets me know how much he appreciates the I always try to anticipate my passen - gers Time and Money magazine (the effort. I reply that I’m grateful for his gers’ needs. In doing so, I purchase cough two things I never seem to have business. I joke that his ride is drops for passengers who may need them. enough of… time and money). I paying my cell phone bill for I also purchase small individual personal now also offer Kiplinger’s fi - the month. tissue packs (8 for $1.00 at Dollar Tree or nancial magazine. Many of Shop Rite). I’m surprised how quickly they my passengers appreciate Dysfunctional Directions go and how much my passengers appreci - that I have this for them to Two of my passengers ate these small yet thoughtful items. read. They find it relevant, have very specific requests In conclusion, if you can try to think of useful and valuable. and expectations about the every possible need a potential passenger Two of my “special pas - directions and route we take will have, and make sure to fulfill the spe - sengers” request newspapers. to their destination. What’s cial requests of your “VIP Regulars,” then One VIPassenger requests The funny is, I know the route my you might continue to get good rides and Wall Street Journal. I get that passenger asks me to take is keep your valuable customers happy. paper for him at a nearby hotel just slower than what Google Maps and Hopefully, they will continue to request before I pick him up in the morning in Jer - Waze recommends. Oh, well… The cus - you again and again. sey City. tomer is always right. Another passenger requests The Star Change That Station RH Stovall, Jr., is a Senior Executive Chauffeur, Ledger and The Wall Street Journal. I get Trainer & Mentor for Royal Coachman Worldwide the Journal at a hotel in Basking Ridge Usually, I play soft classical or “New (Denville, NJ) and Leros Point to Point (Valhalla, and the Star Ledger at a nearby Quick Age” music to provide a pleasant ambiance NY). He can be reached at [email protected] Check. (and help reduce road rage) for my special or call / text him at 908.358.4172.

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• Ext 3220 212.629.8833 • Felix ext 3009 This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. 42 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019 BY BERTRAM MERLING LOSS CONTROL COORDINATOR , DEFENSIVE DRIVING HEREFORD INSURANCE COMPANY NEW YEAR’S EVE, SEASONAL TIPS AND GENERAL SAFETY INFO The holiday season brings with it carbon monoxide – which flows from your safely to load your trunk as a motorist many challenges for New York City driv - car’s tailpipe – can be deadly. Please take backing up may not see you. ers, and New Year’s Eve in particular can the following precautions: • Use extra caution when passing a dou - be a tough night to work. This month, we • Do not leave your motor running in a ble-parked vehicle. Even if the other are offering tips on how to better navigate garage. driver waves you on, you will be held New Year’s Eve, along with additional • Do not leave the motor running and accountable for your actions. seasonal and general safety tips. windows closed when you are waiting • Use extra caution when picking up a for a radio call. dispatched call. Criminals like to call New Year’s Eve • Do not run the heater or air condi - from an isolated area. Don’t become a New Year’s Eve is always a hectic tioner when parked with the windows victim of a robbery or carjacking. night for drivers in the city, so please shut. PREPARE ahead of time. We recommend • Do not leave your vents open when fol - Driver Safety reading a variety of newspapers and on - lowing closely behind other vehicles. There has been an increase in crime line news sources to learn about street • Do not operate a vehicle with a defec - and violent attacks on drivers in recent closings and detours that could affect your tive muffler or exhaust system. months. Please, always make your work shift. • Make sure snow is not blocking your SAFETY is the primary goal of every • Please try to be patient with passen - exhaust pipes. It can send carbon work shift. Your family members, friends gers who may be intoxicated. It is far monoxide fumes back into your vehi - and peers appreciate the valuable contri - better that they chose to hire you for a cle, which can be deadly. butions and sacrifices you make every day ride, rather than getting behind the for them and New York City. wheel and driving drunk. Parking Lot & Shopping Mall Accidents • Please do not argue with passengers • Make yourself familiar with area po - During this time of year, you will over a fare. lice precincts. Don’t take the law into likely spend extra time in parking lots as • Please don’t leave your vehicles if a your own hands if you are being passengers will be shopping for holiday passenger attempts to flee without abused or threatened by a drunk pas - gifts. Please heed the following tips when paying. It could be a trick to get you senger. traveling in a parking lot or shopping out of your vehicle to hurt and rob you. • Wear your seatbelts at all times as mall: • Please do not roll your driver-side win - large crowds tend to jaywalk on New • Anticipate unsafe maneuvers by mo - dow down to collect a fare. Always try Year’s Eve, causing sudden stops. Rec - torists exiting or entering a parking to collect fares while passengers are ommend that passengers do the same. space or parking lot. still in your vehicle. • Try to use local streets, when possible, • Beware of vehicles traveling in the • When applicable, negotiate your fare as opposed to highways. It is easier to wrong direction, looking for a space or prices prior to beginning your trip so take defensive driving actions on a the exit. Drivers often make unsafe there is no conflict at the conclusion of street than a highway, where speeding moves to obtain a parking space. the trip. drivers – who may be drunk – will be • Always yield to a vehicle backing into • If you operate a vehicle with a parti - traveling. or out of a parking space. Remember: tion, consider the hours you are work - • Do your best to be extra nice to your A driver’s rearview window may be ob - ing to determine if the partition will passengers on New Year’s Eve, even if structed by packages when they are best serve you when CLOSED. you become frustrated. You will be backing out and they may not see you. pleasantly surprised by the gratuities • Beware: Kids, parents with strollers you receive in appreciation for working and seniors often make unsafe moves. on such a difficult and dangerous • Always use caution when you or your Bertram Merling is the Loss Control evening. passengers open your door and exit Coordinator for Hereford Insurance Company. your car in a parking space. Beware of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning He welcomes your questions and comments, and • Always scan the area prior to loading can be reached at 718.361.9191 ext. 7235, or Always be cognizant of the fact that your trunk. Avoid bending over un - via email at [email protected] CHECK OUT THE ONLINE EDITION OF BLACK CAR NEWS

www.BLACKCARNEWS.com DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 43 ATTORNEY’S CORNER BY LAURENCE I. CO HEN U.S. DEPT. OF LABOR INCREASES SALARY THRESHOLD FOR EXEMPT EMPLOYEES, BUT NY’S THRESHOLD REMAINS As many readers of this column will no doubt recall, in late as planned on January 1, 2020, a worker must earn at least 2016 there was a lot of buzz in the business community about pro - $35,563 per year ($684 per week) or they must be paid overtime. posed regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) This rule allows employers to count part of an employee’s bonuses that would have significantly increased the earnings thresholds and/or commissions towards meeting the salary level. Specifically, necessary for exempt employees (executive, administrative and non-discretionary bonuses and incentive payments (including professional) to be exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s commissions) may be used to satisfy up to 10% of the minimum (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. Had this salary. occurred, many employees who were previously exempt from the Duties Test FMSA’s minimum wage and overtime pay requirements would suddenly have been eligible to receive overtime pay for hours In addition to receiving the required minimum salary, an ex - worked in excess of 40 hours per week. empt employee must also meet the “duties tests” of a recognized Shortly before they were to have taken effect, the proposed exemption. The duties tests for the administrative and executive regulations were challenged by 21 states and various business exemptions recognized by New York are as follows: groups. A federal court in Texas ultimately issued a nationwide Administrative employee exemption: injunction, and after the Trump administration declined to step in, the DOL decided to go back to the drawing board. In Septem - • The Employee’s primary duty consists of the performance of ber of this year, the DOL rolled out a revised and more reasonable office or non-manual field work directly related to manage - salary-level threshold rule that is scheduled to go into effect on ment policies or general operations; January 1, 2020. • The Employee customarily and regularly exercises discretion Several of the firm’s clients have asked about this new rule, and independent judgment; however given that most of them are located in New York and • The Employee regularly and directly assists an employer, or given that most of their exempt employees are executive and ad - an employee employed in a bona fide executive or adminis - ministrative employees, the changes really don’t affect them. trative capacity or who performs under general supervision, That is because, like various other states, New York State has its work along specialized or technical lines requiring special own salary threshold for determining whether an employee is ex - training, experience or knowledge; and empt from receiving overtime, and the state’s threshold is higher • The Employee is paid for their services on a salary basis. for certain categories of employees (executive and administra - Executive Employee exemption: tive). For other recognized categories of exempt employees, New • The Employee’s primary duty consists of the management of York follows the federal rules. Complicating matters somewhat, the enterprise; New York’s exemption system varies by region as discussed • The Employee customarily and regularly directs the work of below. two or more other employees; Employees who (a) are paid a salary that (b) meets or exceeds • The Employee has the authority to hire or fire other employ - the salary threshold and (c) who also meet certain tests that qual - ees; ify them for a recognized exemption need not be paid overtime for • The Employee’s suggestions and recommendations as to the hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week. hiring, firing, advancement, promotion, or any other change of status of other employees have particular weight; Payment on a “Salary Basis” • The Employee customarily and regularly exercises discre - To be classified as exempt, the employee must be compensated tionary powers; and on a “salary basis.” This means the employee must receive a pre - • The Employee is paid on a salary basis. determined amount each pay period. The amount cannot be re - duced because of variations in the quality or quantity of work Employers should evaluate their workforce to determine performed, and the full salary must be paid for any week in which which employees will be affected whenever salary thresholds the employee works, regardless of the number of days or hours change and determine whether changes to employee pay should worked. be made. For example, it may make more sense to raise the salary of an employee who is currently properly categorized as exempt Minimum Salary Threshold (i.e. meets all the criteria of an executive, administrative or pro - In order to be properly classified as an exempt executive or fessional employee), but whose salary will be under the minimum administrative employee in New York State, the employee must threshold for the position when it increases. Likewise, depending earn at a minimum the following: on the numbers it may make sense to convert a given employee • New York City large employer (11 or more employees) $1,125 from non-exempt to exempt or vice versa. Finally, given the po - per week on and after December 31, 2018); tent penalties that apply in the event an employee has been mis - • New York City small employers (10 or fewer employees) classified (even if the misclassification was unintentional), if there $1,125 per week on and after December 31, 2019; is any doubt whether one or more employees being designated as • Remainder of downstate (Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester exempt meet the criteria necessary for proper application of a counties) $975 per week on and after December 31, 2019; state or federal overtime exemption, same should be discussed $1,050 per week on and after December 31, 2020; $1,125 per with legal counsel. week on and after December 31, 2021); and • Remainder of state (outside of New York City, Nassau, Suf - folk and Westchester counties) $885 per week on and after Kenneth R. Tuch, Esq. and Laurence I. Cohen, Esq. are partners with Tuch & December 31, 2019; $937.50 per week on and after December Cohen, LLP, with offices located at 1025 Old Country Road, Suite 411, Westbury, 31, 2020. New York 11590. The firm specializes in commercial and employment litigation, in - cluding misclassification, wage and hour, employment practices, franchising and business practice matters, and transactional matters. The foregoing is provided For other states that do not have their own salary threshold, solely as general information, is not intended as legal advice, and may not be appli - and for other exempt New York positions (there are many includ - cable within your jurisdiction or to your specific situation. You are advised to con - ing professional employees, outside salespersons, farm laborers, sult with your attorneys for guidance before relying upon any of the information etc.), the federal rules are followed. Assuming they go into effect presented herein. 4I4 N• BLADCK CUAR NSEWS T• DERCEMYBER 2 01N9 EWS FAST TRACK MOBILITY LAUNCHES INDUSTRY’S FIRST DRIVER SUCCESS REWARDS PROGRAM FOR SPECIAL GIFTS AND PRIZES

Fast Track Mobility an - stresses associated with their nounced in November the job by helping drivers save on launch of an innovative Driver everyday expenses while also Success Rewards program de - getting something back.” veloped specifically for their The program features: TLC Rental Car customers in the For-Hire-Vehicle (FHV) • Silver, Gold and Platinum industry – including app- tomers to save on everyday expenses by Tiers based services and traditional FHV bases. providing free access to local and national • Reward points for everyday Fast Track This innovative, first-of-its kind pro - discounts from leading brands. Future transactions gram will immediately offer Fast Track benefits will include travel related dis - • Points redeemable towards gift cards, customers the ability to earn Driver Suc - counts and educational courses in ex - discounts, travel, trips and more… cess Reward points redeemable towards change for earned points. gift cards from such brands as Amazon, “We are truly excited to be able to offer Fast Track Mobility is an authorized Best Buy, Lowes and Nike, as well as a rewards program to all our hard working Uber Partner Dealership, a Via Official Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks – just to customers who drive rideshare vehicles for Partner and an Official Partner Provider name a few. Points will also be redeemable Uber, Via, Curb and other bases,” says of Curb. Established in 2014, the For- for entries into special promotions for Eric Rothman, CEO/President, Fast Track Hire-Vehicle Rental provider is based in items like AirPods, TV’s, event tickets, Mobility, “The customer experience is part Long Island City, with locations through - dream vacations and more. of what sets Fast Track apart from our out NYC. For more information, visit Managed through the proprietary Fast competition. Our hope is that this program www.fasttrackleasingllc.com , call (718)- Track Driver’s App, the rewards program not only enhances that experience, but 370-0775 or email david.s@fasttrackleas - will also serve as the entryway for cus - also helps alleviate some of the daily ingllc.com .

Tuch & Cohen LLP HOLIDAY GRIDLOCK Attorneys at Law ALERT DAYS

1025 Old Country Road, Select days in December are designated Gridlock Alert Kenneth R. Tuch Days, as traffic volumes increase with holiday shopping and Suite 411 Laurence I. Cohen travel, as well as special event street closures. Drivers can ex - Westbury, New York 11590 pect that travel through Manhattan will take three times as long as a typical day of the week on the following days: • Friday, December 6, 2019 Effective Management-Side Representation • Wednesday, December 11, 2019 to the Ground Transportation Industry • Thursday, December 12, 2019 • Friday, December 13, 2019 • Wednesday, December 18, 2019 SPECIALIZING IN • Thursday, December 19, 2019 • Friday, December 20, 2019 Litigation and Administrative Proceedings,

Contract and Transactional Matters, For street closures, visit NYPD Newsroom or learn more at nyc.gov/gridlockalert . Regulatory Issues, and General

Business and Corporate Law

Tel: 516-783-0062 Fax: 516-783-0082

[email protected] DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 45 INDUSTRY NEWS SMART RIDE APP TO LAUNCH IN DECEMBER, NEW DRIVERS INVITED TO BECOME PARTNERS IN THE COMPANY Smart Ride Nationwide, a new ride-hailing app set to enter the New York Metro market this month, is inviting drivers to do more than just perform rides – the company will be offering ownership through an Equity Deal to drivers on a first come, first served basis. Smart Ride is also accepting NYC TLC registered cars and properly licensed drivers from New York and New Jer - sey, with sedans, luxury vehicles, SUVs, Mercedes and Sprinter Vans. The company is looking for professionally- dressed drivers/chauffeurs who want to provide courteous, helpful service. “We know this business, and we want to give drivers an opportunity to get in on the ground floor and share in the profits,” explained company owner, Nasir Kambo. “Secure your income! We’re committed to the drivers in this indus - try, unlike other app companies that are spending billions on driverless car technology.” Smart Ride’s management staff boasts more than three decades of combined knowledge and experience in the FHV, luxury limousine and taxi industries – having served as drivers, managers, and dispatchers. “Ethical business values and mutual respect are our guiding principles,” adds Mr. Kambo. “We make sure all drivers are treated equally and given the same opportuni - ties. We consider our drivers to be our ambassador to the world – and are always open to listening to their input and issues.” For more information, call 201-899-8345 (ask for Kambo) or email [email protected] REINSPECTION PAYMENTS NOTICE

Vehicles that fail their initial inspection must return to TLC’s Woodside facility for a reinspection to remain licensed. As of Nov. 12, vehicle owners no longer need to pay in advance for vehicle re-inspections when they arrive at TLC’s Woodside facility. Reinspection fees must be paid online after the reinspection at nyc.gov/lars . A reinspection fee is only owed if a vehicle fails its initial inspection and is brought back and re-inspected after making the necessary repairs. The fee is owed re - gardless of whether the vehicle passes or fails the rein - spection. The due date is listed on the Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR). If you do not pay the fee, you will receive a summons. If found guilty, you may be fined $300 and have your TLC license suspended. Vehicle owners will need the following information available when logging into LARS to make a payment: • TLC License Number • Mailing ZIP code associated with your license • The last 5 Digits of your EIN or SSN

For more information, visit www1.nyc.gov/site/tlc/vehicles/vehicle-inspections .page . 46 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019 INDUSTRY NEWS TTA TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS ON TNC SAFETY ISSUES Paul Miller, legislative counsel to tion Network Companies Challenges other transportation modes. The Transportation Alliance (formerly and Opportunities.” Miller testified “This is a particularly important the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit about the inadequacy of Uber’s and moment for Congress to address TNC Association) testified before the House Lyft’s background-check process and passenger safety as the GSA moves to Transportation & Infrastructure Com - the need for passengers to be protected outsource federally funded transporta - mittee Subcommittee on Highways & by fingerprint-based background tion,” said Terry O’Toole, President of Transit in November, outlining passen - checks. The Transportation Alliance. “We urge ger safety concerns about Transporta - During the hearing, Miller informed Congress to protect riders by requiring tion Network Companies (TNCs). the committee that the General Serv - effective fingerprint background checks Uber and Lyft failed to appear at ices Administration (GSA) is planning of drivers.” the hearing, which included topics like to reimburse TNCs for federal-em - For more information, visit “Examining the Future of Transporta - ployee travel instead of using taxis or www.thetransportationalliance.org . CHAUFFEUR DRIVEN, NLA TO CO-PRODUCE VEGAS SHOW IN FEB. Chauffeur Driven and the National networking, industry-leading education global network, and have a blast doing Limousine Association (NLA) will be co- loaded with takeaway value and a mas - it. producing their first-ever show together sive show floor, featuring all the latest NLA members receive a special dis - at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in and greatest vehicles, products, serv - count to attend. For the best registra - Las Vegas on February 23-26, 2020. ices, and tech. tion and hotel rates, visit The event will feature “nonstop” Connect with peers, build your https://www.cdnlashow.com/ .

“LIKE” BLACK CAR NEWS FOR BREAKING NEWS. DECEMBER 2019 • BLACK CAR NEWS • 47 INDUSTRY NEWS LIFE OF A CHAUFFEUR FEATURED IN “BROOKLYN IN JULY” MOVIE “Brooklyn In July,” the story of Frank Walker, an African-American World War II veteran working as a chauffeur in the summer of 1945, is based on a true story and inspired by the song of the same name, written by singer/songwriter, Joe Crookston. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n0sqnm-zeE to watch Mr. Crookston perform the song live. In the award-winning short film, WWII is nearly over, and the U.S. is riding a wave of triumph, even as the un - dertow of unresolved issues roils beneath the surface of everyday life. The main character, Frank – like so many other African-Americans of the time – is drawn to New York by the promise of a better life, only to be confronted by the same realities, fear and hatred he had hoped to leave behind. Scarred by his past, he struggles to keep his emotions in check as he strives for freedom and equality. When he moves to Brooklyn, Walker (played by Thad - deus Daniels), gets a new job as a chauffeur. The movie also features actress Suzette Gunn, Frank’s pregnant wife, cinematography by Ken Kotowski and a score by Ariel Marx. “Our inspiration for this film was the song, Brooklyn In July , by Joe Crookston,” explained Producers Laura Delano and Bob Celli. “Social justice and equality for all people have always been important to us and the song was a per - fect starting point for a short film about these subjects.” Learn more about the movie here: Joe Crookstone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j32hayBpzc Performing Sources: Take 2 Indie Review , We Are Moving Stories Brooklyn In July live

Catch Joe Live at THE IRVINGTON FOLK FESTIVAL • January 31–February 1, 2020 • Irvington Town Hall Theater • 85 Main St. • Irvington NY

Wants to Expand its Readership! Are there any locations in NYC where you would like us to deliver the paper?

• Car Washes If it's a place in NYC where drivers • Restaurants congregate or visit regularly, we are • Gas Stations happy to deliver bundles FREE of charge. • Repair Shops • Bases Email us at [email protected] with recommendations and we will do our best to have the paper delivered there every month. Please include the • Etc… name of the business, the address (full address, if possible – but as much info as you have otherwise) and a contact phone number (if possible). 48 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019

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• Daily and bi-monthly e-newsletters directly to your inbox discussing the latest transportation news as well as a subscription to our agship, quarterly magazine, Transportation Leader . • Steep discounts to all of our events, including this year ’s annual convention and expo, Mobilize 2019, and opportunities to network with top CEOs and business owners in our industry .

• Access to an exclusive members-only social media portal where eet executives can crowd-source questions, seek advice and connect with fellow operators from across the globe all at the convenience of their smart device. • Members will soon be able to access a new suite of tools and videos to onboard and retain drivers.

• Access new , exclusive members-only discounts on everything from auto part s to ofce supplies.

Visit www .TheT ransportationAlliance.org/Join-Us BLACK CAR NEWS CLASSIFIEDS DECEMBER 2019 • • 49 CLASSIFIED ADS ARE FREE TO THE DRIVERS IN OUR INDUSTRY!

Want to sell your used vehicle? Want to sell a radio? If you are a • Or, you can mail it to Black Car News at: driver serving our industry, you can sell whatever you like (within 714 Crestbrook Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. reason) on our Classifieds page for FREE – including old furni - In all instances, please include your name, phone number, ad - ture, used exercise equipment… whatever you like. dress, email address and the company you are affiliated with. There are three ways to submit your classified ad. • You can visit www.blackcarnews.com, click on the “Classi - All other ads – from bases and the vendors serving our industry fieds” link, enter your information directly into the boxes and – must be display ads. Deadline and pricing information for our hit send. (This is the preferred method.) display ads can be found in the “RATES/DATES” section of our • You can fax your classified ad to 856.751.0657. website, under “Rates and Schedule.”

2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV FOR SALE. Premium Package, black/black Yellow Taxi Drivers Wanted! with 22” chrome rims, new tires, clean Carfax (no accidents). Never used/reg - istered as a livery vehicle. Original owner. Warranty up 70K miles, only • FT/PT – Days/Nights/Doubles - Flexible Schedule 46,850 miles: $51,850. Call Zack 201-290-3660. • Great Location at Subway in Chelsea, Manhattan FOR SALE: 2015 CHEVY SUBURBAN, Black on Black with 96,000 accident- • Prius V Hybrids, Great on Gas free miles. Clean Car Fax. $24,000 firm. Title in hand. Call: 347-384-9201. Get First 6 Shifts 1/2 Price! 2009 LINCOLN TOWN CAR FOR SALE: 349K miles, black, in good shape (runs well). Asking $2,000 or B.O. Call Lewis (retired) at (516) 238-0327. Call Today! 917.374.8538 2011 GMC YUKON XL SLT FOR SALE. Black, 153K upstate NY highway miles, or email [email protected] new trans, tires just one year old, aftermarket headlights, lighted running boards, 22-inch Escalade rims. Needs nothing, detailed and ready to work. Only $12,000. Call: 845-514-5304. BELL RADIO FOR RENT. Bell is part of Executive Charge Transportation Group, PHONE OPERATOR SEEKS OVERNIGHT SHIFT. Highly experienced, will travel cost is $200/month. Please call or text Oscar at 908-477-8524. locally (preferably Brooklyn /Queens), will work ONLY Aleph system. Con - DIAL CAR RADIO FOR LEASE: $50/week. $50/week. Please call/text Mikhail: tact: [email protected] or 917-855-4290. 917-755-5550 NY ONE RADIO FOR LEASE. Voucher work and plenty of line work for serious URGENT: SELLING 2016 LEXUS LX 570. Please directly contact me by email $$. Net $1200+ per week! Just put in the hours. Best deal you will find! for more info: [email protected]. Price: 22,000 Euro. What - Lease $15/per wk. Phone calls only: 917 816-7209. Ask for Irv. sApp No: +919139124955. DIAL CAR FRANCHISE TABLET FOR SALE. Asking $20,000. Contact me at: 2015 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR L FOR SALE: 31K miles, b/b, like new, garage kept, [email protected]. bumper to bumper Lincoln warranty to 100k or 6yrs. Fully loaded, rear enter - 2007 LINCOLN TOWN CAR FOR SALE. Tan on tan, 190,000 miles, many new tainment, trailer hitch, 4+4 22inch wheels, reserve model: $45k. Must be seen parts. Runs good, no major accidents, needs a little work: $2,500 or best and driven! Call Ari: 718-513-9428 or 561-291-2020. offer. Best to reach me by email at [email protected] or leave a mes - DIAL RADIO FOR SALE 10K. Call or text 718-938-1313. sage: (914) 636-0330. 2011 CHEVY SUBURBAN FOR SALE. DIAL CAR FRANCHISE TABLET FOR SALE: 1500 LT 4WD, 270K miles, great car, just $20,000. Please contact: passed TLC inspection in Jan: $12,399. Call Mark (732) 476-7688. [email protected]. 2016 TOYOTA CAMRY SE FOR SALE. 2016 MERCEDES E350 WITH TLC PLATES, leather interior, brand new condition, ready to rent: $500 a week. Plz black/black, 19k miles. Asking price: $17,500. Call 917 968-4487. contact Rashid: 718-666-5511. UTOG RADIO FOR LEASE: $250 per month. Call: 917-545-4960. 2015 FORD FUSION SE FOR SALE. Very low miles (14k), car runs like brand new: $11,999 or best offer. VIN: 3FA6P0H72FR260860. Grey Exterior/Black CAREY LIMO FRANCHISE FOR SALE by owner, 9 years left, retiring: $28K. Call Interior. The car is in Clifton, NJ. Please call Ed: (716) 666-0411. 516-668-6357. 2015 MKT, TLC-READY, MINT CONDITION, lease to own $450/wk. Down pay - (5) 2011 LINCOLN TOWN CARS FOR SALE. Signature, b/b, loaded, all options, ment required. Please call Chris: 718-962-4799. drives perfect, 300k easy Fla. miles. Located in Palm Beach Florida. Call: 561-622-2222. 2015 MKT, TLC-READY, lease to own: $400/week. Please call Chris: 718- 962-4799. LINCOLN MKT TOWN CAR FOR SALE. Like-new condition, covered by man. SKYLINE RADIO FOR LEASE: warranty to 2018/150k miles. Black/black leather, panoramic roof, backup $125 weekly. Please call: (973)866-7797. camera, blind spot package, lane dep. warn, nav, rear-passenger controls. ELITE RADIO FOR SALE: Only $10K. Please call: (917) 731-2923. Maintained by local Lincoln dealer. Motivated, retired owner. Call Solomon: 917-474-5822. UTOG RADIO FOR LEASE (no contract), flat 33% on your booking, the rest you take home! Quality work (like UBER Black), you need a Black Sedan or 2016 TOYOTA CAMRY FOR RENT for Uber, Lyft, Gett, new TLC drivers wel - SUV 2014 or newer! For info, please call: 347-440-3247. come. Excellent condition. Black ext/gray int, touch screen, backup camera. DIAL CAR FRANCHISE TABLET Rent $399/Deposit $399. Ins. and maint. incl. Questions? Call/text: for $20,000. Please contact me at: (718) 740- 347.458.7893. 1079. DIAL RADIO FOR LEASE, with option to buy. Only $50/wk. Call: 516.680.5649. VITAL FRANCHISE RADIO FOR LEASE. Weekly rate is only $50. If you are in - terested, please contact me at 917-215-7193 or email me at 2015 SUBURBAN LT FOR SALE. Black/black, 61K (low miles), Black/black, [email protected]. 61K (low miles), very well maintained and services up to date. Clean Carfax, no accidents, asking price: $38,000. Call if interested: 347.654.1609. “LIKE” BLACK CAR NEWS FOR BREAKING NEWS. 50 • BLACK CAR NEWS • DECEMBER 2019 OWNER OPERATORS WANTED

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