APRIL 2019 www.taxiliverytimes.com Vol.20 No. 4

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An Insider’s Look at Both NYC TLC Regulated Industries STAY SAFE OUT THERE! TRAGIC STORIES RATTLE INDUSTRY

Bill Heinzen Becomes Acting TLC Chairman

¡MANTÉNGASE A SALVO EN LA CALLE! LOS RELATOS TRÁGICOS SACUDEN LA INDUSTRIA FHV DRIVER COUPLE CHASES, INDUSTRY MOURNS TAXI COMPANY, FATALLY STABBED ATTACKS 9TH DRIVER INSURANCE FIRM UNITE IN MARCH LIVERY DRIVER SUICIDE TO HELP CABBIES TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 2 • • APRIL 2019 TLC DRIVER SERVICES, INC. TLC DRIVER SCHOOL All TLC Summonses TLC DRIVER SCHOOL DMV Traffic Tickets Offering AALLLL Required TLC Driver Classes

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Estos son solo al - following are just some of the industry-related incidents that oc - gunos de los incidentes relacionados con esta industria que tuvieron lugar en febrero y marzo. curred in February and March. 10 de febrero: Feb. 10: un conductor de vehículo de alquiler de 59 años fue A 59-year-old Livery driver was brutally attacked by brutalmente atacado por un hombre y una mujer en Brooklyn, luego a man and woman in Brooklyn, after one of them aggressively de que uno de ellos exigiera un viaje de manera agresiva y el conductor, demanded a ride and the frightened driver left his vehicle to call asustado, detuviera el vehículo para llamar al 911. La policía informó 911. Police said the couple followed the driver into a nearby deli, que la pareja siguió al conductor hasta dentro de una tienda de co - where the male suspect tried to steal the driver’s wallet, repeat - mestibles, donde el sospechoso intentó robarle la billetera, lo golpeó edly punching him and throwing metal cans and a bottle at him; repetidas veces y le arrojó latas de metal; la mujer lo golpeó con una the woman beat him with a metal rod. The driver’s name was varilla de metal. Los medios de difusión no han dado a conocer el nom - bre del conductor. not released by media outlets. 22 de febrero: Feb 22: A Yellow Taxi erupted in flames in Midtown across un taxi amarillo se prendió fuego en Midtown frente from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Cab driver Inderjeet a la terminal de autobuses de la Autoridad Portuaria. Inderjeet Singh, el conductor del taxi, de 38 años, dijo que acababa de recoger a unos Singh, 38, said he had just picked up passengers when he pasajeros cuando comenzó a sentir olor a quemado. Afortunadamente, smelled smoke. Fortunately, no one was hurt. March 2: nadie resultó herido. FHV driver, Ganiou Gandonou, 27, was fatally 2 de marzo: el conductor de vehículos de alquiler, Ganiou Gando - stabbed in his vehicle in the Bronx. Police suspect it was a rob - nou, de 27 años, fue fatalmente apuñalado en su vehículo en el Bronx. bery gone wrong. Mr. Gandonou, who was only 27 years old, left La policía sospecha que se trató de un robo que terminó en tragedia. behind a widow and two-year-old son. (A GoFundMe page was Gandonou, que tenía solo 27 años, dejó a una viuda y a un hijo de dos set up by the Independent Drivers Guild and the widow: años. (El sindicato de conductores independientes [Independent Driv - https://www.gofundme.com/6yom2i8. ) ers Guild, IDG], junto con la viuda, crearon una página en GoFundMe: March 3: https://www.gofundme.com/6yom2i8 ). Yellow Taxi driver, Ilya Sukholinskyv (62) died, 3 de marzo: after suffering a medical episode and crashing into a pole in el conductor de un taxi amarillo, Ilya Sukholinskyv, de Brooklyn. Fortunately, no pedestrians or other vehicles were 62 años de edad, falleció tras sufrir un problema de salud y chocar con - tra un poste en Brooklyn. Afortunadamente, no embistió a ningún struck. March 5: peatón ni a otro vehículo. FHV passenger, Jorge Vasquez, was shot dead by a 5 de marzo: el pasajero de un vehículo de alquiler, Jorge Vasquez, man on a bicycle in a Brooklyn neighborhood. Mr. Vasquez, 26, murió luego de que un hombre que circulaba en bicicleta le disparara had barely climbed into his hired car when the shooter ap - en un barrio de Brooklyn. Vasquez, de 26 años de edad, apenas había proached on bike, opened the rear passenger door and fired three ingresado al auto, cuando un hombre se acercó en bicicleta, abrió la shots, striking the victim in the neck and chest. EMTs rushed puerta trasera de pasajeros y disparó tres tiros que impactaron en el him to Brooklyn Hospital but he could not be saved. cuello y el pecho de la víctima. Los paramédicos lo llevaron rápida - On any given month, there are unfortunately stories proving mente al hospital de Brooklyn, pero no pudieron salvarlo. what we already know – driving in NYC can be a dangerous pro - Cualquier mes del año puede presentarnos historias lamentables fession – but this particular string of articles really struck me, que demuestran lo que ya sabemos: ser conductor en la ciudad de most significantly because of the brutality of some of the inci - Nueva York puede ser una profesión peligrosa. Sin embargo, esta seguidilla de noticias me afectó profundamente, sobre todo debido a la dents, but also due to the fact that they illustrated the many brutalidad de algunos de los incidentes, pero también por el hecho de

Continued on page 6 Continúa en la página 6

Editor’s Notes ...... 4 &

Dear Taxi Dave ...... 9 An Insider’s Look at Both NYC TLC Regulated Industries Taxi News ...... 12 EDITOR/PUBLISHER: Neil Weiss CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Directory ...... 13 Email: [email protected] Matthew Daus, Esq.

E 714 Crestbrook Ave. Larry Fisher Livery News ...... 15 Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003 Meera Joshi Tel: 800-723-9119/856-751-0656 Bertram Merling U Features ...... 17 Fax: 856-751-0657 David Pollack

S Steven J. Shanker, Esq. ITAR Outlook By Matthew W. Daus ...... 19 ADV. SALES MGR./ Michael Spevack, Esq. S ART & DESIGN:

I Michele Norton: 856-262-2368

Taxi Dave ...... 22 TRANSLATIONS:

S By Larry Fisher The Fishbowl ...... 23 The Language Center and NYC TLC I Commissioner’s Corner By Meera Joshi ...... 24 H By Bertram Merling Copyright © 2019 by TAXI & LIVERY TIMES. All rights reserved. Neither Defensive Driving ...... 26 this newspaper nor any part therof may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted T

in any form, without the express written permission of the publishers. The The Taxi Attorney By Michael Spevack ...... 27 copyright is extended to the design and text created for advertisements. This

N Fun & Games ...... 30 publication is not responsible for errors in advertisement beyond the cost of

I the space occupied by the error. Bylined articles represent the sole opinion of the writer and are not necessarily in accordance with the views of TAXI & LIV - Taxi and FHV Relief Stands ...... 32 ERY TIMES. This Publication reserves the right to limit or refuse advertising it deems objectionable. TAXI & LIVERY TIMES is published monthly at a sub - News ...... 34 scription rate of $48 per year. TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 5

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You can also call, text or email u s: T: 973-563-4697 @: utm@ostr aa.com W: utm.ostr aa.com TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 6Co•n tinued from page 4 • APRIL 2019 Viene de la página 4 dangers drivers face, beyond just worrying about criminals. So, que ilustran los muchos peligros a los que se enfrentan los conduc - this month, I am providing a list of tips designed to help drivers tores, que exceden la preocupación por la presencia criminal. Así que stay safe and healthy. este mes, brindo una serie de consejos pensados para ayudar a los con - Smile and make eye contact. ductores a mantenerse a salvo y en buena salud. If you start your interaction Sonría y haga contacto visual. with a passenger by smiling and making eye contact, it helps Comenzar su interacción con un pasajero sonriendo y haciendo contacto visual ayuda a establecer un establish a relationship. Greeting them this way also sends a vínculo. Además, saludar a un pasajero de este modo da un mensaje subtle message: “I see you and you see me, so I can identify you sutil: “Lo veo y usted me ve a mí, puedo identificarlo y lo reconozco and I am acknowledging you as a person.” This will give a rob - como persona”. Esto lo hará pensar al ladrón, y será más difícil que le ber pause and it makes it harder for someone to harm you. If haga daño. Si ni siquiera mira a los pasajeros, también les está en - you don’t even bother to look at them, you also send a message viando un mensaje: les está diciendo que ellos no le interesan y que to them: that you don’t care about them, and that you are care - usted es descuidado e inconsciente. less and unaware. Intente observar bien a los pasajeros ANTES de que ingresen a su ve - Try to get a good look at passengers BEFORE they get in your hículo. Observe su lenguaje corporal, tome nota de la ropa que lleva vehicle. Watch their body language, make note of the clothing puesta. No subestime a nadie. El hecho de que usted dedique un mo - they are wearing. Never underestimate anybody. Making a mento a observarlos, les dice que podría identificarlos y que reconoce point to look at them lets them know you could identify them su presencia. Permanezca alerta y consciente. Permanezca alerta y consciente de and acknowledges their presence. Stay alert and aware. su entorno constantemente, incluso si su vehículo está estacionado. Be alert and aware of your surround - Descanse adecuadamente entre un turno y otro. ings at all times, even when you are parked. Get adequate rest Mantenga las ventanillas cerradas y las puertas con traba. Si necesita between shifts. Keep windows rolled up and doors locked. hablar con alguien, baje la ventanilla solo lo necesario para mantener If you need to talk una conversación. Mantenga las puertas con traba, para evitar que to someone, roll your window down just enough to hold a con - un matón pueda abrirlas. versation. Keep your doors locked so a thug can’t suddenly Conozca la geografía de la ciudad. Hoy en día, hay muchos conduc - yank it open. tores que dependen exclusivamente de su GPS. Cada día que circule Learn the city’s geography. So many drivers rely solely on por la ciudad de Nueva York, debe aprender más acerca de su ge - their GPS these days. Every day that you travel around NYC, ografía. Esto le enseñará rutas alternativas que le serán útiles en you should be learning more about the city’s geography. It will casos de congestión vehicular, además de mejorar su seguridad y la de sus pasajeros. Perderse en la ciudad también puede ser motivo teach you alternate routes, in the event of gridlock and improve para una discusión con un pasajero, y esto puede incitar a la violen - safety for you and your passengers. Getting lost can also incite cia. an argument with a passenger and lead to violence. Tenga especial cuidado durante la noche. Be extra careful at night. Tenga especial precaución Use extra caution and maintain a y mantenga un alto nivel de alerta por la noche. Circule por las car - high state of awareness at night. Use major roads whenever reteras principales siempre que pueda. Tome precauciones especiales possible. Take extra precautions between 6:00pm and 6:00am. entre las 6:00 p. m. y las 6:00 a. m. La mayoría de los ataques y robos Most assaults and robberies occur between midnight and suceden entre la medianoche y las 4:00 a. m., cuando hay menos tes - 4:00am, when there are fewer witnesses. Passengers are also tigos. Además, es más probable que los pasajeros estén alcoholizados, lo que puede generar conductas imprevisibles y, a veces, violentas. more likely to be intoxicated, which can make them unpre - Preste atención a la postura de su pasajero. dictable and sometimes violent. Si un pasajero se sienta Beware of your passenger’s position. If a passenger sits di - detrás de usted, es más difícil que usted pueda vigilarlo. En casi un 10 % de los ataques, el agresor se sienta justo detrás del conductor. rectly behind you, it’s more difficult to keep an eye on them. Intente pedirle al pasajero que cambie de asiento y diga simplemente Nearly 10% of all assaults occur when the culprit is sitting di - que es la política de la empresa. rectly behind the driver. Try asking the passenger to move to Prepare un kit de seguridad. Intente llevar siempre con usted lo another seat; just say it’s company policy. Prepare a safety kit. siguiente: un bolígrafo y un bloc de notas para registrar cualquier in - Try to keep the following on you at all cidente, un juego de llaves de repuesto, un teléfono móvil (con batería times: a pen and notepad to log any incidents, a set of spare adicional) y una tarjeta con su nombre, tipo de sangre e información keys, a mobile phone (with extra battery) and a card with your de contacto en caso de emergencia. Manejo de dinero en efectivo. name, blood type and emergency contact info. Tenga poco dinero en efectivo y man - Cash management. Keep as little cash on you at all times. If téngalo siempre con usted. Si comienza a acumular mucho dinero, it starts to accumulate, consider depositing it at an ATM dur - considere depositarlo en un cajero automático durante su tiempo libre. ing off-hours. Cash deposits at night carry their own risks, so Los depósitos en efectivo durante la noche son riesgosos, así que elija un banco ubicado en un lugar conveniente, bien iluminado y con su - choose a bank that has convenient, well-lit locations and plenty ficiente tráfico peatonal. Otras precauciones: nunca exhiba su dinero of pedestrian traffic. Also: Never flash money or display expen - o joyas caras, ya que esto puede atraer a los criminales. Si su pasajero sive jewelry – it may tempt criminals. If your passenger offers le ofrece un billete grande, pídale que busque cambio en una tienda a large denomination bill, ask him to get change at a nearby cercana, en lugar de decirle que tiene cambio para ofrecerle. store, rather than letting him know you have the money to Instale una cámara de video. Los conductores de taxis amarillos se change it. protegen con una barrera de plástico, pero los conductores de vehícu - Install a video camera. Yellow taxi drivers find protection be - los de alquiler no. Instale una cámara en el auto que capture lo que hind a plastic barrier, but not FHV drivers. Install a dashcam sucede tanto dentro como fuera de su vehículo. Anuncie el hecho de that captures what goes on inside and outside your vehicle. Ad - que tiene una cámara de video, se ha demostrado que esto reduce las vertise the fact that you have a video camera – this has been amenazas y la violencia contra los conductores. Las cámaras también shown to reduce threats and violence against drivers. Cameras pueden reducir las primas del seguro. Use un espejo convexo. Colocar un espejo convexo en su espejo can also reduce insurance premiums. Use a convex mirror. retrovisor estándar le da una mejor perspectiva del compartimento Fitting a convex mirror over your stan - del pasajero y lo ayuda a ver qué está sucediendo detrás de usted. dard rear-view mirror gives you a better view of the passenger Comuníquese con su central telefónica. Si la llamada viene de su compartment, helping you see what’s going on behind you. Communicate with your base. central, avise a su operador cuando recoja al pasajero y alértelo de If the call comes from your cualquier cambio a lo largo del camino. Cree un código preestablecido, base, let your dispatcher know when you pick up the passenger para usar en caso de que se sienta amenazado por un pasajero, de and alert the base of any changes along the way. Create a pre- modo tal que pueda solicitar asistencia de forma rápida y discreta. El arranged code word in the event a passenger becomes threat - GPS también puede funcionar como un salvavidas, que le permite a su central localizar dónde se encuentra usted. ening, so assistance can be called quickly and discreetly. GPS Explique con anticipación cualquier desvío del camino. can also be a lifesaver, allowing your base to locate and track Si piensa you. tomar una carretera diferente para evitar el tráfico o una obra en con - Explain any unusual routes ahead of time. strucción, explíqueselo a su pasajero. Eso ayudará a evitar discusiones If you plan to take respecto de la tarifa. a route to avoid traffic or construction, explain your reasoning Intente permanecer tranquilo si se siente amenazado. Respire hondo to the passenger. It will help prevent disputes over the fare. Try to stay calm if you feel threatened. para disminuir la ansiedad. No amenace a un pasajero. Ellos pueden Take slow, deep tener un arma y las amenazas pueden agravar casi cualquier breaths to lessen your anxiety. Do not threaten a passenger. situación. Otras precauciones: si pierde la calma, es posible que no They may be carrying a weapon and threats can escalate al - piense con claridad. TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 7 most any situation. Also: If you lose your composure, your judg - No persiga a un pasajero que intenta estafarlo. Si un pasajero se es - ment can be greatly affected. capa sin pagar, no lo persiga. Su seguridad es más importante que el Don’t chase a passenger who tries to cheat you. If a passenger dinero. Puede ser una trampa. Informe el incidente a la policía y prepárese para hacer su declaración. runs off without paying, do not chase them. Your safety is more Defensa propia vs. una pelea. important than the money. It could be a trap. Report the inci - A nadie le gusta que lo golpeen, y tal vez esté en su naturaleza querer devolver el golpe; pero esto podría dent to the police and be prepared to make a statement. Self-defense vs. a fight. empeorar el asalto, en especial si usted está en inferioridad de condi - No one likes to get punched, and it ciones o si el agresor tiene un arma. Si lo atacan, su objetivo es es - may in your nature to strike back, but it could worsen the as - capar de forma segura. En lugar de desatar una pelea en un vehículo sault, particularly if you are outmatched or the assailant has a estrecho, llame la atención con la bocina y con las luces… o simple - weapon. If you are attacked, your goal is to get away safely. mente huya del auto en busca de ayuda. Rather than having a scrap in a cramped vehicle, attract atten - No se resista ante un robo. Si le están robando, entregue lo que le tion with your horn and lights… or simply flee the vehicle and piden. Nada vale más que su vida. Tal vez se sienta abusado, pero, por lo menos, mañana estará vivo para volver a trabajar. get help. Lleve un registro de todo. Do not resist a robbery. If you are being robbed, give them Es probable que, debido a la agitación what they want. It’s not worth your life. You may feel violated, de un incidente violento, se olvide de los detalles. Apenas se encuentre but at least you will be alive to work another day. a salvo, anote todo lo que recuerda, incluida una descripción del Write down everything. pasajero, lo que dijo y lo que hizo. It’s easy to forget details in the heat Informe TODOS los incidentes de violencia a la policía. Incluso si of a violent incident. As soon as you’re safe, write everything resultó ileso, comuníquese con la policía y bríndeles toda la informa - you can remember down, including the passenger’s description, ción que tenga. Tal vez pierda algo de tiempo, pero esto puede pre - and what they said and did. Report ALL violent incidents to the police. venir futuros incidentes de violencia contra usted u otros conductores. Even if you are un - Tenga cuidado si le dan instrucciones poco claras. Eso puede ser una harmed, contact police and provide as much information as pos - señal de alerta. Pídale al cliente que le dé un destino claro antes de sible. It may take time, but it could prevent future violence comenzar a conducir. No hable con los clientes acerca de sus horarios. against yourself or other drivers. No les diga si ha Beware of “vague” instructions. This can be a warning sign. estado trabajando un turno extenso ni se jacte de haber tenido una Ask the customer to give you a firm destination before you start buena recaudación; esto le indica a un ladrón potencial que usted driving. tiene dinero en efectivo. Si alguien le pregunta, tenga tacto para Don’t talk to customers about your shift. evadir la respuesta y diga: “Hace apenas media hora que empecé mi Don’t tell them if turno”. you’ve been working a long shift or brag that it’s been profitable; Cuídese. Si descansa bien, tiene una dieta saludable y realiza ac - it conveys to a potential mugger that you are carrying cash. If tividad física, estará más alerta y con mayor capacidad para evitar someone asks, be tactful yet evasive… say, “I just started my los problemas. La actividad física también lo ayudará a manejar shift half an hour ago.” equipajes pesados. Otras precauciones: visite a su médico para que le Take care of yourself. You will be more alert and better able realice un examen físico una vez al año y exámenes auditivos y de la to get yourself out of trouble if you are well rested, eat healthy visión de forma regular. Tenga cuidado con los pasajes oscuros y estrechos, y con los callejones meals and exercise. Exercise will also help if you have to handle sin salida. heavy luggage. Also: Get an annual physical and regular vision Esté alerta si alguien le pide que lo lleve a un callejón os - and hearing exams. curo; pueden estar intentando apartarlo para robarle o atacarlo. Si Beware of dark alleys and narrow, dead-end streets. If someone termina conduciendo por un callejón estrecho, comience a buscar una vía de escape de inmediato. No salga de su vehículo, ya que así podría directs you down a dark alley, it could be a serious red flag that estar dándole una oportunidad a la persona para atacarlo. Si el they want to get you out of sight to assault or rob you. If you end pasajero necesita buscar su equipaje, utilice el botón de control para driving down a back alley, immediately start looking for an es - abrir el baúl. Mantenga el vehículo encendido, en marcha y con el pie cape route. Do not get out of your vehicle; it gives the person an en el pedal de freno, de modo que si las cosas se ponen feas, puede opportunity to attack you. Use the push button control to pop salir rápidamente de ahí. the trunk, if the passenger needs to retrieve luggage. Keep your Verifique exhaustivamente su auto ANTES de cada turno. Complete vehicle running, in drive, and keep your foot on the brake pedal, una lista de verificación de los elementos más importantes del ve - so if things go south you can bolt out of there. hículo. Compruebe que todas las luces estén funcionando, incluidas Thoroughly check your car BEFORE each shift. Complete a las luces de emergencia. Asegúrese de que sus llantas tengan una checklist of important vehicle components. Check that all lights buena banda de rodamiento, estén infladas correctamente y no pre - are working, including emergency lights. Make sure your tires senten daños. Verifique los niveles de los líquidos. Para obtener más información, consulte la pág. 17 de la edición de este mes “Consejos have a good tread, and are properly inflated and undamaged. para el mantenimiento del automóvil en primavera”. Check your fluids. For more information, see page 17 for this ¿Tiene una historia que compartir que podría ayudar a otros con - month’s “Springtime Auto Maintenance Tips.” ductores a mantenerse seguros y aprovechar su turno al máximo? Si Do you have a story to share, that could help other drivers es así, envíeme un correo electrónico a [email protected] . stay safe and make the most of their shift? If so, please email Siempre estamos buscando historias que reflejen el punto de vista de me at [email protected] . We are alway s looki ng for sto - los c onductores, so bre todo si pueden ayudar a que otros conductores ries from the perspective of drivers, especially if they are going lleguen a casa sanos y salvos después de una larga jornada. to help other drivers get home safely after a long shift.

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An Insider’s Look at Both NYC TLC Regulated Industries “LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK FOR BREAKING NEWS! OR VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.TAXILIVERYTIMES.COM TAXI & LIVERY TIME S 8 • • APRIL 2019 BY DAVID POLLACK TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 9 TAXI DAVE

Our oldest daughter had been accepted to hand how tough life can be without a college de - It was on that vacation I stumbled upon Northeastern University about 20 years ago. We gree. “cheater parents,” who found a way to bypass a drove to Boston at the invitation of the Dean, I remember signing those papers for Parent rather fair system. Understandably, Disney al - with hundreds of other accepted applicants and Plus Loans and getting relatives to co-sign per - lows disabled children or parents to go to the parents, to be briefed about the benefits of choos - sonal loans to afford tuition. Every year, they front of any line. If there is one wheelchair with ing this university and finalizing the first pay - were refinanced as another years’ room and a family, the entire family goes to the front of the ment. After listening to the Dean of Northeastern board was added to the balance. I remember each line. That sounded like a fair system to me until University brag to new student applicants and of my daughters “signing their life away” to hefty I heard one mother bragging to another (while their parents (me among them) how $35,000 a loans to pay for tuition. Today, I am 64 years old, our kids were on a ride), “all I did was pay for a year was a cheap price to pay for a full education all relatives are paid off – and yet, I still owe six nurse to push a wheelchair and all my kids don’t that will benefit them financially for the rest of figures on those same loans. So do my daughters. have to wait on line for any ride.” Although one their lives, I asked one question: Do you realize Were we unfortunate? Only when compared child was in a wheelchair as they entered the that tuition at Northeastern is the same as Har - to some wealthy parents, who have used illegal ride, all of her children ran down the ramp past vard (without room and board)? I will never for - tactics to bypass the system. The “fortunate chil - the wheelchair towards the next ride. get his answer to me, as all the parents listened. dren” in America will never know what it’s like What kind of example does this show your He said: “We have a waiting list.” to be in debt your entire life and what some par - children? I guarantee you readers, that this same There it was in black in white: My daughter ents have sacrificed for their children. Those chil - type of parent, willing to have a healthy child sit was accepted to Northeastern University, but in dren, whose parents can afford to pay college in a wheelchair and hire a nurse to beat the sys - my financial position, a lifetime of debt for me tuition outright, are quite lucky as other wealthy tem, is the type of parent who would pay any and my daughter would have to be part of the parents found a way to beat the system. amount to have their child accepted to a quality deal for agreeing to graduate from a “good uni - Apparently, some wealthy parents have a university fraudulently. versity” and achieve the “American Dream.” I re - sense of entitlement that supersedes playing by Let’s take a New York City cab driver who is member the guilt my wife and I had, not having the rules. Those parents believe any potential making barely enough for a family of four to live, the cash to pay for either daughter’s college. If problems can be cured by throwing enough and pay for rent, food, clothes, utilities, maybe you are not wealthy, your choices are either to money at them to make them go away, and that insurance or doctor bills, medicine, or a car, etc. forget college altogether and get a menial job or includes a guaranteed admission into a good col - In this common scenario, the parents have zero go into debt and hopefully get a good paying job lege. How many times have you heard “everyone disposable spending. If your child is an excep - after college. has a price”? That is the mantra for those tional student who happens to get accepted to a You see, to be successful in today’s society, wealthy folks, who believe that anything can be “good” university and is not athletic, you always you must have a college degree, rich parents or accomplished with “bribes” to bypass the system. stand a chance to better your child’s future by be very lucky. A college degree, especially from a My first exposure to these types of “wealthy willingly going into a lifetime of debt. But taxi “good school,” is a big part of how corporations scammers” was actually at Universal Studios, of families, with the best intentions for their chil - judge potential hires, and greatly affects whether all places. I remember saving money for many dren, are being cheated by parents whose chil - you’ll be able to find a high-paying career in years in order to take our daughters to Disney dren have less ability but much more money. America today. Being measured by your educa - World and Universal Studios (long before col - Buying into a “college testing scam,” where your tion is the way the system works. lege). This was a once in a lifetime trip for the child is guaranteed a high score by cheating or Now look… We all want our children to suc - four of us and we planned each day so our daugh - bribing school officials to accept them onto a col - ceed, and we would do almost anything to help ters could go on their favorite rides without wait - lege athletic team without any athletic ability is them achieve that degree. Neither me nor my ing four-plus hours in long lines, although I must a shameful display of what the wealthy can do to wife had completed college, so we knew first- admit, we did wait hours for many rides anyway. and what is truly wrong with this country. DEAR TAXI DAVE

We NEED the City and Airport city, causing gridlock, in almost every spot this morning Let’s infuse ourselves with confidence no matter how On 03/04/19 I did a fare from T8 JFK to Williams - I saw an abundance of app cars. Without those cars, hard it could be ahead. UNITED we can succeed. Re - burg, Brooklyn (not Virginia) and I turned the meter on no traffic problem – so they clog the city and because me m b e r : T a x i l i v e s m a t t e r . Marcelino Hervias immediately before I drove. After I dropped off and the city is clogged, private cars are going to be –––––––––––––––––– —------printed the last receipt, as required by TLC for short charged because someone else is making money and haul return, the destination on the bottom of the receipt cau s i n g t r a f f i c . T h i s Mmiackhease lm Sei mnoanu,s Meoeudsa. llion Owner Thanks for Speaking Out did NOT appear. I’ve heard about this issue from other It’s BS when people say that an e-hail is a different drivers on this day, at this time of day (I have Veri - animal than a street hail. Thank-you, government offi - fone/Curb). At CTH JFK dispatch, the supervisor I'm of the opinion that all the app-car-hailing com - cials who speak out against this injustice, and against wouldn’t honor the receipt. I wanted two and a half panies are the present-day gypsy cabs of the 70s. tha t o p i n io n , b a s e d o n g r e e d a n d s t e a l i n g . Anonymous hours in lot to go to Brooklyn. I went to building 14, These interlopers don’t have a permit to pick up street –––––––––––––––––– —------spoke to a supervisor, who wouldn’t honor it – spoke hails in New York City, and somehow our political lead - to a PA supervisor and explained the TLC rule. Four ers have let them operate with impunity. If an individual A Costly Surcharge months trial period isn’t enough to test, especially if in any of the outer-boroughs with TLC plates picks up With the credit card surcharge, congestion pricing drivers complained of issues in this matter. I feel more someone in the street and is seen by a police officer, makes the driver and medallion owner get less money and more that the TLC/city is looking to get rid of us in that individual will get a ticket. In Manhattan, all the au t o m a t i c a l l y … $ 2 0 0 l e s s p e r m oTnatmh abrya TVLiCsh nRyUaLcoEv. a Manhattan and JFK, and force us to work the outer- app-car drivers do the same and no ticket is issued –––––––––––––––––– —------boroughs ehail/Access-a-Ride fares. Those outer-bor - because they are under the umbrella of behemoth oughs are ok, but it’s not enough income. We NEED companies with plenty of money and connections. I NYC Needs Taxis the city and airport! I’ve worked all sorts of ways these believe that the plan of these companies is to kill the Cab drivers are not doing well, the income for bot - past months to test, and I’m telling you from experi - yellow cab industry in this city, then they will consoli - tom bookers has gone down, and they make very little. ence: Drivers depend on TPEP system to work and date and become the only game in town, to the detri - These poor guys struggle with depression, as every - me t e r t o m a k e in c o m e , w h Aile F Urbuestrr daoteeds Tna’t.xi Solomon ment of professional drivers and the riding public. They one does – [it’s harder than ever being] a cab driver, –––––––––––––––––– —------already have a foot in the door and to kick them out but some do not want to be with Uber; they don't like won’t be easy. Since they don’t have a city permit to Uber as much as we don’t like Uber. Why should a big Where’s Our Raise? pick up street hails in New York City, the issuing of tick - corporation take their profits when the drivers are the Uber and Lyft drivers got a pay raise in February ets to violators will be in order. Hopefully there won’t ones working hard? This is corporate bullying, and 2019; taxi drivers and owners got a credit card sur - be a n y m o r e d r i v e r s u i c id e s . Virgilio Carballo medallion owners like myself have seen great changes cha r g e [ t a k e n ] f r o m t h e i r p o c k e t sT. amara Vishnyakova –––––––––––––––––– —------to driver satisfaction when meter raises were given to –––––––––––––––––– —------them. The city needs taxis, the city needs rules for Strength in Unity taxis, the city must know that there needs to be a more So Many App Cars Our strength is in our UNITY. It has been the longest tha n a l i v a b l e w a g e f o r t h e s e h a r d w oMrkeindga lglieont Olewmnaenr . OK, let me get this straight: Ubers are flooding the time waiting for justice with tragic irreversible results. David “Taxi Dave” Pollack is an industry veteran, spokesperson and advocate for drivers in New York City. He can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 718-706-TAXI (8294). He encourages people with comments or questions to reach out to him, and each month we publish those letters in our “Dear Taxi Dave” section. TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 10 • • APRIL 2019 DAILY • WEEKLY • PART TIME/FULL-TIME • ALL SHIFTS AVAILABLE!

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For-hire Vehicle (FHV) driver, Lu Wu, “App companies are making investors The guild has started a wellness pro - 49, was found dead from an apparent sui - rich by holding down wages to the point gram that offers therapy to drivers in cri - cide in the back seat of a black Hyundai where drivers are killing themselves,” the sis. It also urges them to call the city’s Sonata with TLC plates, on March 23 at Independent Drivers Guild (IDG) said in mental health crisis hotline at (888) 692- 3:00am. The vehicle was parked at Myrtle a statement in March. 9355. Ave. and 75th St. in Glendale. The IDG has blasted Lyft for suing the “We are deeply saddened by this Mr. Wu’s tragic passing was the ninth city to block New York’s new minimum tragedy, and extend our sincerest sympa - suicide by a NYC TLC-regulated driver wage for app-based drivers – although it thies to the family and friends of the vic - since November 2017. was still unclear in late March if finances tim,” said Lyft spokeswoman Campbell Investigators believe Wu killed him - played a key role in Mr. Wu’s suicide. Matthews. self by ingesting a white powdery sub - “Our concern is that there’s really a Lyft maintains the pay raise imple - stance that might have been crushed long pattern of these suicides,” said IDG mented by the city hurts drivers because over-the-counter medication. Police found spokeswoman Moira Muntz. “We are it increases the price for passengers, who the powder all over his face and clothes. deeply saddened at the passing of Lu Wu, in turn request fewer rides. A Manhattan Before he died, Wu emailed relatives and we are frustrated that we were not judge is expected to issue a ruling on the to say he was sorry, and that he loved able to… make the needed reforms in the lawsuit in April. them all, sources said. industry before he reached this point.” Source: Daily News

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, CONFIDENTIAL there is a free, confidential helpline called NYC Well that is always available and accessible in 200 languages. You can call 1-888-NYCWell, or text “WELL” to 65173. However, if HELPLINE you are ever in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, please call 911.

DMV & TLC Summonses BILL HEINZEN BECOMES Michael Spevack ACTING TLC CHAIR AS JOSHI Attorney-at-Law DEPARTS IN MARCH You Can Receive the Finest Representation At Reasonable Fees! In March, Bill Heinzen be - came “acting Chair” of the New York City Taxi and Limousine All TLC & DMV Problems Commission, after Meera Joshi Customer Complaints • Moving Violations stepped down on March 22. Mr. Wills • Buying Or Selling A Business Heinzen served as the TLC’s House Closings • Personal Injury Cases Deputy Commissioner for Policy & Other Legal Work and External Affairs for more than two and half years before taking on his new role. Most recently, Mr. Heinzen 212-754-1011 was involved in the passage of the TLC’s FHV driver income All Bankruptcy Matters Handled pay protection rules, working closely with City Council last 97-77 Queens Blvd., Suite 1120 year to pass the groundbreaking legislation. He is also well acquainted with the new FHV wheelchair accessibility re - Rego Park, NY 11374 quirements, having been involved in its implementation. • “I am excited to build on agency successes, especially in p 212-754-1011 those areas that support and protect hardworking licensed www.traffic-summons.com drivers and the industry,” he said. It is currently unclear whether Mr. Heinzen will be made a permanent Commissioner. Meera Joshi will be tak - I can help you with TLC ing on a new role as a visiting scholar at the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management. and in Criminal Court. For more information, visi www1.nyc.gov/site/tlc/index.page . TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 13 DIRECTORY

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WANTED DRIVERS time e or full Part tim vailable shifts a 212.279.3166 For more info Call TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 14 • • APRIL 2019 TAXI NEWS NYC TAXI COMPANY AND INSURANCE FIRM UNITE TO HELP STRUGGLING CABBIES One of New York City’s largest taxi companies, Long Island United Taxi has about 1,400 drivers, who are all automati - City-based United Taxi Management, has partnered with insur - cally enrolled in the rewards program. They can sign on, track ance firm, ostraa, to extend a lifeline to struggling cabbies with their rewards and search for doctors by clicking the “Driver Re - a first-of-its-kind driver rewards program. The program allows wards” link at www.unitedtaxiny.com . The discount package in - full-time drivers to earn life insurance coverage and discounts cludes price cuts for prescriptions, dental services, eyewear, on prescriptions, dental, vision and hearing services and prod - LASIK and hearing aids. Full-time drivers can also earn $25,000 ucts. in life insurance and $25,000 in accidental death or dismember - The benefits program, which was developed exclusively for ment coverage, plus bereavement services and travel assistance. United Taxi, comes at NO COST to drivers who work 24 eight- United Taxi pays for the benefits as a function of the total hour shifts in a month. Those who work at least 12 shifts can number of qualifying drivers. Amalgamated Life underwrites the earn the discounts without the insurance coverage. life insurance and Options Plus provides the discounts while os - The executives behind the program have said they hope it can traa administers the program. serve as a model for the taxi industry, where many drivers are Tsitiridis said he had been searching for ways to incentivize underinsured, and build loyalty among drivers who often migrate independent-contractor yellow cab drivers to work with his com - from firm to firm. pany long-term. Drivers who stick with one firm usually turn out “It’s a major source of peace of mind, and as you know, there’s to be better “in terms of reducing accidents, responsibilities [and] very little of that for this population right now,” ostraa CEO Max - their performance overall,” he added. Tsitiridis is also hoping to imilian Weiner said. “So, we’re really trying to address what it entice drivers back to yellow cabs from ride-hailing apps, which is that they told us they wanted.” lured some away with incentives and earnings promises that Savas Tsitiridis, owner of United Taxi, said the program was have eroded, he said. in the works for a little over a year, before being launched in Jan. “Ridesharing apps have hurt the welfare of our drivers,” Tsi - In the process of putting it together, drivers were interviewed tiridis said. “We want to incentivize people to come and drive a last summer to examine their values and perceptions of risk and taxi, and we see this partnership as a way to bring stability to insurance, Weiner said. While yellow cab drivers have access to our business and the livelihoods of our drivers. The design of this health insurance through Medicaid or other plans, they’re “mas - program was inspired by what drivers told us they wanted and, sively uninsured” when it comes to life, vision, dental and phar - because of that, we think it’s going to make a difference.” macy coverage, he added. Armando Gutierrez, a full-time driver for Tsitiridis of 15 years, said he’s excited to qualify for life insurance through the new rewards program. The rewards will free up money for those already buying insurance and give those who aren’t a sense of Are You Over Paying? Check With Us!!! security, Gutierrez added. e “In the midst of taxi-industry change, a benefit like free c ¿PAGA DE MÁS? ¡CONSÚLTENOS! n n $25,000 life insurance is a much needed and appreciated fringe

a Royal Bay Insurance Agency benefit for yellow taxi drivers,” concludes industry veteran, David

r [email protected] Pollack. “I wholeheartedly applaud this effort by United Taxi, u 30-02 Skillman Ave. • LIC, NY 11101 giving taxi drivers these essential benefits. This is one fine ex - s ample of leadership and should be followed by all.” n

I For more information, visit www.unitedtaxiny.com . Sources: Patch New York City , QGazette.com r

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B El certificado de seguro para vehículos de transporte público se emite el mismo día. TLC Messenger Service Available* “I told my customers, ‘Let me check what happened.’ I got out s Workers’ Compensation for (*fees apply) and I saw the burning, and I told my customers, ‘Please come

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t Limits of liability: $1 million INSURE YOUR GREEN TAXI HERE i & $1.5 million Available ASEGURE SU TAXI VERDE AQUÍ appeared to shoot up from the engine of the SUV. Límite de responsabilidad: $1 millón Smoke-eaters brought the fire under control by around W y $1.5 millones disponibles CALL ROYAL BAY INSURANCE 1:50pm, and no injuries were reported. Singh, who has been a New Jersey Limousine Consulte con nosotros antes de renovar su póliza de seguros k Insurance available cab driver for almost 10 years, said he has never experienced c Limusinas de Nueva Jersey 718.383.3030 a car fire before. Seguro disponible e Source: New York Post *Coverage provided through: American Transit Ins. Co., One Metro Tech, Brooklyn, NY 11201; Hereford Ins Co., 36-01 43 Ave, LIC NY 11101; Global Liberty Ins Co of NY, 68 S. Service Road, Melville,

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Lat - a trabajar, su marido de 27 años de edad, Ganiou Gandonou, ifatou Alimi told The Post that before he left for work, her se lamentó: “Estoy cansado, pero tengo que salir a ganar 27-year-old husband, Ganiou Gandonou, lamented, “I’m dinero”. tired, but I have to go and make money.” La pareja volvió a hablar por teléfono antes de las 9:00 p. The couple talked again by phone shortly before m., pero la llamada se interrumpió cuando Gandonou recogió 9:00pm, but the call was cut short when Gandonou picked a un pasajero, según afirmó ella. up a fare, she said. “Él dijo: ‘Te vuelvo a llamar. Tengo un pasajero’”, comentó “He said, ‘I’ll call you back. I have a customer,’” said Alimi, de 24 años. Lamentablemente, su marido no pudo volver a llamarla. A las 9:08 p. m., la policía, que investigaba Alimi, 24. Sadly, her husband never got the chance to call un asalto informado, encontró el Toyota Camry de Gandonou back. At 9:08pm, cops checking out a reported assault parado al este de la autopista Hutchinson River, cerca del found Gandonou’s Toyota Camry sitting along the Einstein Loop North en Baychester. Dentro del vehículo, Gan - Hutchinson River Parkway East near Einstein Loop donou estaba perdiendo sangre debido a las puñaladas que North in Baychester. Inside, Gandonou was bleeding from sufrió en el cuello y en el pecho. Falleció poco tiempo después stab wounds to his neck and chest. He died a short time en el Jacobi Medical Center. later at Jacobi Medical Center. Se espera que, a principios de marzo, se identifiquen A suspect or motive had yet to be publicly identified públicamente los sospechosos o los motivos, pero la policía as of early March, but police say it may have been a rob - cree que puede haberse tratado de un robo con consecuencias bery gone wrong. fatales. Gandonou drove for a number of companies, including Según Alimi, Gandonou trabajó con varias empresas, in - Uber, according to Alimi, but she was unsure which com - cluida Uber, pero ella no sabe con certeza a qué empresas le aceptaba viajes su marido en el momento de la tragedia. pany he was accepting rides from at the time of the Mientras los socorristas luchaban por salvar la vida de tragedy. Gandonou, su esposa lo esperaba en su casa con su hijo de While first responders fought to save Gandonou’s life, dos años, sin saber que habían hablado por última vez. his wife waited at home with their two-year-old son, not “Me desperté a las 2:00 a. m. y él no estaba. Así que em - knowing that they had spoken for the last time. pecé a llamarlo. No me atendía”, declaró Alimi desconsolada. “I woke up at 2:00am and he wasn’t home. So I started “Le mandé un mensaje, le dije, ‘Cariño, ¿estás bien?’” Pero no calling him. He didn’t pick up,” an inconsolable Alimi said. hubo respuesta. “I texted him, I said, ‘Babe, are you OK?’” But there was Cuando, finalmente, alguien tocó a la puerta, Alimi pensó no reply. que era su marido, que había perdido sus llaves. “Era su When someone finally knocked on their door, Alimi amigo. Me dijo: ‘Ganiou falleció’. Y comencé a llorar”, contó. thought her husband had lost his keys. “It was his friend. “Mi marido era muy tranquilo, un hombre muy traba - jador”, dijo Alimi, al recordar cómo su pequeño solía correr a He said, ‘Ganiou is dead.’ I just began to cry,” she said. los brazos de su papá, cuando él volvía a casa después del tra - “My husband was a very quiet man, a very hard-work - bajo. “Siempre decía: ‘Trabajo duro por mi hijo, para que él ing man,” said Alimi, remembering how their toddler son no tenga que hacer lo mismo’”. would run to the door to greet Daddy when he came home La Federación de Conductores de Taxis del Estado de from a shift. “He always said, ‘I’m working hard for my Nueva York (New York Federation of Taxi Drivers) anunció son, so he doesn’t have to.’” una recompensa de $3,000 a cualquier persona que brinde in - The New York Federation of Taxi Drivers announced formación sobre el asesinato. Alimi espera que el asesino se a $3,000 reward for information on the slaying. Alimi entregue. hopes the killer surrenders. “Quiero mirar a esa persona a los ojos. Quiero saber por “I want to look that person in his face. I want to know qué hizo lo que hizo, porque estoy segura de que no tenía the reason why he [did] it, because I know for sure he ningún motivo”, afirmó. “Se equivocó de persona”. doesn’t got any reason,” she said. “He took the wrong per - El sindicato de conductores independientes (Independent Drivers Guild, IDG) organizó una recaudación de fondos, en son.” coordinación con Alimi, en el sitio web GoFundMe. Se pueden The Independent Drivers Guild (IDG) has set up a Go - hacer donaciones en https://www.gofundme.com/6yom2i8 . El FundMe page in coordination with Alimi. Donations can sindicato declaró: “Instamos a todos los conductores a tener be made at https://www.gofundme.com/6yom2i8 . In a precaución e instalar cámaras en sus vehículos, por su propia statement, the IDG said: “We urge all drivers to use cau - protección. Invitamos a los conductores que deseen reunirse tion and install cameras in their vehicles for their own a conversar acerca de estos acontecimientos lamentables o de protection. Drivers who wish to come together to discuss sus preocupaciones respecto de la seguridad a que participen these upsetting events and safety concerns are encour - del sindicato y se unan a nuestras mesas de debate sem - aged to get involved with the IDG and join our weekly dis - anales. Obtenga más información en www.DrivingGuild.org”. cussion circles. Learn more at www.DrivingGuild.org .” Fuente: New York Post Source: New York Post TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 16 • • APRIL 2019 LIVERY NEWS HIT-AND-RUN GREEN CAB DRIVER SE LIBERÓ SIN CARGOS A UN CONDUCTOR DE RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGES TAXI VERDE ACUSADO DE ATROPELLO Y FUGA Según las autoridades, un conductor de taxi verde que aceleró A Green Cab driver who sped off after fatally striking a woman luego de atropellar y matar a una mujer en una acera en Queens, en on a sidewalk in Queens in February was released from police cus - febrero, fue liberado de la custodia policial sin cargos. El 24 de tody without any charges, according to authorities. Lakhvinder febrero, alrededor de las 4:00 p. m., Lakhvinder Singh, de 55 años, Singh, 55, ran over Sherena Hundalani, 26, at around 4:00pm on atropelló a Sherena Hundalani, de 26 años, según informó la policía. Feb 24, police said. De acuerdo con una investigación preliminar, Hundalani estaba According to a preliminary investigation, Hundalani was caminando por la acera de Queens Boulevard cerca de la 63rd Road, walking along the sidewalk on Queens Boulevard near 63rd Road cuando el conductor salió de una gasolinera Mobil y la embistió. El when the driver pulled out of a Mobil gas station and struck her. hombre continuó conduciendo hasta que, finalmente, lo atraparon a The man continued driving, and was ultimately apprehended a unas cuadras del lugar, en la intersección de 62nd Drive y Junction few blocks away, at the intersection of 62nd Drive and Junction Boulevard. Fue detenido, pero lo liberaron unas horas después, sin Boulevard. He was taken into custody, but released hours later cargos, según confirmó el vocero del Departamento de Policía de without charges, a spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed. Nueva York (NYPD). Distraught family members told the Daily News that Hun - Los familiares, desconsolados, le contaron a Daily News que Hun - dalani was on her way to Manhattan to pick up her mother. She dalani se dirigía a Manhattan a recoger a su madre. Estaba a tan solo was just half a mile from her Rego Park home when she was media milla de su casa en Rego Park cuando la mataron. killed. Al enterarse de que no se habían presentado cargos contra el con - Upon learning that charges had not been filed against the ductor, el padre de Hundalani estaba consternado, porque “fue un at - driver, Hundalani’s father was stunned, “[because] it was a hit- ropello seguido de fuga”. Varios testigos le dijeron a CBS News que el conductor se estaba and-run.” comportando de manera errática luego de embestir a la joven, con - Several witnesses told CBS News that the driver was behav - ducía sobre la acera y parecía que “estaba intentando escaparse de ing erratically after striking the young woman, driving on the alguien”. Luego de que los testigos persiguieran al conductor, un buen sidewalk, and looking like “he was trying to evade somebody.” samaritano retiró las llaves de arranque del auto. After witnesses chased the driver down, a Good Samaritan yanked Singh le dijo a la policía que el fatal accidente fue producto de the keys from the car’s ignition. una falla mecánica. Un amigo cercano de la familia del conductor le Singh told police that a mechanical failure was responsible for dijo a Daily News que los frenos del taxi verde fallaron antes del the fatal crash. A close family friend of the driver told the Daily choque fatal e impidieron que el conductor pudiera detenerse. News that the green cab’s brakes failed before the fatal collision, Luego del choque, Hundalani fue trasladada al Elmhurst Hospi - preventing the driver from stopping. tal, donde la declararon muerta. Following the crash, Hundalani was rushed to Elmhurst Hos - Según la policía, hay una investigación en curso a cargo de la pital, where she was pronounced dead. Brigada de Investigación de Colisiones del Departamento de Policía An investigation by the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad de Nueva York (NYPD). La licencia de la Comisión de Taxis y Limusi - is ongoing, according to police. Singh’s Taxi & Limousine Com - nas de Singh fue suspendida inmediatamente, a la espera del resul - mission license was immediately suspended pending the outcome tado de la investigación y de los posibles cargos penales relacionados of the ongoing probe and possible criminal charges linked to the con el accidente. A principios de marzo, el Fiscal del Distrito de crash. As of early March, the Queens District Attorney had yet to Queens aún no había comunicado por qué no se habían presentado say why the driver was not charged. cargos contra el conductor. Weeping family and friends remembered Sherena Hundalani Familiares y amigos recordaron, entre lágrimas, a Sherena Hun - as a bright and shining star gone dark too soon during a heart - dalani como una estrella brillante y llena de luz que se apagó demasi - breaking funeral, attended by hundreds of mourners, packed in - ado pronto. Cientos de personas asistieron al desgarrador funeral, side a Queens funeral home just three days after the tragedy. que tuvo lugar en una casa funeraria de Queens, a tan solo tres días Sources: Gothamist , Daily News de la tragedia. Fuentes: Gothamist, Daily News UN HOMBRE Y UNA MUJER ATACAN A UN CONDUCTOR MAN, WOMAN ATTACK NYC DE VEHÍCULO DE ALQUILER DE NYC EN BROOKLYN LIVERY DRIVER IN BROOKLYN Según las autoridades, un conductor de vehículo de alquiler fue brutal - mente atacado por un hombre y una mujer en una tienda de comestibles de A Livery driver was brutally attacked by a man and woman in a Brooklyn, luego de que uno de ellos exigiera un viaje de manera agresiva y Brooklyn deli, after one of them aggressively demanded a ride and el conductor, asustado, detuviera su vehículo para llamar al 911. La policía the frightened driver left his vehicle to call 911, according to author - dijo que la pareja rodeó el vehículo de alquiler en Fulton Street cerca de ities. Police said the couple surrounded the Livery vehicle on Fulton Throop Avenue, poco después de las 11:00 p. m. del 10 de febrero. Street near Throop Avenue shortly after 11:00pm on Feb. 10. Luego de que el sospechoso abriera la puerta del pasajero y exigiera un After the male suspect opened the passenger door and demanded viaje, el conductor de 59 años de edad se dirigió a una tienda de comestibles a ride, the 59-year-old driver went inside a nearby deli to call police. para llamar a la policía. El sospechoso lo siguió hasta el interior de la tienda The male suspect followed him inside and tried to steal his wallet, e intentó robarle la billetera, según informó la policía. Comenzaron a discutir police say. They started arguing, and then it turned physical, with y luego el sospechoso empezó a golpear con insistencia a la víctima, mientras the suspect repeatedly punching the victim while throwing metal le lanzaba latas de metal y una botella de vidrio. Una mujer, que también cans and a glass bottle at him. A woman, who also followed the driver había seguido al conductor adentro de la tienda, se unió a la pelea, golpeán - into the store, joined the fray, beating him with a metal rod. Both dolo con una vara de metal. Ambos sospechosos se escaparon corriendo. suspects then ran off. La víctima fue atendida en el hospital local, debido a las heridas en la cabeza y las manos y a los hematomas que presentaba en los ojos hinchados. The victim was treated at a local hospital for lacerations to his Las autoridades publicaron imágenes de los sospechosos, capturadas por head and hand and bruises to his swollen eyes. Authorities released una cámara de seguridad, que pueden verse en: surveillance images of the suspects, which can be viewed at: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Cab-Driver-Attack-Brooklyn-Po - https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Cab-Driver-Attack-Brook - lice-NYPD-Investigation-506430941.html . lyn-Police-NYPD-Investigation-506430941.html. Se solicita a cualquier persona que tenga información sobre este inci - Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call dente que se comunique con la línea directa de Crime Stoppers del Departa - the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for mento de Policía de Nueva York (NYPD) al 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) o al Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit tips by log - 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) para la línea en español. También se pueden pro - ging onto the Crime Stoppers website at porcionar datos ingresando en el sitio web de Crime Stoppers en www.nypd - www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) crimestoppers.com o enviar un mensaje de texto a 274637 (CRIMES) seguido then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. de TIP577. Todas las llamadas son estrictamente confidenciales. Source: NBC New York Fuente: NBC New York TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 17 FEATURE A MOMENT OF CLARITY

BY STEVEN J. S HANKER , E SQ .

For the first time in a while, without doing anything. I think comfort zone. What you did well not much has transpired in the that’s a big mistake. 10 years ago may not be sufficient For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) industry It is difficult to predict what today. Consider combining re - since my last article. This is will happen to the industry in the sources and knowledge with your rather unusual because there has near future, but it is that very un - prior competitors. Ponder the ben - been so much action, turmoil and predictability that should force efits of building an affiliate net - unrest for the past several years – people to take a closer look at work outside of New York City. but do not let the absence of noise what is not so clear and obvious, Contemplate how you can differ - lull you into a false sense of secu - and attempt to solve a seemingly entiate your services from others. rity. unsolvable puzzle. Look for opportunities, and when Competition in the FHV mar - Companies do not falter be - you find them, don’t delay… re - ketplace remains ferocious. For cause of changes in the environ - spond quickly and effectively. bases, the need to stay on top of ment, they fail because their Change is important in organ - your accounts, your connections, leaders are either unwilling or in - izations to allow employees to your software and your business capable of dealing with change. learn new skills, enable owners to operations has never been more Companies don’t change, people explore new opportunities and ex - important. For drivers, the need do – which means that to stay ercise their creativity in ways that to remain professional, ensure you competitive in today’s environ - ultimately benefit the organiza - operate a clean car, drive carefully ment warrants not only the skill tion through new ideas and in - and continue to be respectful to and will to adapt to change but creased commitment. You may not customers has never been more also the foresight to anticipate it. like all the changes that are occur - necessary. It is these times of A good place to start is to go ring in the Livery industry right seeming calmness when one often back to the basics. Effective lead - now, but you can be sure that if has that moment of clarity: when ership will help you make the you resist them, you will not pros - the light goes off in your head and most of the opportunities, creating per. you experience that “eureka” mo - sustainable growth for the future. I do not have all the answers. ment. Customer service is paramount. I don’t make decisions, but I am There have been numerous Without your customers, you have here to help, guide and counsel. problems that have faced the in - no business. The need to invest in One thing is for certain: If you do dustry in the past several years. superior technology has never not attempt to adapt to fast-paced Most have experienced a decline been more important. Make sure changes in the FHV industry, you in ridership and a decline in rev - you have the proper management will eventually go the way of enue, but some have lost their team. Good managers are hard to Blockbuster and Kodak. The Liv - businesses altogether. Sometimes come by. Loyalty cannot be ery industry may be down right when I speak to people about the bought. Managers who know what now, but it is not out. Keep on serious problems in the industry, they are doing and do their best fighting; don’t give up. Remember I can sense that it feels incompre - every day to allow you to operate the old quote form boxing legend hensible to them, as if they are are a commodity that should Muhammad Ali, “If my mind can stuck, with no answers – so they never be taken for granted. conceive it, if my heart can believe choose to just keep chugging along Consider stepping out of your it, then I can achieve it.”

Steven J. Shanker, Esq. is General Counsel to the Livery Roundtable, Inc. and the N ew Yo rk I ndepe ndent Livery Driver Bene fit Fund.

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An Insider’s Look at Both NYC TLC Regulated Industries FOR BREAKING NEWS! TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 18 • • APRIL 2019 FEATURE SPRINGTIME AUTO MAINTENANCE TIPS

Spring is one of the most important times of year for preventa - tive auto maintenance. The grit and road salt from Winter can be devastating to the appearance and health of your vehicle. Now is also the perfect time to prepare your car for the dog days of sum - mer. • Begin by reading your vehicle’s owner’s manual; follow the rec - ommended service schedules. • If your car is experiencing “hard starts,” rough idling, stalling, etc… have these issues checked out and corrected before hot weather sets in. • Flush and refill the cooling system (radiator), as per service manual recommendations. Be sure to periodically check the level, condition and concentration of your coolant in the coming months. • If you are not a do-it-yourselfer, look for a repair facility that employs ASE-certified automotive technicians. • Have the tightness and condition of belts, clamps and hoses checked by a qualified technician. • If your air conditioner is not operating at full capacity, have the system serviced by a qualified technician to reduce the likeli - hood of more costly repairs down the road. • Change the oil and oil filter as per your owner’s manual. (Prop - erly dispose of used oil.) • Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV, etc.), as recommended. • Check the condition of tires, including the spare. Always check air pressure when tires are cold. • Inspect all lights and bulbs; replace any burned out bulbs. • Replace worn wiper blades and keep plenty of washer solvent on hand to combat summer’s dust and insects.

Source: Automotive Service Excellence

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An Insider’s Look at Both NYC TLC Regulated Industries 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 • Etc… the 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). TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 19 IATR OUTLOOK IATR’S 32ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE “REGULATORY ROUND-UP” IN CALGARY! By Matthew W. Daus, Esq.

The International Association of Trans - To view our complete preliminary con - forcement of for-hire ground transportation portation Regulators (IATR) is pleased to ference agenda, please visit companies, vehicles and drivers. Particular announce more information about its 32nd https://bit.ly/2TR44Xq . Visit attention will be paid to methodologies of Annual Conference, which will be held in https://bit.ly/2FmzqNw to register for our enforcement, including field enforcement, Calgary, Alberta, Canada from inspection protocols, and administra - Sunday, September 22nd, 2019 tive or technology-based enforce - through Wednesday, September ment. TNC audit methods and the 25th, 2019! The new organizational use of agency enforcement staff, ver - motto for the IATR is Innovating sus outsourcing auditing to third for a Multi-Modal Future for All! party validators, will be addressed. Our IATR membership now in - Driver Training 101: Best Prac - cludes not just traditional govern - tices Curricula and Administration ment agencies that regulate (Safety, Customer Service, Vision Zero taxicabs, liveries, black cars, para - & Accessible Service. This session will transit and limousines, but now introduce various approaches to the also Transportation Network Com - training and testing of drivers – and pany (TNC) state regulators, public the various levels of control or over - transit agencies, departments of sight over the process. The adminis - transportation and motor vehicles, tration, curricula and content of insurance departments, airports, driver testing will be addressed, in - planning agencies and other regu - cluding safety training (Vision Zero), lators of new mobility services, in - customer service, rules, geography cluding bike sharing, microtransit, and wheelchair accessible service. pedicabs, technology platforms and Meter Regulation & Innovation: car sharing. Soft Meter Technology, Cloud & Plat - The world is changing, and once form Solutions. This session will in - again, IATR is ahead of the curve in volve an introduction to the the mobility road. Matthew W. Daus, Esq., IATR President regulation of taximeters and smart - (left) and Abdul Rafih, City of Calgary. A In light of our new organization link to the full video of their presentation can phone applications, including an and its mission, the theme and con - be found here: https://bit.ly/2BhfMAn. overview of the regulatory paradigm. tent of our 32nd Annual Conference The latest in technology enhance - is keeping pace with the changing ments and deployment of smart me - mobility landscape – namely “Regulatory conference. For additional information ters, or soft meters, which integrate with Round-Up!” IATR is acknowledging the his - about IATR, please visit www.iatr.global . various cloud-based systems, on board di - torical roots of the City of Calgary by agnostics (OBD) and smartphone applica - “rounding-up” past, present and future 3rd Annual IATR Bootcamp tions, will be discussed, and how the ideas, modes, and regulatory agencies into By popular demand, the IATR’s Boot technology can or should be regulated as one “thought herd” to embrace the technol - Camp Training will be back for an all-day part of the existing paradigm. ogy and planning for the growth of this session on Sunday, September 22nd in Cal - Transportation Insurance Primer: Trans - smart Canadian city. Sessions will include gary. This training day is a great way to portation Network Company (TNC), Worker’s our boot camps for both regulators and in - meet new and experienced regulators in a Compensation, Auto Liability & No-Fault. dustry members or sponsors, a case study smaller, more collaborative setting. This session will provide an overview to reg - and hack-a-thon geared towards helping Trainees will be encouraged to network ulators and industry of the basics of insur - improve service and safety in the host city with experts in the field to learn best prac - ance, including the distinctions between of Calgary, a workshop to develop model tices that may apply to multiple jurisdic - personal lines and commercial automobile regulations for automated and connected tions. Also, for the first time, certain limited policies, the interplay with Workers’ Com - vehicles, as well as labor/workforce issues, sessions will be opened for industry mem - pensation and Personal Injury Protection new technology, multi-modal transporta - bers to attend and speak. For the second statutes and new insurance models such as tion planning, and topics involving safety, year in a row, the IATR will offer profes - TNC supplemental insurance. The chang - equity and accessibility! sional service credits for many of its ses - ing landscape of insurance with respect to sions (especially the Boot Camp sessions). telematics technology, cameras/partitions, Registration & Sponsorship Open - Detailed This includes continuing legal education and new forms of predictive insurance mod - Program Agenda Announced! credits in all 50 US States, as well as urban els will be addressed, as well as a forward - We have an eventful program planned planning and engineering credits. ing thinking perspective on the advent of and hope that you can join us this year in Topics include regulatory basics, but car sharing and rental models as well as Calgary! Please join us at the Fairmont Pal - also workshops on specialized topics, as fol - connected and automated vehicles. liser Hotel in Calgary from September 22nd lows: – 25th, 2019. Please visit Transportation Law Enforcement 101: IATR’s Model Regulations Workshop https://bit.ly/2WcHfLs for more information Methods, Legal Parameters & Best Practices. A wide array of thought leaders, aca - about the venue. Please make sure to book A panel of experts will address best prac - demics, industry and organizational leaders your room on or before June 21st, 2019. tices and common issues involving the en - in the mobility and transportation technol - Continued on page 22 TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 20 • • APRIL 2019 Wha t Ar e Y ou HA VE A TL C LICENSE? Waiting F or?

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ogy space will be invited to take part on Michigan; and the University of Virginia, of high volume smartphone app company a “Charrette style” visioning exercise, School of Engineering and Applied Sci - vehicles work. The New York approach with white board sessions, break out ences. will be contrasted with other jurisdic - groups and audience participation to de - The results of the Calgary focused tions, including Singapore and London, velop a plan for innovative multi-modal Hack-A-Thon will be presented, to add as London recently changed its conges - integration and preparation for the fu - context and proffer a tentative series of tion pricing policy by removing the pri - ture implementation and introduction of solutions. The IATR conference will in - vate hire vehicle exemption – but not the shared automated and connected vehi - volve presentation from the finalists or black cab exemption. cles. The benchmarking and best prac - winners of its 4th annual Hack-A-Thon The Driver Revolution: Are Unions tices blueprint from this day-long session competition, using a set of public and pri - Back? This panel will discuss the major and workshop will be used to formulate vate transportation data available changes that are undergoing in the the IATR’s Model Regulations for Auto - through the IATR’s Data Commons. The transportation workforce. To name a few, mated Transportation. Leaders of vari - goal of the Hack-A-Thon is to provide a there have been attempts to unionize ous government, industry and comprehensive “Smart Mobility Plan” drivers by law in Seattle. NYC has insti - quasi-government organizations (includ - that may include: reduced congestion; tuted the first-ever minimum wage law ing organizations that are members of centralized dispatch systems or data for independent contractor drivers, and the IATR’s Advisory Board) will talk platforms for for-hire ground transporta - there have been new wage rulings in about a wide range of issues affecting tion services; connected & autonomous London. These reforms are changing the their members, and the future of mobil - vehicle implementation & testing; Mobil - landscape of transportation nationally ity in a fast-changing business environ - ity on Demand (MOD) – Mobility-As-A- and internationally. ment. These organizations Service multi-modal may include mobility integration options; in - IATR Committee Meetings providers, auto manufactur - creased “Shared Mobility” op - The very active IATR committees, ers, technology and telemat - tions; Equity – wheelchair that work year-round to share best regu - ics companies as well as accessible service enhance - latory practices, news and developments, leaders representing public ments and service to under- will be meeting on the last day of the con - transit agencies, depart - served communities. ference, including the following: ments of transportation, air - Technology & Innovation Committee. ports, innovative think tanks, Mobility Policy Sessions Committee Chair, David Do, Interim Di - and IATR sister organiza - Many diverse sessions on rector at the Department of For-Hire Ve - tions. The panelists will discuss the policy issues that will touch upon topics hicles (DFHV) socio-economic and regulatory impacts of of safety, licensing practices, enforce - Accessible Transport Committee. Co- automated and connected vehicles and ment, labor/workforce, transportation Committee Chairs, Rupal Bapat, Deputy will identify the outline of issues to be ad - planning, sustainability and congestion Commissioner of the Chicago Depart - dressed in the IATR’s Model Regulations mitigation, equity, data/privacy and ment of Business Affairs and Consumer for Automated Transportation. technology, accessibility and under - Protection; Isabelle Ducharme, Chair - served communities, including the fol - man of the Board of Kéroul IATR’s 4th Annual Hack-A-Thon lowing: Canadian Regulators Committee. The IATR has also decided to con - Regulatory Star Trek: The Next Gen of Chair: Sylvain Tousignant, Development tinue doing one or more hack-a-thons Mobility Management Professionals. This Director of the Ville de Montreal (Bureau every year and to grow its Data Com - panel will feature representatives from a de Taxi) mons repository of multi-modal trans - wide variety of transportation agencies Safety Committee. Committee Chair: portation trip data, which is housed at regulating TNCs, taxicabs, limousines Cammie Chaumont Menendez, Senior the University of California, Berkeley. and public transit agencies, who will Scientist at the National Institute for Oc - The IATR Data Commons will continue present innovative re - to be used by students, start-ups and ac - forms and initiatives. ademics competing in hack-a-thons or A Tale of Two May - data challenges, and as information to ors: Daytime vs. Night - help fellow regulators – whether to pre - time & the Future of pare legislative testimony, issue internal Nightlife Transporta - or external studies or reports, or to con - tion. This panel will ex - duct benchmarking. This year, the hack- plore the trend of a-thon will be held from Friday, April deploying Nighttime 12th, 2019 through Sunday, April 14th, Mayors to address 2019. So far, participating universities urban nightlife district include: Carnegie Mellon University; The issues and cutting- City University of New York (CUNY); edge, multi-modal pub - Michigan State University; Morgan lic/private solutions to safe and efficient cupational Safety and Health within the State University; New York Institute of evening transport coordination. Centers for Disease Control and Preven - Technology (NYIT); New York Univer - To Cap or Not to Cap Vehicles? Is That tion sity, Tandon School of Engineering; the Question for Congestion? This panel TNC Working Group. Committee Princeton University; Purdue Univer - will analyze whether New York’s recent Chair: Terry Mercer, Associate Adminis - sity; University of California, Davis; Uni - attempts to impose congestion pricing trator for the Motor Carriers at the versity of Maryland; University of only on for-hire vehicles and taxicabs, Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities Massachusetts, Amherst; University of and NYC’s temporary cap on the number and Carriers (DPUC)

Matthew W. Daus, Esq. is President, International Association of Transportation Regulators ( http://iatr.global/ ); Transportation Technology Chair, City University of New York, Transportation Research Center at The City College of New York (http://www.utrc2.org/); and Partner and Chairman, Windels Marx Transportation Prac - tice Group ( http://windelsmarx.com ). He can be reached at: [email protected] or 212.237.1106. TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 23 THE FISHBOWL PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT BY LARRY FISHER

There’s no truth to the rumor that former Mayor Michael ficult to make a living when the drop is over $5, and the primary Bloomberg bowed out of the 2020 Presidential race because he source of business is short trips in Manhattan. And if you own a wanted to continue running the New York City Taxi and Limousine medallion that is in the WAV cycle, good luck to you. After 4 plus Commission. Isn’t it ironic that the night Bloomberg told Gene Frei - years of being in survival mode, this congestion pricing scheme places dman in Madison Square Garden that he would “destroy your f’ing survival in jeopardy. industry,” this brief conversation was reported to the New York Post Governor Cuomo is dug in on this plan. Mayor DeBlasio is feck - by Michael Cohen? Well, if not ironic, then certainly prescient. The less, spineless and largely absent, fantasizing that he may have a Taxi industry is not one person or one group of people, it’s made up shot at the Democratic nomination for President. Meera Joshi is leav - of various immigrant populations who’ve come to America to better ing the TLC this month and no replacement has been named. Maybe their lives and their children’s prospects. You’d think that a Mayor that would be an improvement? of New York would get that, but all he saw was multiple defeats in More than one of my friends has called me a conspiratorialist due court by industry lawyers and fleet owners. And so, he pledged to de - to my skeptical nature, but I can’t help but think that what has hap - stroy us. pened to the Taxi industry was the result of careful planning by the First, the TLC removed the metered rate of fare off the Taxi door. likes of Michael Bloomberg, David Yassky, Meera Joshi, Andrew There was no justification for this move, other than to cause distrust Cuomo, Ashwini Chhabra and others – including local and national and confusion. Around the same time, NYU Professor Katrina Uber leaders. It would take a skillful attorney to get to the bottom of Wyman was tasked with performing a study on whether the medal - this conspiracy and more time than most attorneys would be willing lion, as property, would hold up in a fifth amendment constitutional to devote. In New York City alone, this was a $15 billion destruction takings claim. Her conclusion was that it would not. According to of medallion values, and I would have to believe that there’s some Professor Wyman’s legal research and expertise, the medallion was attorney who might see a significant payday resulting from uncov - problematic property and differs from real estate and other forms of ering this illegal conspiracy to destroy people’s lives and their eco - property that warrant certain property rights. nomic well-being. Your witness, counselor. This coincided with the Green Cab initiative, which Mayor Bloomberg said was necessary to serve the needs of the outer bor - Larry Fisher entered the NYC transportation industry in 1982 as a yellow oughs. One politician called this a “solution in search of a problem.” taxi driver, and has also worked as a black car driver. In 1987, he became a Knowing that this legislation wouldn’t survive a City Council vote, lender for Progressive Credit Union, then took the position of lending super - Bloomberg did an end around, and got the statehouses to pass bills visor in 2003 for Melrose Credit Union – which he held until he retired in to allow for the promulgation of the Green Cab system. Of course, 2016. Currently, Mr. Fisher is a consultant for his own firm, LAF Consult - Governor Cuomo signed the bill, and simultaneously reiterated the ing Services Corp. He can be reached at: [email protected]. Yellow Cab’s exclusive right to street hails in the central business district and at the airports. As attorney for the TLC, Meera Joshi negotiated a deal with the disabled community establishing a 50% threshold of all medallion Taxis to be wheelchair accessible. She did this without having the ATTENTION: appropriate infrastructure in place, like vehicles that were electric or hybrid, which were clearly favored by drivers. The dispatch system BLACK CAR INSURANCE was poorly conceived – and in reality, it was overkill for 50% of all medallions to be accessible. In fact, Joshi decided that only 25% of IS OUR SPECIALITY Uber and Lyft cars had to be accessible. Furthermore, the synergy between Access-A-Ride and yellow WAVs could have and should have Are You Over Paying? Check With Us!!! been seamless, but there was minimal planning and therefore little business resulting from it. FH-1’s Issued Same Day As Uber expanded after 2013, and traffic bottled up worse than ever, McKinsey & Co. was chosen to perform a study to determine We shop with multiple carriers* the causes of traffic. Charles Komanoff, a transportation analyst, Limits of liability: $1 million & called the report “unbelievably flimsy,” without addressing their con - $1.5 million Available clusion: that ride hail vehicles did not significantly contribute to traf - Flexible Payment Options fic woes. What a joke. In 2015, lawsuits were filed by the Taxi credit unions and some New Jersey Limousine owners alleged that the TLC had violated their own rules regarding Insurance available exclusivity, amounting to a 5th amendment constitutional takings Black Car • Car Service • Luxury Limo • Taxi claim. Judge Nathan ruled against the credit unions, stating that it Insure your TLC was premature to characterize the impending disaster as a taking. In any case, those harmed could seek redress through a state admin - Corporation with US istrative hearing. An article 78 proceeding filed earlier by the same Insurance for Vans & Mini Vans plaintiffs was decided by a judge who agreed with the TLC claim that ride-hail companies operate by pre-arrangement, except when in a Workers’ Compensation low-traffic area. Then, Uber et al operated on demand. Strangely, for Ambulettes, Car Uber and Lyft didn’t even have a pre-arrangement mode in their app. Services & Limousines So, if you wanted to reserve a car for later, it could not be done. Home • Auto • Business Stinks to high heaven. Last fall, I noticed frequent television advertisements by Uber INSURE YOUR GREEN TAXI HERE advocating “congestion pricing” in Manhattan as a solution to the worsening traffic problems. At the time, I said to myself and anyone Յժሿࣁ౯ժᦖӾ෈ 718-375-9000 Se habla who’d listen, which included mainly my wife, that this smelled like español a deal between Governor Cuomo and Uber. Uber advocates for 888-TAXI-INSURANCE Cuomo’s plan and Uber will get favored treatment in the form of vol - untary compliance with the congestion fee, or a reduced fee for or - A&Y Royal Insurance Brokerage 2308 Coney Island Avenue dering a pooled car. www.ayroyal.com Brooklyn, NY 11223 *Coverage provided through: American Transit Ins. Co., One Metro Tech, Brooklyn, NY 11201; Hereford Ins Co., 36-01 43 Ave, LIC NY And now, here we are. Reports are trickling in that fleets are 11101; Global Liberty Ins Co of NY, 68 S. Service Road, Melville, NY 11747; Fiduciary Ins Co of America, 4507 Davis Street, LIC, NY 11101; handing medallions back to owners because drivers are finding it dif - Maya Assurance Co., 45-18 Court Square - Suite 502, LIC, NY 11101; Eveready, 59 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038. TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 24 • • APRIL 2019 COMMISSIONER’S CORNER

BY MEERA JOSHI Oficina de Inclusión Office of Inclusion El año pasado la TLC trabajó con el Concejo Municipal para crear Last year, the TLC worked with the City Council la Oficina de Inclusión, un equipo dedicado a eliminar los rechazos de to create the Office of Inclusion, a dedicated team of servicio a través de la educación, el alcance comunitario y el cumplim - staff members who will work to eradicate service re - iento de la ley. Démosle la bienvenida a Malcolm Cain (en la foto de ar - fusals through education, outreach, riba) como director de esta nueva oficina. Antes de tomar este puesto, and prosecution. Please join me in Malcolm sirvió como Director Ad - welcoming Malcolm Cain (pictured junto de la Oficina de Asuntos Ex - ternos, trabajó en la división de below) as the director of this new licencias y también en OATH office. Prior to this position, Mal - antes de llegar a la TLC. La ofic - colm served as our deputy director ina está compuesta por la fiscal of External Affairs, and also Naomi Silkowitz y miembros de worked at the TLC’s licensing divi - los equipos de Educación y Asun - sion, as well as at OATH before the tos Externos. TLC. The office includes a dedi - Durante su inicio la oficina ya cated prosecutor, Naomi Silkowitz, ha llevado a cabo importantes re - and education and outreach staff uniones con diversas partes in - members. teresadas incluyendo el Legal Some of the work the office has Defense Fund de la NAACP, la Conferencia del Estado de Nueva already done in its infancy is to York de la NAACP, la Senegalese hold important meetings with a di - Association in America, Independ - verse range of stakeholder groups, ent Drivers Guild, y Green Taxis including the NAACP Legal De - of New York. La TLC está real - fense Fund, the NAACP New York izando un video sobre rechazos de State Conference, the Senegalese servicio con NYC Media y ha em - Association in America, the Inde - pezado una labor extensa de al - pendent Drivers Guild, and Green cance comunitario con materiales Taxis of New York. The TLC is fi - en varios idiomas y mensajes para nalizing a film on service refusals conductores y pasajeros. with NYC Media, and has begun Los rechazos de servicio en el sector de taxis y vehículos de doing extensive outreach with palm alquiler (FHV) de la ciudad de cards in many languages with dif - Nueva york siguen presentando ferent messages tailored for drivers graves problemas y los conduc - and passengers. tores pueden llegar a perder su li - Service refusals in the taxi and cencia si le niegan el servicio a un for-hire vehicle sector continue to pasajero por su raza, etnia, lugar be a serious problem in New York de City, and drivers face losing their destino, discapacidad, género license if they don’t pick up a pas - u orientación sexual. Si usted es senger because of their race, ethnic - un conductor, puede jugar un ity, destination, disability, sexual papel importantísimo en la lucha In our work to end service refusals, the TLC met with por acabar con la discriminación orientation, or gender. If you are a Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP’s New York en nuestra ciudad al darle su ser - driver, you can play a huge role in State Conference. Left to right: Kala Wright, Hazel vicio a todos y animando a sus ending discrimination in our city by Dukes, Malcolm Cain, and Naomi Silkowitz. colegas a hacer lo mismo. Cuando picking up everyone, and by en - usted cumple con la ley, protege su couraging your colleagues to join licencia de conducir de la TLC y you in this. You also protect your lleva a casa más dinero. Si usted TLC Driver License by obeying es un pasajero y se le ha negado the law, and it helps you bring el servicio, debe saber que la home more money. If you are a TLC llevará a juicio a los conduc - passenger who is refused service, tores que incumplan con la ley. please know that the TLC will Este problema ocurre no solo con los taxis de recogida en las calles, prosecute drivers who break the sino también con los vehículos de law. It is also not just a problem alquiler que trabajan con aplica - for street hails with taxis, but also ciones. No dude en tomarle una in the app sector. Don’t hesitate to foto al medallón del taxi o a la take a picture of the medallion or placa del vehículo que pidió por app car plate number, and to con - una aplicación y comuníquese tact 311 so the TLC can investi - con el 311 para que la TLC gate and take appropriate action. pueda investigar y tomar las me - didas necesarias. FHV Driver Pay Reglas de pago para los conduc - Beginning February this year, tores de FHV Uber, Lyft, Via, and Juno were re - quired to pay drivers a minimum Desde febrero de este año, se le ha requerido a Uber, Lyft, Via pay standard for each trip, based y Juno que paguen a sus conduc - on time, distance, and how busy tores un estándar mínimo en the companies keep drivers. A Deputy Commissioner for Uniformed Services Bureau base al tiempo, la distancia y la driver pay calculator is easily ac - Dianna Pennetti and Commissioner Meera Joshi at a cantidad de viajes realizados. cessible on the TLC website. If you walkout ceremony in our Woodside facility. Puede encontrar de manera fácil don’t believe you are being paid la calculador del pago al conduc - tor en la página web de la TLC. Si considera que no ha recibido TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 25 correctly, please contact our Driver Protection Unit at los pagos correctos, por favor envíe un correo electrónico a nuestra [email protected] . We are also closely monitoring driver Unidad de Protección del Conductor al [email protected]. También pay through the records submitted by the large app compa - estamos monitoreando los récords de pago que nos entregan las grandes nies. You can learn more about this new pay standard on our compañías de aplicaciones. Para obtener más información sobre el nuevo website www.nyc.gov/taxi . We also have an explainer video estándar de pago, visite nuestro sitio web nyc.gov/taxi. También ten - emos videos explicativos en varios idiomas en nuestro canal de YouTube in many different languages on the NYC TLC YouTube chan - NYC TLC. nel. Transición Transition Ha sido un privilegio servir como Comisionada de la TLC durante It has been a privilege to serve as the TLC Commissioner estos últimos cinco años. He disfrutado grandemente trabajar con el per - the past five years. I’ve greatly enjoyed working with our sonal y los propietarios de licencias en regulaciones inteligentes en un staff and licensees on smart regulation during a time of rapid tiempo en el que la industria ha cambiado rápidamente. Estoy orgullosa change in the industry. I am proud of the groundbreaking del trabajo sin precedentes que la TLC ha logrado para regular la in - work the TLC has done to regulate the for-hire vehicle in - dustria de vehículos de alquiler incluyendo el primer estándar de pro - dustry, including the first of its kind driver pay protection tección de pago, la obtención de datos, nuevas reglas de accesibilidad, and data collection, accessibility, pausing new licenses and la pausa de nuevas licencias y protecciones al consumidor. También consumer protections, as well as the removal of outdated reg - eliminamos reglas obsoletas en la industria de taxis y trabajamos con el Concejo Municipal en medidas que redujeron los impuestos de trans - ulations in the taxi industry and working with Council on ferencia de medallones. No pudiera estar más orgullosa del trabajo que measures like decreasing the medallion transfer tax. I also la TLC ha hecho para hacer nuestras calles más seguras y honrar a nue - couldn’t be prouder of the work the TLC has done to make stros conductores más talentosos con Vision Zero. Logramos también our streets safer and to honor our most talented drivers with hacer más eficiente el proceso de expedición de licencias y mejoramos Vision Zero, significant efficiencies in our licensing processes, de manera significativa la calidad de educación para los conductores. significant improvements in the quality of driver education, Conectamos a los conductores con recursos de consejería financiera y connecting drivers with financial and mental health re - salud mental, fomentamos viajes de Access-a-Ride en vehículos con li - sources, and encouraging Access-a-Ride trips in TLC-li - cencias de la TLC y llevamos el servicio de Accessible Dispatch a toda censed vehicles, as well as providing citywide Accessible la ciudad. Dispatch service. Aunque voy a extrañar a mis colegas de la TLC, sé que continuarán As much as I will miss my colleagues at the TLC, I know progresando bajo el liderazgo del Comisionado Interino William Heinzen. William ha hecho un tremendo trabajo como Comisionado Ad - they will continue to thrive under the leadership of Acting junto de Políticas y Asuntos Externos, y espero que me acompañen en Commissioner Bill Heinzen. Bill has done tremendous work darle una grata bienvenida al nuevo puesto. Espero mantenerme en con - as our Deputy Commissioner for Policy and External Affairs, tacto con ustedes en mi nuevo rol de académica invitada en el Rudin and I hope you will join me in warmly welcoming him to the Center de Políticas y Manejo del Transporte de NYU (NYU Rudin Cen - position. I look forward to staying in touch with you in my ter for Transportaton Policy and Management) new role as a visiting scholar at the NYU Rudin Center for ¡Hasta la próxima, conduzca como si su familia viviera aquí! Transportation Policy and Management. Until next time, drive like your family lives here!

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An Insider’s Look at Both NYC TLC Regulated Industries 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 • Etc… the 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). TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 26 • • APRIL 2019 DEFENSIVE DRIVING APRIL SHOWERS AND PEDESTRIANS

BY BERTRAM MERLING • L OSS CONTROL COORDINATOR , H EREFORD INSURANCE COMPANY

Spring’s warmer weather brings making a fraudulent claim. duce the number of pedicabs rainy days and a flood of people to • Always call the police and make crowding city streets. Be kind city streets. Drivers should be extra a report if you are involved in an and courteous to your passen - careful in inclement weather and incident or an accident with a gers, be patient, offer helpful in - beware of the often-unpredictable pedestrian. Do not leave the formation when they ask you and dangerous actions of pedestri - scene or you can be arrested for questions, point out the sights of ans. leaving the scene of an accident, New York to tourist passengers. even if you know your vehicle Show them you can be as helpful April Showers Bring Hydroplaning did not make contact with the and charming as the popular Hydroplaning occurs when pedestrian. pedicab operators, so they will water gets between your tires and • Always anticipate unsafe acts by hire a cab or FHV the next time the road. pedestrians talking on a cell they need transportation. Your • If your car feels as if it’s gliding phone, talking to another pedes - vehicle is safer, more comfort - and you are losing control, get a trian, eating, listening to music able and generally cheaper than good grip on your steering wheel on headphones or just not pay - a pedicab. and take your foot off the gas ing attention to their surround - • Remember: You must treat pedi - pedal. Do not step on the brake ings while they cross an cabs the same way you treat pedal, let the car slow down by intersection. pedestrians and bicycles. You itself. This will prevent skidding • Always use extra caution with must yield at all times to pedi - and help you regain control. senior citizens – their hearing cabs, regardless of the circum - • Always control and adjust your and vision may be impaired. stances. speed according to road and • Always anticipate pedestrians weather conditions. The dis - crossing in between double- Tips for Senior Drivers tance and amount of time you parked vehicles. By Dr. Todd Mitchell need to safely stop your vehicle • Always anticipate that a pedes - • Stop smoking, exercise and on a wet and slippery surface in - trian may jaywalk in front of a nourish yourself with proper nu - creases dramatically. bus in the process of loading pas - trition. • New York state law requires sengers. • Involve family members and headlights in all inclement • Use EXTRA caution in the hours friends in your health care. weather. just after dark, when visibility is • Seek assistance from a doctor for diminished. preventive maintenance. Pedestrian Accidents • Read to stimulate your brain. In New York City, millions of Pedicabs • Sleep to rejuvenate your body. pedestrians are crossing intersec - As the weather warms, use spe - • Regularly practice safe driving tions 24 hours a day. All vehicles cial caution and be prepared to use skills. must yield to all pedestrians at all your defensive driving skills in • Understand any medical condi - times at all locations. areas frequented by pedicabs, like tions you may have and the side • Always try to avoid blowing your Times Square, Central Park South effects of any medications you horn and frightening pedestri - and Central Park. take. ans or angering someone by rac - • Always anticipate a pedicab will • Maintain a healthy weight – you ing toward them unnecessarily. make an unsafe maneuver to re - will feel better and live longer. Such actions can lead to a pedes - spond to a potential passenger. • Ensure good vision and hearing trian banging on the hood of • Give your customers personal - through regular eye and ear your vehicle or falling down and ized service and you will help re - exams.

Bertram Merling is the Loss Control Coordinator for Hereford Insurance Company. He welcomes your questions and comments, and can be reached at 718.361.9191 ext. 7235, or via email at [email protected]

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An Insider’s Look at Both NYC TLC Regulated Industries FOR BREAKING NEWS! TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 27 THE TAXI ATTORNEY

BY MICHAEL SPEVACK

Hello everybody. This month, I tem in DMV rules and regulations to fight a speeding ticket via a qualified want to talk about the perils of getting determine if a revoked motorist is en - DMV attorney. Meanwhile, watch your speeding tickets – or more specifically, titled to his or her license back. If a speed. The consequences can be devas - the rule that a New York State driver’s driver has convictions on his record for tating. license will be revoked for a minimum going through a red light or a stop Until next month, be well. I hope of six months if a driver is found guilty sign, or a basic disobey a traffic device, you are working hard and making good of three speeding tickets within 18 the driver accrues negative points that money. Remember: I am always avail - months in New York State. make it more difficult to get his license able to discuss your summonses, Section 510(2)(a)(iv) of the New back. should you receive one. York State vehicle and traffic law says If you use a lawyer in NYC, and he a NY license or privilege will be re - or she delays a summons for you for voked for six months if a driver re - two years, but you received three sum - ceives three speeding tickets within 18 monses on the same day from different months of each other. Section 510(6)(a) police officers two years ago, you will Michael Spevack is a 1992 graduate of of the VTL (the NYS Vehicle and Traf - still have your license revoked when NYU School of Law and has been a lawyer fic Law) requires that such revocation the judge decides the case. It’s all in good standing in New York State since last a minimum of six months. This about when you got the tickets, not 1993. He has been helping for-hire vehicle means a revocation can be for much when the case is settled. This means drivers in New York City since 1995, when longer, if a motorist has other sum - you can’t drive a for hire vehicle or taxi he opened his own law firm dedicated to monses that count as negative points. in NYC for at least six months and, as “helping individuals, not large corpora - The point system determines whether discussed earlier, perhaps more. You tions.” Mr. Spevack can be reached at 212.754.1011; he also welcomes visitors to his a revoked motorist is entitled to re - can also expect your insurance rates to office at: 97-77 Queens Blvd, Suite 1120, ceive his license back from DMV. spike after a speeding conviction. Rego Park, NY 11374. Yes, there is a separate point sys - As you can see, it is imperative to

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FOR HIRE COMMITTEE DISBANDED O F U L A N N M UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS I R P N O I T S E G N O C GET DRIVERS LICENSES C H R D C C A P D W T L C MEDALLION TASK FORCE I R I P U E S E A R O H S CONGESTION PRICING SURCHARGE N E V E M F S P L T F A E HURTS RIDERSHIP G C D R E R A V L S R I S FREE LIFE INSURANCE S O E B N E S R I D E R N DRIVER BENEFITS U M D E T L T M O A Y M E NEW TLC CHAIRMAN R M N I N I I T N E C A C ACCESS A RIDE CONTINUES C I A M E F R C T S O N I TPEP VS TIT H T B M F I O E A O U T L LOANS A T S I I N F K S E K R S SHORT FARES R E I G T S U R A C N E P TAXIS G E D R A T G E T D I V I E H U R N S R I D E R S H

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Birdland ShapeShifter Lab Showman’s Jazz Club Nublu Classic Classic Theater District jazz club Performance venue with shows Intimate nightspot with a down-to- Live jazz, world music & more are with roomy red environs, a large bar nightly – plus art exhibits, video cap - earth, nostalgic vibe featuring live presented at this compact club with & Cajun-influenced food. ture, sessions & master classes. jazz & blues & a full bar. its own record label. 315 W. 44th St. 18 Whitwell Pl. 375 W. 125th St. 62 Avenue C

Blue Note Swing 46 Jazz and Supper Club Cotton Club Ginny’s Supper Club Legendary jazz musicians take the This jazz & supper club offers live Legendary supper club for jazz & Updated soul food & craft cocktails stage at this intimate club that also music, swing dancing & free les - gospel, offering Southern-style din - plus live music in the basement of serves American eats. sons. ing & a buffet brunch. Red Rooster. 131 W. 3rd St. 349 W. 46th St. 656 W. 125th St. 310 Lenox Ave

Smoke Jazz & Supper Club Iridium 55 Bar Café Carlyle A cozy venue with clean sight lines Intimate basement jazz club, long Modest cover charges & some Luxe, mural-lined cabaret at the & good sound featuring jazz, blues associated with Les Paul, which fea - major talents make this cozy down - Carlyle Hotel with a dress code & & Latin acts, plus eats. tures national & local performers. stairs music club a local stalwart. many celebrity appearances. 2751 Broadway 1650 Broadway 55 Christopher St. 35 E. 76th St.

Jazz Standard The Jazz Gallery Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola Jazz At Lincoln Center One of NYC’s largest jazz clubs, Non-profit cultural center & perform - Upscale, intimate jazz club in Lin - The largest theater in Jazz at Lin - featuring new & established musi - ance space showcasing progressive coln Center serving Southern-ac - coln Center’s Rose Hall was de - cians, plus BBQ from Danny Meyer. jazz music. cented fare & themed cocktails. signed for live-music acoustics. 116 E. 27th St. 1160 Broadway 10 Columbus Cir. 10 Columbus Cir.

Village Vanguard Bill’s Place Cleopatra’s Needle DROM Best known for iconic 1960s gigs by Jazz legends play the small no-frills Jazz joint where admission’s free, This gypsy-themed lounge hosts John Coltrane, this club continues to room & you can bring your own al - the food’s Mediterranean & the tal - global roster of acts, ranging from feature exceptional jazz, and lives cohol. Reservations needed. ent includes veteran acts. jazz & funk to hip-hop. up to its name. 148 W. 133rd St. 2485 Broadway 85 Avenue A 178 7th Ave. S. Zinc Bar Minton’s Playhouse Bar Next Door at Smalls Jazz Club Live jazz headlines this subter - Revival of a famed nightclub serving La Lanterna di Vittorio Tiny no-frills space delivers live jazz ranean club known for its African, up Afro-Asian-American fare, week - La Lanterna di Vittori's next-door bands & jam sessions at modest Latin & Brazilian rhythms. end brunch & live jazz. nook offers coffee, wine & light bites prices. 82 W. 3rd St. 206 W. 118th St. plus live jazz nightly. 183 W. 10th St. 129 Macdougal St. The Stone Paris Blues Mezzrow Jazz Club Performance venue for experimental Enduring old-school haunt for live The Cornelia Street Cafe Intimate, relaxed lounge featuring & avant-garde music, with a differ - jazz shows in cozy digs, plus cock - Circa-1977 Greenwich Village hang - live jazz pianists & a full bar, plus a ent musician curating monthly. tails & TVs showing sports. out with casual, all-day dining & a simple snack menu. Avenue C & 2nd Street 163 W. 121st St. downstairs performance space. 163 W. 10th St. 29 Cornelia St. Jazz at Kitano The Django Arthur’s Tavern Intimate spot in the Kitano Hotel Cavelike, Paris-inspired jazz venue The Flatiron Room Live bebop, rhythm & blues, Dix - boasts live music most nights, & cocktail bar under the Roxy Hotel, Classy nightspot with a vintage vibe ieland jazz & more are presented at eclectic fare & Sunday jazz brunch. with live acts Wed–Sat. housing a collection of 750+ brown this circa-1937 tavern (cash only). 66 Park Ave. 2 6th Ave. spirits & live jazz shows. 57 Grove St. 37 W. 26th St. TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 32 • • APRIL 2019

Taxi and For-hire Vehicle relief stands allow drivers to park their vehicles for up to one hour. This affords drivers the opportunity to leave their vehicles and take care of per - TAXI AND sonal needs. Taxi relief stands should not be 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/taxire - RELIEF STANDS lief.shtml ( as of July 24, 2018 ). We recommend checking back periodically, in the event changes are made to these lists.

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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 i.d .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 .id .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 TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 33

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41-25 36th Street 36-01 43RD Ave. Long Island City, NY 11101 Long Island City, NY 11101 [email protected] Tel: 718.361.0055 www.Alltaxi.com Tel: 718.361.0033 Ext. 2989 ▪ Email: [email protected] www.PearlandNY.com TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 34 • • APRIL 2019 NEWS NYC TAXI DRIVER CABBIES CONTINUE TO CRASHES INTO POLE, DIES PROTEST CONGESTION Police say a New York City Taxi driver is dead after he suffered a medical episode and crashed into a pole. Police say PRICING FEE 62-year-old Ilya Sukholinskyv crashed his yellow Taxi into a light pole on Kings Highway in Brooklyn at about 11:00pm on Since February 2, Taxi and For-Hire Vehicle drivers have March 3. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pro - been charging customers a congestion pricing fee for rides in nounced dead. Manhattan’s business district – and many drivers are complain - No pedestrians or other vehicles were hit. ing that the added cost is seriously affecting their already slim As of mid-March, police were still investigating whether profits. In March, dozens of cab drivers held a mobile, and very the cabbie died from the apparent medical episode or the loud, protest against the surcharge outside of Gov. Andrew crash. Cuomo’s office. A few dozen cabbies taped protest signs to their Source: San Francisco Chronicle vehicles and drove around city blocks near the governor’s office on Third Avenue and 41st Street. As they passed, they honked their horns incessantly, and chanted anti-surcharge slogans along with other protesters, who were on the sidewalk. The protestors say the fee, which is charged to passengers in READ addition to other base charges at the beginning of each ride, is killing business, and killing them, literally. They said that the congestion surcharge, which is designed to raise money for public & transit improvements, is reducing the number of Taxi customers – and they want their voices heard in Albany by the legislature, as well as by Gov. Cuomo. An Insider’s Look at Both NYC TLC Regulated Industries “We wanted to remind our governor,” said Bharavi Desai, president of the Taxi Drivers’ Alliance, an advocacy group, “that behind each wheel is a person that is struggling, and we need an exemption” to the surcharge. Her organization is endorsing a hike in taxes on higher income sources that she says are untaxed ONLINE AT or under-taxed. Desai said that taxes on hedge fund managers’ incomes could raise $3 billion annually for public transport, for example. WWW .TAXILIVERYTIMES. COM Source: PIX11 CONFIDENTIAL HELPLINE

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, Hindi there is a free, confidential helpline called NYC Well that is always available and accessible in 200 languages. You can call 1-888-NYCWell, or text “WELL” to 65173. However, if you are ever in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, please call 911. Punjabi

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French Si vous ou l'une de vos connaissances souffrez de dépression, sachez qu'il existe un service d'aide téléphonique gratuit et anonyme appelé NYC Well disponible à tout moment en 200 langues. Appelez le 1-888-NYCWell, ou envoyez « WELL » au 65173. Toutefois, si vous risquez de vous faire mal ou de faire mal aux autres dans l'immédiat, appelez le 911. TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 35 TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 36 • • APRIL 2019 NEWS UBER DROPS APPEAL IN FIGHT OVER UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE Uber has been locked in a dispute for three years over whether it is obligated to contribute to unemployment insurance payments that New York state’s Department of Labor decided were owed to three former drivers. In February, that fight came to an end: Uber dropped its appeal of the original decision, which had been upheld twice in the past two years. The original finding, and the decisions that supported it, stated that the ruling applied not just to the three drivers, but also to all those “similarly situated” – language that threatens a business model built on classifying drivers as independent con - tractors not entitled to benefits. Although Uber seemingly lost this battle, it is not entirely clear what that loss will mean. “We are now waiting on the NYS Department of Labor to make good on their promise to audit Uber to determine how much the company owes the state in unemployment contributions,” said Nicole Salk, an attorney at Brooklyn Legal Services, in a statement issued in March with the New York Taxi Workers Al - liance. Uber says it withdrew its appeal because the decision is not as far-reaching as it sounds. “We disagree with the decision but have decided not to further pursue an appeal because this case only relates to three drivers,” an Uber spokesman said. “Multiple federal courts have deemed black-car drivers – which include Uber driver partners – to be in - dependent contractors.” Salk responded that the black-car decision does not apply to the issue of unemployment insurance. The Department of Labor and the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board both found that when it comes to unemployment benefits, the issue is who is con - trolling the relationship, she explained. “If you look at this decision, they found that these claimants are employees because Uber has most of the elements of control in the relationship,” Salk said. “They are supervised by the app.” Source: Crain’s New York Business TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 37 TAXI & LIVERY TIMES 38 • • APRIL 2019 TAXI & LIVERY TIMES APRIL 2019 • • 39 Your full-service establishment for everything taxi

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