Attention Medallion Taxicabs

dabeer.

We have talked till we are blue in the face.

If you want to fight back, discourage your passengers from using the MTA crossings. This we can do. There is nothing more wrong than this tax.

Here is part of an article I wrote back in June. Reasons this tax is wrong

Why MTA Bailout Legislation is Wrong For NYC Taxi Business

1. NYC taxi cabs are a public transportation service that is owned privately by thousands of owners and drivers.

2. Taxi drivers are not tax collectors. They are now being put in a position to be tax collectors. This is a role they should not be in.

3. If the tax does go into effect, there will be passengers that will reluctantly pay the tax and tip the driver properly because they can afford it and because they feel the driver deserves not to lose money. Also they need the taxi service for one reason or another and have no other choice. This we can’t deny.

But in many cases, since passengers have the option of deducting the tax from the tip they would otherwise give to the drivers there certainly will be times when this occurs. In this case the driver will have to pay the tax. So, it’s not incorrect to say that those who are presumed to be charged the tax have an option not to pay it and those who are supposed to collect the tax have no other option but to pay it when it is not other wise collected. This will hurt drivers income. This is not fair.

4. There would be some loss of business due to the extra charge. Any time the price of a service goes up those on the fence of afford ability will drop out if they have a choice. One choice they may make is to turn to illegal livery street hails as the demand for a less expensive ride will fuel the already growing black market. This will not only hurt the medallion business but it will compromise the
safety of passengers.

6. The tax limits our ability to raise fares to compensate for our rising expenses, and they are rising. When gas prices peaked at over $4 a gallon taxi drivers were denied a surcharge to help pay for this rising cost because it was presumed the expense would be a hardship on our passengers and be bad for business. Taxi drivers unfortunately absorbed this expense and made due with reduced income. When the price went down drivers were relieved. Now the price is slowly rising again. How fair is it to be mandated to give a surcharge that should help our drivers to the MTA!? And what about our other expenses, maintenance, insurance and fees to local and state authorities. These fees are rising also. How can we raise our fares to compensate if the MTA is already taking what we need? How much can we charge our passengers and still be solvent?

7. Taxi drivers and owners have to prove their costs have increased and there is hardship before we are allowed to increase out fares. Until the MTA is audited they have not done the same. Yet, they are asking for money from the taxi industry!

8. The assumption that our passengers are all rich people who deserve to be taxed is just not true. Our passengers are just about all New Yorkers from all income levels,

Examples of your average taxi passengers: A waitress or other working people who feels safe in a taxi late at night, some one late for work, someone who must make an appointment on the other side of town and public transportation routes are too inconvenient.

All New Yorkers as well as out of town visitors, in the city for one reason or another, take taxis at one time or another, because they are convenient and affordable. They are not wealthy. Many of them are the same people that ride MTA subways, busses and rail roads. Some of these passengers take MTA to one point and then taxis to complete the trip. To those it is a double tax.

Thirteen thousand taxis average over 40 to 50 trips a day. This is over ½ million trips a day. It’s estimated that as many as 800,000 people a day use NYC medallion taxi service. Can all these people be wealthy? Not really!

It’s almost as if the MTA is saying if you choose not to use our service then you must pay us any way. How can this be fair?

As for the rich they of course at times take taxis as all others do, but their basic choice of transportation are limousines!

9. It is estimated that NYC taxi passengers pay approximately $75,000,000 a year in tolls at the MTA bridges and tunnels. How much more does the MTA want from our passengers? There is talk with in the industry ( and we agree) that we should discourage our passengers from taking routes that include these tolled crossings and opt for the free crossings.

10. This tax establishes an unfair precedent. Where does it stop? What if they want more later? What if the MTA later is in the Black. Does the tax stop?

11. Taxi drivers who have no benefits and make less money than MTA workers are being asked to subsidize MTA workers who make more money and have full benefits, such as health care and pensions. If taxi drivers want these benefits they have to buy them. Most taxi drivers can not afford to pay for these benefits.

12. NYC taxi cabs are the only industry included in the legislation.

13. In addition to all the above taxi drivers are subjected to the self employment part of the payroll tax.

I AM WITH U abie ! GOOD JOB ! WE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER!ONLY US! CAN SOMEBODY MAKE OUR LIFE EASIER? ….YES!!! 1.THE MAYOR 2.SOME BIG ,, PEOPLE,, FROM D.O.T. 3. COMMISSIONER DAUS AND OTHERS , HOW? VERRY SIMPLE. LET US MAKE TURN WHERE NOW IS PROHIBITED. 2.LET US USE BUS LANES WHITOUT TIME RESTRICTIONS 3. CRACK DOWN BLACK CABBIES WHEN THEY SOLICIT PASSANGERS . ONLY 3 THINGS BUT BELIVE ME IT HELPS A LOT. I WANT YOUR OPPINION….THANKS RUDY!