“Stop the greed and lower the lease”
Instead picking up fares, taxi drivers held up signs. Demonstrating in front of one of the city’s largest fleet operations, cabbies are protesting what they call high and unfair leasing fees charged by the owners of the cab companies.
Ali Memon is from Pakistan and has supported his wife and three daughters as a cab driver 12 years.
Most of New York’s 13 thousand taxicabs are owned by one of these large companies who then lease them out to drivers. The license fees are capped but not the finance charges for the car itself. Many here complain some owners with interest; charge as much as 60 thousand dollars on a vehicle that only costs 25 thousand.
There are more than 50 thousand registered taxi drivers in New York City. Most are immigrants from Muslim or Hindu countries. At one time here being a cab driver was considered one of the most dangerous jobs a person could have. And even though crime against cabbies is down there is still considerable risk and cost in the profession of moving people around.
David Yassky is head of the Taxi and Limousine Commission. His agency regulates taxi fares, rules and fees. He says although lease charges are capped and workers have can complain – some owners still try to get around the rules to charge the drivers more.
But the last fare increases for taxis was eight years ago. The hikes are supposed to benefit the drivers but during that time gas, insurance and other expenses have gone up. Protestors say with no new fare hike insight and no controls on all the extra fees – all of the money goes to the owners of the big companies and not to them and their families.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Drivers should not pay more than $108 including tax, for 12 hours leasing a taxi! Cabbies should have a lease break when work more than five days, at least 30 dollars off for six days, and 40 dollars off for Sundays! Furthermore, should be 30 dollars off on holidays! Alternatively, drivers who have a clean TLC and driver’s license, should have an extra 5% discount! Cab driver’s income is steadily going down, but fleet owners doing well, because all their cabs in business.
Someone please ask those taxi drivers how much they make in a day can amazon Taxi Service
He is right escap is i think 35000. But garag gonna give u in 75000
Lease fares? Who cares about that! How about the city hell bent on destroying the entire taxi industry? In case any of you haven’t noticed yet, the cops are destroying drivers in one fell swoop one after another on orders from Mike Bloomberg who is threatening to dock their vacation pay unless they do. I’m talking 8 to10 points worth of tickets in one police stop. Whatever you do, AVOID MIDTOWN AND PENN STATION AT ALL COSTS BECAUSE YOU WILL LOSE YOUR LICENSE AND DMV LICENSE. If you make a turn they will write you up for improper turn, improper lane change, blocking traffic, and failing to signal WHETHER YOU DID OR NOT! 7 guys from my garage have already been nailed by this scam. Bloomberg is hell bent on getting Yellow cabs off the street in his fanatical obsession with turning Manhattan into one giant bike lane. And to that person or persons who set a record and paid a million bucks for the medallion? Get your money back pal because you have been suckered BIGTIME because that thing ain’t going to be worth 2 bucks by next year. There is one black Seargent in particular with a massive boner for taxi drivers, he hangs out all day in midtown and by Penn Station who will write you 8 points of tickets in a heartbeat if you even sneeze the wrong way. If you guys want to strike, do it the RIGHT WAY. REFUSE to drive to or pick up anybody in midtown especially 44th street 7th avenue to 29th street. Let the city see what it’s like with 1000s of stranded passengers at all depots. Let them write Bloomberg to explain his systematic destruction of an entire industry. And Yassky, you’re pathetic. Where do you get off telling the NY Post that “possibly 50,000 drivers could be over-charging passengers”? This is your first order of business when you first get on the job? Where is the apology? For a guy from Brooklyn, you’re one hell of a backstabbing sob. MTA tax? Sales tax? 1000 fold increase in tickets? Why aren’t you defending the industry? If you haven’t noticed yet, taxi drivers ARE NOT replaceable! Garages are now offering rewards for new drivers. NOBODY wants to drive a taxi anymore because of this BS!
Nick! Are you feeling very tired and unhappy? Start to listening to classical music! I know you want positive changes. Keep writing, especially about solutions!
Nick! You may get the Progo HD Hero2 world’s most versatile camera. See it on YouTube or ProGo.com – This tiny camera could do so much for cabdrivers! Camera is one of the best eyewitnesses, and would not lie! Do not use it when you drive!
Does anyone know NYC bus driver’s hourly wages compared to NYC cab drivers?
the lease garage charges is for new car, any car older than one year should charge less and less, the garages have write off car depreciation value on their taxes, why are they charges the highest rate for a used and beat up cab to driver
CC cabbie, check this site on nyc taxi driver earings. http://www.ehow.com/info_8496448_much-make-new-york-city.html
How you guys could get more than $16? Most of us could not make more than $11 per hours after expenses, and we must work at least 11-12 hours for that. I am just curious how any of you could steadily get more than $16 per hours, in the full 12-hour shifts?
Paying high leases, and other expenses leaves the cabdriver nearly empty pocketed. Every time, I go to the supermarket, realizing the money is gone. Any tips from fellow cabdrivers “how to get more money” before the next fare increase?
Here’s few tips “how to get more money” …
Talk to your riders, and be always courteous!
Keep your cab impeccably clean all the time!
Keep classical music on!
Do focus on first-class services rather than just on money!
Never break any TLC and Traffic rules!
I am selling a 2006 Crown Victoria for sale.The medallion came out of the car, the miles are high but the car is in good condition. The transmission and the engine is in mint condition.The asking price for this car is $1000. The price is negotiable as well.
Please call me at: 917-704-8627
Only Iranian TV News covered this. Who is really running this thing and for what purpose?
all you drivers are cheap and greddy bastards
driver hater, sorry for your experience with yellowcab, just don’t take it personally please, cause drivers are also victims like you belonging to 99%. I assume you are not an taxi insider so you can’t see the system. Still there is no excuse to cause you inconvenience and suffering but it happens due to incompetent system that for long made passengers and drivers alike blue in yellow.
Please continue discussion on the forum: link