Historic Time for Taxi Drivers!

THANK YOU BHAIRAVI, OUR (NYTWA's) FOUNDING MEMBER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, (WOMAN IN PHOTO), FOR YOUR ENDLESS HARD WORK ON OUR BEHALF. THE PROSPECTS BELOW THAT TUG AT MY HEART THE MOST ARE TURN RIGHTS AND LOWER CC FEES! HER ANNOUNCEMENT: We've reached an agreement with the Mayor's Office and TLC for some amazing victories if bill S-5825 passes (Outer Boro Plan). Together, this will economically secure Taxi Drivers and create landmark change within the industry. Here is what we get: Greater enforcement against illegal pick-ups. NYC will establish first-ever "anti-illegal street hails enforcement unit" to protect Manhattan and the Airports for yellow cab drivers! Unit will be double enforcement at the Airports along with Port Authority. TLC will establish further anti-illegal street hail enforcement: through use of GPS and other technologies, facility to tow licensed AND unlicensed (state plates) plates, and right to repossess cars that are taking our fares. Turn rights. NYTWA will work with TLC and Department of Transportation on turn rights for taxis (the same as buses) Protection against lease cap overcharges. TLC will form first-ever "lease cap violations" enforcement unit to police garages and brokers who overcharge drivers and pass new rules to protect our incomes from high leases. Gradual introduction of new medallions. TLC agrees to slowly phase in new vehicles: new medallions will be issued 500 at a time over three years - not all at once! For first-time, TLC will also conduct a study on the impact of the new vehicles on drivers' incomes, before issuing more medallions. Health fund. TLC and NYTWA will create a Task Force to create the first-ever Taxi Driver Health and Wellness Fund. Lower Credit Card fees. TLC will reduce credit card transaction fees from 5% down to 4% and will explore reducing debit card fees even lower. Sound good? Then we urgently need you to Call Albany to Secure These Victories for All Drivers! NYS Senate: 518-455-2800 (Give them your address to be connected to your state Senator directly). Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos: 518-455-3171. Tell them you are a NYC taxi driver and you support bill number S-5825. Please vote YES. Also, we still need the TDPA bill to move in the Senate, so be sure to Call the Chairman of the Senate Codes Committee, Stephen M. Saland (518-455-2411). Ask him to pass the Taxi Driver Protection Act! We're fighting for first-time rights and higher income if the new law passes, giving street hail rights to liveries only in areas underserved by us in the outer boroughs. After 10 years of illegal pick-ups, we have secured Manhattan and the airports for ourselves! Also, we will still have protected exclusive street hail rights in five parts of each of the outer boroughs where our presence is already established. This is why we are now in support of the bill! In Solidarity, Bhairavi Desai ONE POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT THE ABOVE TWO THAT MEAN THE MOST TO ME. WITHOUT TURN RIGHTS WE ARE CONDEMNED TO TAKE OUR PASSENGER ALONG INEFFICIENT ROUTES THAT MAKE US LOOK INCOMPETENT. VERY FEW ACTUALLY BELIEVE US WHEN WE SAY, "I CAN'T TURN HERE, OR THERE, OR YONDER." IT ALSO LOWERS OUR FARE TURN-OVER RATE, WHICH EQUALS LOWER INCOME. THE OTHER IS CC FEES. UNLESS THE 5% IS REDUCED, THE ONLY WAY A PASSENGER CAN DEMONSTRATE THEIR APPRECIATION FOR EXCELLENT SERVICE IS BY TIPPING 25%.