For-hire and taxi drivers chanting “no more tax on drivers’ backs” gathered outside Gov. Cuomo’s Manhattan office on Sunday to protest the congestion pricing plan that went into effect over the weekend.
“You might as well lock ‘em up in camps because that’s what you’re doing to them economically,” said Bhairavi Desai, the executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. “This is a stab in the back and this really hurts. They have been the economic heartbeat of NYC for generations.”
The drivers said they’re having to bear the brunt of the surcharge even though they’re already suffering financially.
“It means that now everyday they’ll deduct $80 – I make only about $120 a day!” said 59-year-old Mohammed Ali of The Bronx, who’s been driving for 15 years. “I have five kids. How do I survive?
“How do I feed my kids?”
“You’re using the cab as a cash cow for the city. Instead of putting sensible taxes — if there is such a thing – they’re putting it on the backs of cab drivers,” William Lindauer, 75, who retired after driving a cab for 30 years, said at the hour-long rally attended by about 100 people.
Protesters held up signs that said, “Could you survive a $15,000 pay cut?” and shouted “Stop killing drivers” and “Congestion pricing is my bankruptcy” outside Cuomo’s office in Murray Hill.
Three taxi owners and five drivers killed themselves last year, leading some in the industry to refer to the increased fee as a “suicide tax.”
The surcharge suddenly took effect Saturday after a State Supreme Court judge last Thursday lifted a restraining order as part of the taxi industry’s lawsuit to block the plan.
It was originally set to roll out on Jan. 1.
The surcharges affect all rides south of 96th Street.
Fares will increase by $2.50 for taxis and $2.75 a ride for Uber, Lyft and other app companies — though that drops to $.75 for riders who request shared rides.
For black cars, it increases $2.75.
Cuomo has said the surcharge is “necessary” to raise funds for the MTA and reduce congestion in Manhattan.
His office estimates the extra fee will raise $1 million a day to fix the troubled subway system.