Cab drivers rally outside mayor’s office to raise awareness of pandemic struggles

Dozens of cab drivers rallied outside the mayor’s office in the rain Friday night to express that they are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic and not able to keep up with payments.

News 12 Staff

Oct 17, 2020, 2:25 AM

Updated 1,519 days ago

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Dozens of cab drivers rallied outside the mayor’s office in the rain Friday night to express that they are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic and not able to keep up with payments.
Yellow cab drivers have rallied several other times and have even shut down the Brooklyn Bridge and Queensboro bridges in protest.
Before the drivers virtually testified before a City Council Transportation Committee hearing, they rallied outside the mayor’s home to replicate a packed council chamber that is not allowed due to health guidelines.
The hearing focuses on parking violations, inspection issues, and making it a felony to assault a taxi driver. However, the group says the biggest issue is medallion debt.
New York Taxi Workers Alliance has set up a debt relief proposal that they hope the city will adopt but so far there's been silence from top officials.
Drivers said they are scraping by, trying to survive in the pandemic.
They say they will plead with the city to at least hear about their plan and that if the city doesn't agree, they plan to continue similar rallies until someone listens to them.