A summit to move forward the stalled taxi bill

Since earlier this summer when the state legislature passed a bill that would expand livery cab service outside of Manhattan, the measure has gone nowhere. Lawmakers have not sent the bill to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his approval, and the Governor hasn’t done much to move the legislation along. Now, in an attempt to end Albany gridlock, Cuomo is going to host a summit featuring the various stakeholders in this battle with the aim of finding a compromise suitable to everyone.

According to a brief item in The Post, “representatives from the livery-car industry, yellow-cab owners, disability advocates, borough politicians and the Mayor’s Office” will attend the meeting next week, but it’s unclear exactly what sort of compromise will be reached. Taxi medallion owners have pressured state representatives to stall the bill in the hopes of protecting their investments while New Yorkers who reside north of 96th St. or outside of Manhattan see powerful special interests fighting for nothing. Yellow cab drivers don’t cruise these areas and would lose little business from an expansion of the livery cab system.

Convening a meeting is a clear step in the right direction toward a resolution, but I’m wary of one that will feature yellow cab owners and no drivers. These are powerful and rich interests after all. Still, if this meeting moves the bill closer to Cuomo’s desk, the city will be better off for it. Now about that transit lockbox…