Hundreds of Taxi Drivers to Rally at City Hall Against Increased Fees to Bailout MTA, Support Rivera Jet Tax

Assemblyman Peter M. Rivera, Councilmember John Liu and other elected officials to push tomorrow for a modest tax on jet fuel sales in New York that will generate millions of dollars for MTA and Upstate roads, while having negligible impact on cost of air

ALBANY, NY (04/23/2009)(readMedia)-- WHY: State lawmakers are considering a wide range of taxes and fees to rescue the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from a looming financial crisis. Groups opposed to additional taxes and fees want legislative leaders to consider alternative revenue sources that show great potential to mitigate financial impact on mass transit users. Senior lawmakers at the City and State level believe a modest jet fuel tax will prevent additional fees on taxi rides and other taxes. Complete plan will be unveiled.

WHO:

Members of the Committee for Taxi Safety

Hundreds of New York City Taxi Drivers

Bhairavi Desai, New York Taxi Workers Alliance

Assemblyman Peter M. Rivera

Councilmember John Liu

Members of League of Mutual Taxi Owners

Other elected officials
WHAT:

Opposed to more fees on taxi drivers, hundreds of cab drivers will join lawmakers to call for legislative leaders to consider a temporary and modest tax on the hundreds of millions of gallon of jet fuel sold in New York State each year. The proposed tax could yield hundreds of millions of dollars for mass transit systems across New York and would help avoid the proposed levy on taxi rides, payroll taxes and bridge tolls that are being forced on New Yorkers.
WHEN: Friday April 24, 2009 at 01:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: Steps of City Hall
New York, New York