Taxi Cab Driver Union Organization Rally Saturday. Mayor's Office Responds.

The White Plains Taxi Advisory Committee was formed in February 2008 and has
met to discuss taxi matters since then. We have been focused on creating a
taxi ordinance that ensures a high level of service for commuters and
visitors, while allowing cabdrivers to earn a decent living.

We have been looking at issues such as the current practice of multiple fares in one car,
zones vs. meters, "gypsy" cabs, alternative fuel cars, advertising,
insurance, and driver behavior. We agree that a fare increase is viable IF
taxi drivers agree to run their business in a more environmentally sensitive
and customer friendly manner.  

I would like to point out that Mario Alfonso was invited to attend our
meetings and willingly accepted joining the committee as a voice for
cabdrivers.  He met with the city for a year prior to that as the taxi
representative for all taxi drivers in the City of White Plains yet as we
began learning more about the business and making recommendations; he backed
away as he stated that he no longer felt comfortable speaking on behalf of
cabdrivers.  The Committee and the City understood this and asked him to
inform us of who we should continue conversations with but he never
responded. 

The White Plains Taxi Review Advisory Committee will be making
recommendations to address many of the issues which Mario Alfonso and the
other drivers have brought to our attention.  In turn the committee feels
that the City of White Plains is entitled a better, more professional taxi
system.  Members of the committee are working diligently to propose an
updated taxi ordinance that would help resolve the issues faced by drivers,
commuters and the city as a whole.  Once the review is complete, we intend
to announce it to the public.

Melissa Lopez
Director of Economic Development
Coordinator of Public Information
Office of the Mayor - City Hall