On Tuesday, the Democrat-controlled Assembly passed a Bloomberg-backed bill that allows livery cabs — the unmarked black cars that are typically arranged for by passengers ahead of time — to accept anyone hailing them off the street in the outer boroughs and Upper Manhattan. However, the bill’s still in doubt as the GOP-controlled Senate considers killing the measure. While more cabs in the outer boroughs sounds good by us, it’s riled up the yellow taxi cab drivers, who protested at City Hall on Monday, chanting, “Hail no, this plan must go!” The drivers who own taxi medallions or lease cabs from medallion owners said they’ll lose money, as well as the exclusive legal right to street hails in the city, but Taxi & Limousine Commissioner David Yassky explained, “We are a city of five boroughs, and it’s long past time that we have equitable taxi service in all five boroughs.” [NYP, NYP, NYT]
