Yellow Cab Owners Unhappy with Livery Cab Street Hail Plan

Yellow cab owners brought forth a lawsuit yesterday over plans to let privately-owned livery cars pick up passengers on the street, with the city voting today to put the proposal into action, says CBS News.

The new plan would let 18,000 livery drivers buy permits – costing $1,500 each ­– to pick up street hails above 96th Street in Manhattan and throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island (except for Kennedy and LaGuardia airports), says CBS. 

The president of the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, which represents yellow cabs, called the plan “unconstitutional, irresponsible and unconscionable” and says that allowing livery cabs to pick up street hails is unfair to the owners of yellow cabs who have paid big for what has long been an “exclusive” right, says the article.

But supporters of the plan, like Mayor Michael Bloomberg, say the change would benefit outer borough residents (where yellow cabs aren’t always available), and would generate $1 billion in revenue for the city, according to CBS.

The new plan could be a win for Brooklynites, who now have another option if they are turned down by yellow cab drivers (and don’t have ), but it could hurt yellow cab drivers who paid a hefty sum for their medallion and now have more competition on the streets. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.