Photo by: Gary Raynaldo / New York City Yellow Cab drivers protest in Manhattan against congestion surcharge Mar. 6, 2019.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

New York City taxi cab drivers protested in Manhattan Wednesday in opposition to  the congestion surcharge placed on yellow and green cabs by the state. The congestion surcharge would add an extra $2.50 on every trip for yellow cabs and an extra $2.75 for green cabs. Cab drivers throughout the city are livid over the  congestion pricing surcharge that went into effect in early February, claiming it has resulted in a significant drop in revenue. A caravan of mostly yellow cabs  converged on 2nd Avenue between 41st and 42 Streets in Manhattan honking horns and circling the block for nearly two hours. “Tax The Rich! Tax The Rich!” the drivers yelled over and over.  According to the New York Taxi Workers Association,  taxi drivers have are enduring tough economic times as their income has dropped 40 percent in recent years. The NYTWA contends the surcharge could see drivers’ incomes drop by another 30 percent. Taxi drivers carried placards with such messages as ‘Tax The Rich Not The Poor’,   ‘Respect The Drivers’,   ‘No More Suicides’.  The drivers have labeled it the  “Suicide” Surcharge as eight taxi drivers have already committed suicide in the past year due to financial devastation, as  the price of their medallions continue to plummet.  Prices for medallions have fallen from $1,000,000 to $100,000 in the past 10 years. They also claim the new surcharge will lead to more bankruptcies and foreclosures.

Photo by: Gary Raynaldo / Yellow Cab in Manhattan protest Mar. 6, 2019 bears signs on window pleading TAX THE RICH NOT THE POOR,  NO MORE SUICIDES,  RESPECT THE DRIVERS.

The measure, part of a larger congestion pricing proposal,  adds surcharges to any yellow cab, e-hail or other for-hire vehicle trips that start, pass through or end in a designated “congestion zone” below 96th Street in Manhattan. The state estimates it will generate about $400 million a year for the financially strapped MTA.

VIDEO by Gary Raynaldo / Taxi drivers honk horns in loud protest in Manhattan Mar. 6, 2019

Video Gary Raynaldo / Taxi Drivers Association Supporter Explains the Situation.

Photo by Gary Raynaldo / Taxi drivers protest Manhattan Mar. 6, 2019

Video of Taxi Driver at Manhattan Protest

Photo by: Gary Raynaldo / Taxi drivers at Manhattan protest Mar. 6, 2019.