From: Same Boat Coalition <sameboat at igc.apc.org> Subject: Taxi driver solidarity
Dear Friends:
We have received communications from the New York Taxi Drivers Alliance (formerly the Lease Drivers Coalition), a non-profit organization which says they "fights for the rights of taxi drivers whose daily earnings are swindled away by the TLC [Taxi and Limousine Commission], garage owners, brokers, and the NYPD [New York Police Department]." It is the group which organized the taxi strike last Wed. and is organizing the caravan to City Hall this Thursday.
NYTDA is holding a PRESS CONFERENCE, TOMORROW, TUES. MAY 19th AT 3 P.M. AT CITY HALL. They invite and urge all supporters to attend.
NYTDA is protesting new rules for taxi drivers being summarily proposed by the Giuliani administration, and is instead demanding a negotiation process, which the Mayor has rejected. In fact, he has now issued an Executive Order allowing livery services to pick-up on-the-street hails in Manhattan, and has threatened to take away the licenses and medallions of some of the drivers who participate in this Thurs. caravan, if he/the NYPD perceives/determines them to have "misbehaved" during it.
People who would like further information or want to support NYTDA's campaign can contact them at (212) 627-5248 (phone/fax), or call Mona Chopra (their organizer) at (516) 334-0479/(516) 338-0829(fax).
Same Boat Coalition 180 Varick St., 12th fl. New York, NY 10014 (212) 691-8750 (212) 727-8616 (fax) sameboat at igc.apc.org