Judge Issues Restraining Order Blocking Bloomberg's Expanded Taxi-Service Plan

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - A judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to expand taxi service to New York City's outer boroughs.

Judge Arthur Engoron issued the order on Friday, barring the Taxi and Limousine Commission from proceeding with the plan. The proposal called for the city to sell 18,000 of a new kind of permit that lets livery cabs pick up passengers who hail them in upper Manhattan and the four other boroughs.

The plan also authorized the city to sell 2,000 new medallions.

Cabbies said that their costly taxi medallions would be worthless if they lost exclusive rights to street hails. Bloomberg pushed the law through the state legislature after negotiations stalled in city council.

Medallion owners and taxi lenders filed three separate lawsuits alleging that the law was unconstitutional.

It hasn't been the greatest of weeks for Mayor Bloomberg, wouldn't you say? Offer your thoughts and comments in the section below...

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