De Blasio Files Brief Supporting Lawsuit Against Livery Street Hail Plan
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is supporting a lawsuit against the city and the mayor filed by taxi fleet owners.
They want to block a law allowing car services to pick up passengers who hail them on the street in the outer boroughs and above 96th Street in Manhattan.
1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports
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De Blasio said the plan will do more harm than good.
"I think it's going to make it harder for people who own taxi medallions to be able do their job, I think the value of the medallions could well go down, I think the outer borough on-call car services can be compromised," he told 1010 WINS' Stan Brooks. "I thought this plan was built wrong to begin with."
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb On The Story
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De Blasio filed a brief saying the mayor exceeded his authority by issuing new medallions for those cabs, adding only City Council has that ability.
"This lawsuit is simple. It says you can't make a decision of this importance for the City of New York without the City Council being involved," De Blasio told WCBS 880's Rich Lamb. "You can't have the state Legislature make a decision and leave the City Council of New York City out."
Advocates said it benefits New Yorkers in areas where taxis are hard to find.
"We are solving a problem that has been decades in the making," TLC Commissioner David Yassky said last month.
A judge will hear the case Thursday.
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