Epstein asks panel whether TLC transfer or single company would fix industry
Epstein asks the panel whether moving authority to TLC will eliminate illegal actors. Garbett says no and proposes one company with a uniform fleet and benefits; Mahmoud and Mazalu say they are open to any agency that can enforce laws and help the industry.
Thank you.
Just to you all in the industry, do you all think that moving this authority, TLC, will get rid of the illegal actors on the street?
No.
No, I don't think TLC wants to do it anyway.
I think it needs to be one company, Harvey.
It really does.
It needs to be one company that takes over the whole industry and has its own fleet, pays the drivers, gives the drivers benefits.
Make it like the MTA.
Make it like a transportation service through New York.
The park may be a little different because that operates a little different, but on the street, it could be a really great thing for Manhattan to have pedicabs and six-seaters.
We really need the six-seaters because that moves more people.
And then you have control.
You have the control of the safety.
You have control of the insurance.
You have control of basically the maintenance.
The batteries, I've got 25 batteries.
You know, I have a building that I charge them in on Long Island.
Yeah.
I hear you.
I hear you.
Yeah, so I understand how to run this business, and I understand how it would work in Manhattan.
And it would eliminate everybody because if all the cabs were the same and all the drivers were wearing the same uniforms and everything looked the same, then somebody that comes in from out of town or even a New Yorker,
and social media, of course, would blow it up to the point where everybody knows that that's the cab for Manhattan.
So anybody else that's riding around with something that's not, that doesn't look like ours, the cops can take them right off the street.
And then that's how you get rid of the bad actors.
How about you two gentlemen?
Do you want to respond to the question about moving into TLC?
Is that going to change it?
And maybe responding to his comment about centralizing the system.
We are open to any agency that can enforce
the laws and the rules, TLC, police department, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
Are doing a very good job, but need more enforcement.
Thank you.
Anything else, sir, that you wanted to add?
Actually, we are, as my colleague said, we are open to any agency that can help us to fix our industry.
All right.
Thank you.