Illegal taxi hustlers at JFK Airport are charging unsuspecting tourists astronomical fares – with some travelers paying as much as $800 for rides that should cost around $70 in a licensed yellow cab.

According to a recent investigation by Gothamist, the problem has gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic, with hundreds of unlicensed drivers now prowling the terminals’ arrival areas, targeting confused tourists fresh off international flights.

$800 for a Ride to Times Square

A Kenyan couple visiting New York City for the first time fell victim to one of these hustlers after clearing customs at JFK. A man posing as a cabbie approached them in the international arrivals area and offered a ride to their hotel in Times Square.

The nightmare began when the driver stopped a block away from their hotel, locked the car doors, and became aggressive while demanding payment. The couple ended up paying $800 – including a bogus $180 “fee” to cross the Queensboro Bridge.

How the Scam Works

These “hustlers” aren’t licensed by the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission but actively solicit rides at major transportation hubs. Here’s what you need to know:

• If someone approaches you and asks if you need a ride, it’s illegal – licensed drivers cannot directly solicit fares
• Some hustlers charge Uber-like rates and pocket the cash
• Others grossly overcharge, sometimes up to $1,400 for a single trip
• They target tourists who look lost or unfamiliar with the city’s transportation system

The Impact on Legal Taxi Drivers

The scheme hurts legitimate yellow cab drivers who are already struggling. With Uber and Lyft dominating the market, JFK Airport has become a crucial lifeline for medallion owners.

“It has become more damaging for drivers as they have lost higher-paying trips in the rest of the city,” said Taxi Workers Alliance Executive Director Bhairavi Desai. “So every fare from the airport feels more essential for them.”

How to Protect Yourself

1. Only use official taxi stands – Follow signs to the yellow taxi dispatch line
2. Never accept solicited rides – If someone approaches you offering a ride, decline
3. Know the approximate fare – A yellow cab from JFK to Manhattan costs a flat $70 plus tolls and tip
4. Use the JFK AirTrain – Connect to the subway for an affordable alternative
5. Book through official apps – Use Uber, Lyft, or the Curb app for licensed vehicles

Port Authority Taking Action

The Port Authority has approved $100 million in new funding for “Operation Legal Ride,” which will expand the use of license plate readers and AI-aided surveillance to crack down on hustlers. However, enforcement remains spotty, and many illegal drivers simply don’t pay their fines and return to work.

If you’ve been scammed, report it to the Port Authority Police immediately – some victims have successfully recovered their money by confronting the situation at the airport.

Stay safe and always take a licensed NYC yellow taxi from the official dispatch stands at JFK Airport.

Before he ever took the oath as New York City’s youngest mayor — and the first Muslim to hold that office — Zohran Mamdani was best known for something far less glamorous: refusing to eat.

Back in 2021, Mamdani was a 30-year-old freshman Assembly member from Queens who planted himself in City Hall Park with a simple but powerful vow — to fast until New York’s struggling taxi drivers got the debt relief they deserved. “I will be on strike for as long as it takes,” he declared, announcing that every call, meeting, and bit of legislative work would be done from the protest site itself.

At the time, the city’s taxi industry was on the brink. Years of inflated medallion prices and predatory loans had crushed thousands of drivers under impossible debt. Many had lost their homes, their life savings — some even their lives. Mamdani’s hunger strike wasn’t a political stunt; it was an act of solidarity with a workforce drowning in despair.

The Fifteen Days That Changed Everything

The protest stretched on for 15 tense days. On the fifth day, Mamdani and other officials escalated the fight, blocking traffic in Lower Manhattan as an act of civil disobedience. Police moved in, zip-tying and arresting them as cameras rolled. By day 13, the toll was visible. Veteran driver Richard Chow — a diabetic who’d lost his brother to the same financial crisis — was now in a wheelchair. “We don’t have a choice,” he said. “This is our last moment to fight.”

Two days later, the city gave in. Then-Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed to cap medallion debt at $170,000, with monthly payments limited to about $1,100. The crowd at City Hall Park erupted. Mamdani, gaunt from fasting, raised his fist and shouted, “This is just the beginning of solidarity. We are going to fight together until there is nothing left in this world to win.”

Turning Protest Into Policy

That victory laid the groundwork for a lasting change. Under the new program, medallion owners could restructure their loans with a $30,000 grant, secure a fixed interest rate of 7.3% or less, and rely on city-backed guarantees that protected them from default.

When applications opened in 2022, Mamdani reflected on what it meant. “We broke our 15-day hunger strike with the news of a tentative agreement,” he said. “Today, that dream comes alive — finally providing NYC taxi drivers the relief they deserve.”

The Road to City Hall

Fast forward to 2025, and that same community helped propel Mamdani into history. His mayoral campaign leaned on his record of activism — not in boardrooms or policy memos, but on the pavement with workers. Late at night, he could be found at LaGuardia Airport greeting cab drivers in English, Hindi, and Urdu.

“For South Asians growing up in New York City, taxis were how we saw ourselves woven into the fabric of this place,” Mamdani told supporters in one of his campaign stops.

In one campaign video, Richard Chow — the same driver who once wheeled himself to the protest line — greeted him with a smile: “Hello, Mr. Mayor Mamdani. I love you. We miss you.”

Mamdani’s reply was simple, heartfelt, and full of the same solidarity that fueled his hunger strike years before:
“I miss you, too.”

The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers (NYSFTD) is taking a stand against Waymo’s entry into New York City, raising alarms about what driverless cars could mean for the livelihoods of tens of thousands of professional drivers.

Protest at Governor Hochul’s Office

On Wednesday, members of the NYSFTD gathered outside Governor Kathy Hochul’s office to voice their opposition to Waymo’s self-driving vehicle testing. Their message was clear: allowing autonomous cars onto city streets threatens the jobs of the very people who keep New York moving every day.

Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for the group, stated during the demonstration:

“They’re trying to replace 200,000 men and women that make the city move today.”

The protest came after Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, submitted a permit application to the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) in June. Mayor Eric Adams and the DOT gave the green light to the program just four days ago, sparking outrage from the union.

Why Drivers Are Concerned

The NYSFTD argues that if self-driving cars take hold in New York, the ripple effects will be devastating. From yellow cab drivers and ride-share operators to delivery drivers and private car services, hundreds of thousands of people rely on driving for their income. The fear is that autonomous fleets could make these workers obsolete, wiping out stable jobs in one of the city’s largest industries.

The City’s Position on Driverless Cars

On the other side, the NYC Department of Transportation maintains that testing autonomous vehicles is part of preparing the city for the future. The agency highlights its commitment to “responsible testing” as a way to explore safer, more sustainable, and more efficient transportation options.

According to DOT guidelines, any company seeking to test self-driving cars in the city must first secure official approval and have a human operator in the vehicle during testing. This requirement aligns with New York State law, which has some of the strictest autonomous driving regulations in the country.

What’s Next?

The conflict between taxi drivers and tech companies like Waymo raises a bigger question: how does New York City balance innovation with protecting the livelihoods of its workers? As testing moves forward, the debate will likely intensify—especially in a city where driving isn’t just a job, it’s a cornerstone of the economy and culture.

Since the launch of New York City’s congestion pricing toll program on January 5, 2025, more New Yorkers appear to be opting for Yellow Cab New York rides, according to transportation officials.

New data from the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) indicates a 10% rise in taxi trips in the week of January 5-12, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Commissioner David Do shared this update during a City Council oversight hearing on February 10, discussing the impact of congestion pricing on the NYC taxi industry.

During that one-week period, 511,376 yellow cab rides were recorded in the Central Business District (CBD), also known as the congestion pricing zone—up from 461,821 rides in the same timeframe last year.

While it’s still early to determine the long-term effects, this increase in NYC taxi trips offers an interesting counterpoint to concerns about congestion pricing’s financial impact. The new toll structure imposes a 75-cent surcharge on taxi fares, while rideshare services like Uber and Lyft now face a $1.50 congestion fee when traveling in the zone south of 61st Street in Manhattan.

How Will Congestion Pricing Impact Brooklyn Car Service and NYC Car Service?

Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, raised concerns that the added toll costs could result in higher fares for passengers. However, Commissioner Do noted that, so far, ridership has increased rather than decreased, at least for Yellow Cabs in New York.

“We’re still gathering data, but in January alone, we saw a 10% increase in NYC taxi trips compared to the previous year,” Do stated.

While it remains uncertain whether this growth is directly linked to congestion pricing, some Brooklyn car service drivers and NYC car service providers may benefit if customers shift away from rideshare platforms due to rising costs.

Rideshare Companies See Slight Decline in Trips

Unlike NYC taxis, for-hire vehicles (FHV) from rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have experienced a 1% decline in trips, according to Do. The commissioner emphasized that this fluctuation could be due to normal market trends rather than congestion pricing itself.

Meanwhile, taxi drivers have greater flexibility in choosing their routes, with some favoring trips into the CBD due to reduced traffic congestion. “Drivers are finding that with congestion pricing, they can complete trips faster and move through the area more efficiently,” Do added.

Looking Ahead: The Future of NYC Taxis and Car Services

As congestion pricing continues to evolve, the MTA and NYC Department of Transportation are closely analyzing how the new tolls impact both taxis and for-hire vehicle services.

Passengers have already been paying between $2.50 and $2.75 in congestion fees when traveling below 96th Street, but this new pricing model introduces additional costs that could shift customer preferences between NYC taxis, Yellow Cabs, and Brooklyn car services.

For now, yellow cabs in NYC appear to be benefitting from the changes, but transportation experts will need more data to determine whether this trend will continue.

NYC Taxi drivers are calling on city officials to address a longstanding issue—access to restrooms without the risk of receiving costly parking tickets. At a recent rally, the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers urged the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement emergency parking placards, allowing drivers to double-park for up to 10 minutes while using a restroom.

“It’s unacceptable that hardworking NYC Taxi drivers face fines simply for taking a necessary bathroom break,” said Fernando Mateo, a spokesperson for the federation. “These drivers endure grueling shifts, often up to 12 hours, and should not have to choose between their health and their livelihood.”

Health Risks and Lack of Facilities

The union highlighted the severe health implications of limited restroom access. Many drivers are over 40 or 50 years old and suffer from conditions such as prostate issues, kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure—ailments that require frequent restroom visits.

While public restrooms in places like libraries, hospitals, parks, and churches are available, the fear of incurring fines for illegal parking makes many cabbies hesitant to use them. Some drivers resort to relieving themselves in the street using their vehicle doors for cover—an action that, if caught, could cost them their ability to drive a taxi.

“Some drivers have no choice but to stop on the side of the road,” Mateo added. “If they get caught, not only are they fined, but they also risk losing their license to operate an NYC Taxi, which means losing their ability to earn a living.”

Calls for Immediate Action

The federation cited two specific cases to emphasize the urgency of the issue—one driver awaiting a kidney transplant and another battling diabetes. Both drivers have stated that their health conditions have worsened due to the difficulty of finding a restroom without risking a ticket.

“These drivers attribute their health problems to the stress of constantly holding it in,” Mateo stated. “A simple city-issued placard would make a world of difference.”

Federation President Steven Rivera also weighed in on the matter: “NYC Taxi drivers are the backbone of this city. They keep New Yorkers moving 24/7. Denying them a basic human necessity like a restroom break without punishment is not just unfair—it’s inhumane. The TLC and DOT must take immediate action.”

Awaiting a Response from City Officials

The 21,000-member union has formally reached out to TLC Commissioner David Do, requesting intervention, but they have yet to receive a response. Meanwhile, a TLC representative has stated that the agency is “continuously seeking ways to expand bathroom access for NYC Taxi drivers within the constraints of our public space.”

In addition to restroom access concerns, the union also emphasized the need for better city support for cabbies facing other operational challenges, including NYC Taxi lost and found procedures. Many drivers spend valuable time helping passengers retrieve lost items, yet they receive little assistance from city officials in streamlining the process.

As the debate continues, taxi drivers remain hopeful that their plea for emergency parking placards will be met with action, ensuring they no longer have to choose between a basic human need and their job security.

New York City has decided to roll back a proposed regulation that would have required NYC Taxi and rideshare drivers to be insured by a “solvent and responsible” provider. The shift comes after Uber Technologies Inc. warned that the mandate could leave thousands of drivers without coverage.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), which oversees for-hire vehicles in the city, has now adjusted the rule to require that insurance policies simply be “issued by companies authorized to do business” in New York state. This change removes the burden on vehicle owners to assess the financial stability of their insurance carriers, according to an updated version of the rule posted on the agency’s website.

The TLC’s board of commissioners is set to vote on the final version of the regulation on Wednesday. If approved, the changes will take effect on January 1, 2026.

City and state officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul, have been working to stabilize the NYC Taxi and for-hire vehicle insurance market following reports that American Transit Insurance Co. (ATIC)—which insures approximately 60% of New York City’s 120,000 for-hire vehicles—is insolvent. The company posted over $700 million in net losses in the second quarter of 2024 but continues to operate in the state, despite ongoing complaints regarding delays in claim payments.

Uber had raised concerns about the TLC’s initial plan, arguing that the vague definitions of “solvent” and “responsible” could further disrupt an already fragile insurance market. In response, the agency revised the language, stating that the updated rule would offer more flexibility to TLC-licensed vehicle owners while still ensuring state-level oversight of insurance carriers. The change was made after an internal review and public input from multiple stakeholders, including ATIC’s legal representatives.

Additionally, the TLC is easing restrictions on the use of supplementary insurance policies to meet minimum coverage requirements. Under the finalized rule, split coverage will be permitted as long as all policies come from carriers authorized to operate in New York.

However, the regulator rejected Uber’s request to allow supplementary coverage from non-state licensed insurers, stating that such policies do not offer the same level of consumer protection. This decision could impact Uber’s insurance partner, Inshur Inc., which is not licensed in New York but insures over 7% of NYC Taxi and TLC-licensed vehicles through its partnership with the licensed Accident Fund Insurance Co.

Following the brutal killing of a passenger in a livery cab on Coney Island, NYC taxi drivers are demanding the right to lock their doors to protect themselves and their riders.

Michael Shelonchik, 53, was violently pulled from the back of a livery cab and beaten to death on Tuesday after two unidentified assailants opened the vehicle’s door and attacked him, according to police.

In response, the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers (NYSFTD) is calling for immediate policy changes, arguing that existing regulations put both drivers and passengers at unnecessary risk.

What Taxi Drivers Are Saying

“Michael Shelonchik’s death was preventable,” said Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for the NYSFTD. “If the livery cab he was in had automatic door locks engaged, this tragedy might never have occurred. It’s time to take common-sense steps to save lives.”

The federation insists they’re “not asking for much,” just the ability to protect themselves and their passengers from outside threats.

Steven Rivera, President of the NYSFTD, emphasized the urgency of the policy change:
“Locking the doors to keep criminals out while allowing passengers to exit freely is a no-brainer. This simple change could mean the difference between life and death for our drivers and riders.”

Ongoing Investigation & Policy Push

The New York City Police Department is still searching for the two suspects responsible for Shelonchik’s death, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Meanwhile, the NYSFTD has sent a letter to the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Commissioner, urging immediate action. They argue that allowing locked doors would prevent similar tragedies and improve overall safety.

“We’ve seen this over and over again—cabs stopped at red lights, stop signs, or stuck in traffic, and criminals take advantage by robbing passengers or attacking drivers,” Mateo explained.

As NYC taxi drivers continue to push for policy updates, the TLC has yet to respond to the federation’s demands.

The city’s overworked, under-rested cabbies finally have a dedicated place to chill out, with the grand opening of a brand new “Taxi Clubhouse” specifically for drivers to relax.

The clubhouse, located at 22nd Street and Seventh Avenue in Chelsea, provides much-needed amenities often lacking for drivers working long shifts all over the city, such as bathrooms, food, beverages, and wifi, but also cool amenities like TVs, video games, a gym, and space to pray.

It also provides an official space for drivers to simply hang out with one another and discuss the day’s work. The clubhouse, sporting a yellow motif and various cab-related decor, saw a “soft opening” in January prior to Monday’s grand opening.

The 3,000-square-foot clubhouse, open to all 174,000 cab and rideshare drivers licensed by the Taxi & Limousine Commission, was funded by Marblegate Asset Management, a Greenwich, Connecticut private equity firm and the largest holder of taxi medallion debt. After agreeing to a loan-restructuring program and forgiving over $350 million in debt, Marblegate’s principal said Monday it’s time to give back to the industry and ensure it thrives well into the future.

“We consistently heard about the long hours, the difficulty in finding a place to take a break, or even use the restroom. That is where the idea for the Taxi Clubhouse was born,” said Andrew Milgram, Marblegate’s managing partner, at a Feb. 13 press conference. “Since our soft opening, the reaction from the driver community has been tremendous, and it is clear we’re onto something. This is just the beginning as we look to provide more spaces like this one for drivers across the city so they can meet their fundamental needs and restore dignity to this profession.”

Yellow and green cab drivers were the unwitting victims of a massive financial bubble in the taxi medallion industry, wherein both lenders and city government inflated prices till they reached upwards of $1 million each, only to collapse spectacularly as Uber and Lyft came to town and swiped up significant market share from taxis. Many cabbies were driven to financial ruin, and some to suicide.

Unsatisfied with an initial deal offer, cabbies embarked on a hunger strike outside City Hall that ultimately won them a better deal, the Medallion Relief Program. Marblegate agreed to cap all debt at $200,000 per person, with $30,000 of that covered by a city grant, and all debt guaranteed by the city.

More than 1,800 cabbies have gotten their loans forgiven so far. Ndiagne Diop, who has driven cabs for 20 years, has gotten $150,000 of debt forgiven, a “life-saving” intervention that reduced his monthly payments from $3,800 to $1,234, which is the highest any cabbie can pay under the MRP+ terms. Diop said he’s excited to be able to break apart his shifts, which last up to 11 hours apiece, with some vegging-out time at the clubhouse.

“This should’ve been here for a long time, thank God this guy thought of it,” said Diop. “Now, I can have my break. I usually stay in my cab for my break, because I have nowhere to go, if I move out, that’s a ticket. So now I can park, come here one hour, and go back to work. And it’ll be safe for the riders, because I’m fresh again.”

Diop and other cab drivers recently got their first raise in a decade approved by the TLC. The TLC also approved a raise for rideshare drivers in the same vote, but the raise was halted after Uber successfully sued the agency, arguing the pay hike was “arbitrary and capricious.” Uber drivers received a smaller pay increase of 6.39%.

Bhairavi Desai, the longtime head of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance union, deemed the clubhouse — which Marblegate says will be the first of many — as an unprecedented investment in the people of the industry, rather than just the medallions and cars.

“It’s one thing to invest into the capital of this industry,” said Desai. “But to invest into the people that give that capital its meaning is sometimes a complete step that not everybody in private capital has taken. And certainly nobody else I’ve seen in private capital in this industry has taken. And so, I think this is something that’s really dignifying, it’s energizing.”

Desai urged the drivers she represents to check out the clubhouse and take some personal time to drink a coffee, lounge in a massage chair, and play a round or six of Ridge Racer on a free, old-fashioned arcade game.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to see somebody in this industry invest into their wellbeing,” said Desai. “So we really ask all drivers, whatever you’re driving, take the time out, take the time to take care of yourself, even if you come in for just a few minutes into this space, but come in, take that time out for yourself to breathe a little bit, to feel the sense of dignity and welcoming that this space allows for.”

Senator Chuck Schumer, himself the son-in-law of a cabbie, was on hand for the clubhouse opening, and said it demonstrated how far cabbies had come since the depths of the debt crisis to now have a place to chill out, paid for by a lender.

“When we set out to help cab drivers and resolve the medallion debt crisis and save the taxi industry, I don’t think we ever thought we’d end up here,” said the Senate Majority Leader. “In the first taxi clubhouse!”

The Taxi and Limousine Commission recorded over 2,500 cellphones, wallets, purses and other items were accidentally left in taxi cabs last year alone. However, one thing that virtually never makes the list of items left behind is the ashes of a deceased person.

Family members and friends of a beloved New York City businessman reported the loss and ended up appreciating what happened. They called it a posthumous gift from their loved one, given in a way only he could. 

“Absolutely humorous for dad’s ashes to go missing,” said the son of the deceased, who requested that his father’s identity not be revealed.

His dad’s final New York City cab ride began last Saturday and didn’t end until Monday when the cab driver was notified about the unusual cargo he’d been carrying for days.

The man’s remains were in a ceremonial wooden box. It was in a bag that was supposed to be transported by cab to a friend’s home in Harlem. A doorman at the destination forgot to unload the bag from the cab’s trunk, and off the ashes went all over the five boroughs. 

“I think he prided himself on kind of being a prankster and definitely wanted to have the last word,” his son said. “And honestly, this felt very like him.”

Ousmane Keita, one of the man’s best friends, agreed.  

“If you had to write a story, this is the ending he would have chosen,” Keita said.

Keita said that he, the family, and other friends feel like they received a gift by permanently having the story of their loved one riding around the city that he loved, one last a long time.

They also said they were grateful that the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s protocol for finding lost items worked in this case.

They contacted the TLC with the cab driver’s medallion number. The agency got in touch with the driver, who made sure to get the ashes to their rightful destination. They arrived 48 hours after they’d first taken the ride. 

“Everyone, yeah, A-plus job,” said the man’s son about what had happened with his father’s cremains. 

The man’s close friend specifically praised the cab driver. 

“He’s a hero, he’s a hero,” Keita said and added one thing about his fallen friend: “The missing guy is also a hero.”

For his part, the man being hailed as a hero said he’s just practicing lessons he’s learned growing up in an observant Muslim family in West Africa.

“If I’m able to find you, I give it to you,” said Omar Nyass, the cabbie who’d transported the man’s ashes for days.

He said he’s turned in all other items he found in his cab over the years to the police. 

In this particular case, Nyass said, he was living by a code he follows all of the time. 

“What goes around comes around,” he said. “Whatever you do is going to come back to you, good or bad.”

For its part, the TLC praised Nyass, who will receive a letter of commendation from the agency’s external affairs unit. 

The TLC’s press secretary also commended cabbies systemwide.

“Our TLC drivers are the best in the business,” said Jason Kersten. “And always go above and beyond to ensure New Yorkers – and their belongings – get where they need to go safely.”

With the MTA moving forward with plans to implement congestion pricing, which would be tolls for drivers coming into Manhattan below 60th Street, more and more cab and ride-hailing drivers are worried about how it will impact their income.

“Congestion pricing, it’s going to be more money from our pocket,” said taxi driver Jose Valderrama. “I really believe that they shouldn’t do it. For yellow cabs or even Uber. We are coming to work, not coming to ride.”

Dozens of cab and ride-hailing drivers echoed those same sentiments outside of the MTA headquarters on Tuesday. During a rally, they demanded an exemption from having to pay congestion pricing tolls.

“The yellow cab industry simply will not survive a third tax,” said Bhairavi Desai of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance.

The New York Taxi Workers Alliance estimates that without an exemption, struggling drivers could lose up to $8,000 a year in income.

Since 2019, drivers pay $2.50 per trip in a congestion surcharge on every taxi ride south of 96th Street in Manhattan. Yellow taxis have also paid 50 cents per ride to the MTA since 2009.

“Total $3 every trip. We collect it, pay to the MTA,” said taxi driver Richard Chow.

Cab drivers and advocates say passing the tolls onto customers will mean fewer fares.

The tolls are expected to go into effect next year. It’s part of the state’s effort to curb traffic and pollution in Manhattan, while generating funds for public transportation.

Valderrama, who is originally from Peru, has been driving cabs in New York City for more than 20 years.

“My friend told me [that I] have the best job in the world,” he said. “You’re touring around New York all day long. And probably he’s right. And that’s why I love it. I don’t make much money, but I love it.”

Valderrama says he does not love the idea of having to cut into the $300 to 400 he makes a week because of congestion pricing, especially when he has a family to support.

“I work for my wife, for my kids, for my parents,” Valderrama said.

The 63-year-old was working during Tuesday’s rally, which was held ahead of the first meeting of the Traffic Mobility Review Board. The will determine how much people pay for congestion pricing, as well as determining any exemptions. Some congestion pricing advocates argue cabs should pay the toll for each trip into Manhattan south of 60th Street not just once.

Cabbies including Valderrama are anxious to know what the board decides. He is hoping he can continue to afford to do the job he loves.