NYC Council Recap: Drivers Demand Curb Space For Bathroom Breaks, AV Fears & Commuter Vans (Part 2)

Summary of public testimony during City Council Transportation & Infrastructure Committee public hearing

Sep 17, 2025

As a reminder (see Part 1), the City Council public session covered five bills: Int. 0115 (EV charging map), Int. 0139 (TLC Board of Commissioners expansion), Int. 1000 (FHV use of commercial parking zones), Int. 1346 (TLC / DOT commuter van study), and Int. 1347 (enforcement against unlicensed commuter vans).

City Council Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair Brooks‑Powers restated rules of decorum and a two‑minute speaking limit; written testimony was invited by email.

When the hearing shifted to public testimony, it was clear Intro 1000 (allowing FHVs in commercial meter zones for 30 minutes, four times daily) was a key piece of proposed legislation for many drivers. Much of the driver testimony made Intro 1000 about health, dignity, and basic worker protections, not a curbside carve‑out.

City Council Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair Brooks‑Powers had to call order near the start of the hearing when Fernando Mateo, Chairman of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers (NYSFTD), complained about not having more time to testify (technically all public speakers were allotted two minutes) and that Brooks‑Powers was being “impolite” and “rude”. He was escorted out of Council Chambers—an early tell that emotions were running high.

Source: NYC Council

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Key Themes & Representative Testimony

1) Restroom access, health, and dignity (Intro 1000)

Drivers’ health and $100+ tickets: Multiple drivers described receiving $100+ tickets when stepping away briefly to use a restroom, and linked “holding it” to medical issues. One driver recounted severe stomach pain in Midtown, difficulty finding legal parking, and returning to a $100 ticket.
Medical perspective: Dr. Paul Tallaj, MD, a surgeon and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for NYSFTD, testified that delaying restroom access increases risks of UTIs, kidney stones, bladder dysfunction and other health problems.
Family impact: Janice Hernandez, whose father is a TLC-licensed driver, described his struggle fighting kidney disease and the burden it placed on their family, supporting easing drivers’ access to restroom (Intro 1000).
Access tied to driver vs. vehicle: Eligibility should be tied to TLC‑licensed drivers (not vehicles); consider longer than 30 minutes (one speaker suggested 90 minutes). New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) leader Bhairavi Desai was fearful that companies in the future would use commercial curb space for AV staging.
Organized driver support: Independent Drivers Guild (IDG) members repeatedly supported Intro 1000, citing long shifts (10–12 hours), limited legal places to stop, and restroom refusals at businesses. IDG’s policy director Andrew Greenblatt stated there are ~80,000 FHV drivers and only 31 relief stands (~1 per 2,500 drivers); he criticized the lack of new relief stands since 2019. He also made the point that Int. 1000 would be “revenue positive” for the city as the spaces are metered and would be more (legally) utilized.
“This isn’t just a matter of convenience, it’s a matter of health, safety, and basic dignity…the first time we met with [NYC DOT] on this issue was 2019. They told us they would work on it. It is six years later and they’ve added exactly zero relief stands in six years. At this rate, over the next 100 years, they’ll add zero relief stands.”

2) Freight/curb management perspective (Int. 1000)

Trucking Association of New York warned that, as written, Int. 1000 bill could increase conflicts between professional drivers in loading zones already frequently blocked. Recommended data/reporting requirements (how many loading zones, where, usage) and collaboration on curb solutions that accommodate both freight and driver needs.

3) Commuter vans: enforcement, stops, and industry viability (Int. 1346 & 1347)

Commuter Van Association leader Leroy Morris thanked the Council for attention to vans, cited insurance burdens (crisis) and need for continued help, and asked for more designated commuter van stops. Desmond West described heavy illegal activity along specific corridors and called for more frequent, concentrated enforcement.
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) supported Int. 1346 (study) and Int. 1347 (enforcement), emphasizing concerns that illegally operating commuter vans can impact bus service and accessibility if not properly regulated.

4) TLC board composition (Int. 0139)

Livery Base Owners Association’s José Altamirano opposed expanding the TLC Board size but supported driver representation within the existing number, to avoid added bureaucracy. Other speakers echoed variations of including active licensees without altering the overall balance.
NYTWA’s Bhairavi Desai cautioned that expanding TLC’s Board from 9 to 11 commissioners would give the Mayor a 6–5 majority, altering the balance between the Council (legislative) and the administration (executive); she suggested keeping the board at nine while requiring that some seats be held by active TLC licensees to ensure driver voice without shifting power.
Alternative Proposal: Peter Mazer of the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade (MTBOT) opposed adding two additional commissioners, noting the TLC Board already serves an adjudicatory role (e.g., appeals of license revocations), and having active licensees in that position could create conflicts of interest. He argued the City should instead reconstitute the existing advisory board—which already has provisions for owner and driver representation in the Administrative Code but “has not met for years.” In his view, revitalizing that advisory board would bring driver and owner voices into decision-making without altering the TLC Board’s structure

5) EVs, accessibility, and charging map (Int. 0115)

TLC’s Uber / Lyft 2030 EV mandate (Green Rides): Michele Dottin of IDG warned drivers are being pushed toward buying expensive electric vehicles despite a lack of adequate charging infrastructure. This, she said, forces drivers to spend hours off the road and lose income.
Eman Rimawi-Doster of the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) urged the city to issue an RFP for fully accessible zero-emission vehicles (eWAV) for integration into NYC’s taxi and FHV fleets, and referenced state legislation aimed at financing accessible EV transitions.

6) Insurance costs and market stability

Jeremy Moskowitz (Voyager Mobility (VGM) / Buggy & Fast Track) praised recent no-fault, or personal injury protection (PIP), changes but warned of a looming insurance crisis tied to American Transit. He urged continued City Council to focus on TLC industry insurance solutions.
Commuter van industry leader testified to high annual premiums (tens of thousands of dollars), arguing that insurance costs remain a barrier to maintaining legal operations.

7) Autonomous Vehicles (AVs)

Numerous testifiers voiced opposition to AV testing/deployment, citing job loss concerns and safety anecdotes; several urged that any new curb privileges should explicitly exclude AV fleets.
Madjed Kamel Zegrar, an IDG member and TLC-licensed driver, said he regularly uses Tesla’s Autopilot to assess how technology is progressing. Warned that the system does not recognize dogs or strollers, raising safety concerns as the city considers AV testing.
AVs were not an official topic of the City Council hearing.

8) Additional notes

Paul Bader, a sitting TLC Board Commissioner, testified in a personal capacity supporting stronger enforcement (Int. 1347), a commuter van study (Int. 1346), and highlighting illegal airport activity, but was cut off after two minutes like other public speakers. We found this surprising given his prominent role and would have expected the City Council Committee to extend the discussion (e.g., creating an additional five minutes via Q&A).
Michael Simon gave a historical perspective and argued that expansion of cruising/e‑hail blurred traditional distinctions between taxis and base‑dispatched vehicles, with facilities historically provided at bases; the speaker suggested revisiting how e‑hail use interacts with curb/relief policy

Takeaways

The public testimony underscored how directly these policy debates affect drivers’ daily lives. From restroom access and health risks to insurance costs and fears of autonomous vehicles, the themes of dignity, safety, and economic survival were recurring throughout.

While viewpoints varied on curb space, enforcement, and governance, the hearing’s second half highlighted the human side of policy decisions.

Together, Parts 1 and 2 reflect both the institutional and lived experiences shaping New York City’s transportation future.

Also available on YouTube ⬇️

00:00 – Chair Brooks-Powers opens public testimony 05:05 – Fernando Mateo (NYS Federation of Taxi Drivers (NYSFTD)) – supports Intro 1000 (increased driver restroom access via commercial parking access) 08:05 – Dr. Paul Tallaj (NYSFTD CMO) – testifies on medical harms of lack of restroom access 10:34 – Tensions in chamber; testimony cut short - Fernando Mateo (NYSFTD) escorted out 11:20 – Janice Hernandez – shares story of father (TLC driver) suffering kidney disease 13:34 – Jeremy Moskowitz (Voyager Mobility / Buggy & Fast Track) – warns of insurance crisis 16:35 – Leroy Morris (Commuter Van Association) – calls for insurance reform, commuter van support, more designated stops. 18:49 – Dinara Zhanpeissova (IDG) – urges passage of Intro 1000; daily restroom struggles. 21:00 – Andrew Greenblatt (IDG Policy Director) – supports Intro 1000 23:13 – Michele Dottin (IDG) – supports Intro 1000; raises AV job loss concerns. 25:32 – Arjun Lal (IDG) – supports Intro 1000; describes lack of restroom access. 27:50 – Bhairavi Desai (NYTWA Executive Director) – supports Intro 1000, warns against AVs using relief spaces; on Intro 139, calls for driver reps without changing commission balance. 31:29 – Mohamed Mohamed (Uber / Lyft TLC driver) – supports Intro 1000 but wants 90 mins 33:45 – Richard Chow (NYTWA, yellow cab driver) – describes health issues from lack of restroom 35:15 – Adalgisa Payero-Diarra (UTANY) – supports Intro 1000; highlights female drivers’ challenges; opposes Waymo AVs. 36:33 – Hector German (UTANY) – testifies in Spanish; supports Intro 1000 39:33 – Zach Miller (Trucking Association) – warns Intro 1000 could worsen truck-TLC driver conflicts; suggests reporting requirements for curb use. 42:00 – Jose Altamirano (Livery Base Owners) – supports Intro 1000; opposes TLC board expansion 44:15 – Jose Lebron (NY Independent Drivers Union) – supports Intro 1000 46:31 – Peter Mazer (MTBOT) – supports stronger enforcement; alt idea re. TLC board expansion. 48:52 – Eman Rimawi-Doster (NYLPI) – calls for accessible EVs 52:29 – Raul Rivera (Driver advocate) – advocates TLC reform 54:44 – Christopher Leon Johnson – criticizes divisions among driver groups 56:54 – Anwaar Malik (IDG) – supports Intro 1000; cites health toll and AV concerns 59:00 – Khalid Khattak (IDG) – supports Intro 1000; urges more flexible break time for religious obligations 01:01:10 –Larbi Aitaabou (IDG) – supports Intro 1000, about human dignity 01:09:45 – Sonam Lama (IDG) – supports Intro 1000, opposes AVs. 01:12:01 – Pedro Acosta (IDG) – supports Intro 1000 01:14:06 – Madjed Kamel Zegrar (IDG) – supports Intro 1000, warns of AV risks using Tesla autopilot example 01:17:19 – [Lisa Rosa / unconfirmed] (IDG) – supports Intro 1000, opposes Waymo AVs, cites insurance issues 01:20:03 – Desmond West (Royal Rose Transportation) – commuter van industry, calls for stronger enforcement against illegal vans 01:22:12 – Paul Bader (TLC Board Commissioner, testifying personally) – Attempts to speak on all five bills; backs enforcement (1347), van study (1346), EV app (115), time expired 01:25:02 – Driver testimony (translation by Jacky Lin) – supports Intro 1000, highlights ticket costs 01:29:01 – Jacky Lin (IDG) – supports Intro 1000, opposes AVs, cites “dignity” issue for drivers 01:31:34 – Corey Bearak (Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)) – warns illegal vans undermine bus service; supports Int 1346 & 1347 with stronger enforcement 01:34:35 – Michael Simon – historical perspective; critiques expansion of FHVs and e-hail 01:37:17 – Chair Brooks-Powers closes hearing; written testimony invited