PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Wen Chen, Medallion Owner/Taxi Driver
1:49:49
ยท
121 sec
Wen Chen, a medallion owner and taxi driver, testified on various issues affecting the taxi industry in NYC. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the current PIP coverage, increasing funding for wheelchair accessible vehicles, and extending the medallion loan restructuring program.
- Argued for keeping the $200,000 PIP coverage, citing the lack of workers' compensation for medallion owners
- Requested increased funding for the Taxi Improvement Fund (TIF) to support the higher costs of wheelchair accessible vehicles
- Urged the city to extend the Medallion Relief Program (MRP) to ensure all medallion loans are restructured, including those held by banks not participating in the program
Wen Chen
1:49:49
Hi.
1:49:49
My name is Wayne Chen.
1:49:50
Good morning, everyone.
1:49:53
For PIP coverage, I I think we should remain 200,000 because I own a man Madeline owner driver.
1:50:01
You know, we need that coverage because we don't have work out compensation.
1:50:04
In case I need injury my job, the the insurance cover provide, you know, coverage for me in case I injured my job, I lost income.
1:50:15
So we need to keep the 200,000 coverage.
1:50:19
And also for a wave, we get accessible.
1:50:23
The TSE should increase the funding for the TIF because the wave figure cost like 80,000 right now.
1:50:31
And in 02/2008, it cost 50,000.
1:50:33
The cost increased, so they had to increase the funding for the wave figure for the medallion, from 14,000 to at least 30,000, you know.
1:50:43
And also also for the medallion MRP program, my loan is not restructured yet because my bank refused to participate in the CD program and our union, looking for the new bank to buy out the loan.
1:51:00
So the CD asked the CD and DSE to extend the program because the DSE chair said earlier, they said they ended on December, so we the DSE and the city should, keep the program until all the the medallion loan are restructured.
1:51:20
You know, we had maybe about 200 loans left for medallion because most of the medallion owner, they are restructured already, but, few owners, they had the loan no restructure yet because, the bank, they refused to participate in the MRP program.
1:51:38
So I asked the city and and the DSE to continue the program and they order Mundania loan and restructure.
1:51:44
So we are getting close to Richard Shearling, so please continue the program.
1:51:49
Thank you so much.