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PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- Taxi driver Lida Escobar sat in her beige Lincoln Town Car, happy to have a parking spot along Westchester Avenue, but she's afraid it could get even harder to find a spot."They're going to bring in more drivers," said Escobar. "We don't have much business. It's a small town."The Village of Port Chester is currently looking at transferring taxi regulation to the Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission, which would make it possible for TLC taxis outside Port Chester to compete with those in the Village.The village has already transferred driver licensing to the TLC, and is looking at expanding its authority.
The Village Board of Trustees will meet Monday, July 18, to vote on adopting a law that will extend all current taxi licenses, due to expire August 31, through the end of November for the express intent of allowing time to discuss the viability of transferring more regulatory powers to the TLC.The amount of taxis in Port Chester is currently capped at 75, and Escobar fears that if TLC takes over regulation the cap will be subverted since any TLC licensed taxi will be able to come into Port Chester.Harry Salcedo, Escobar's manager at R.C. Taxi, said more competition would lessen the value of the company's taxis and those of its private drivers, like Escobar."All that money we invested over the years in our cars will go right out the window," said Salcedo.What do you think should be done about taxi regulation in Port Chester?
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