New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a letter sent last month to veto the taxi bill that passed the Legislature in July.

The measure would provide for up to 30,000 new licenses for livery cabs in an effort to increase cab service in the outer boroughs. In addition, 1,500 yellow cab medallions would be authorized.

But de Blasio writes that the Mayor Michael Bloomberg-backed measure, if approved, could have the unintended consequence of weakening both the yellow and livery cab services in New York City.

“If the Mayor’s plan becomes law, the existence of newly-permitted livery cabs capable of picking up street fares will no doubt significantly decrease the demand for prearranged car service,” writes de Blasio, who worked at the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development with Cuomo. “This plan will also likely increase the incentive for non-permitted livery drivers to pick up street hails illegally.”

During a question-and-answer session on Monday in the Red Room, Cuomo told reporters that support for the bill was withering, even among lawmakers who initially supported it. Earlier on Saturday, The Daily News reported that Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin criticized the bill for not including enough provisions to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

8.3.11 – Letter to Cuomo Re Outer Borough Taxi-2

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