Bronx Borough President and NYSFTD Host Summit on Livery Driver Safety

September 10, 2009

Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr. and Fernando Mateo, president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers (NYSFTD), convened a joint safety summit to address the persistent risks faced by livery cab drivers. The meeting highlighted the continuing role of the NYSFTD in advocating for the protection of immigrant drivers who provide vital transportation services across the boroughs.

Background / Incident

By late 2009, livery drivers remained targets of robberies and violent assaults. While earlier reforms such as bulletproof partitions, cameras, and accountability rules had reduced homicides, many drivers continued to operate in unsafe conditions, particularly during overnight shifts in high-crime neighborhoods.

Community Response / Leadership Reaction

At the summit, Borough President Díaz underscored the importance of protecting a workforce central to the Bronx’s mobility and economy. Partnering with Mateo, the Borough President called for stronger enforcement of safety measures, additional resources for drivers, and deeper cooperation between city government and community organizations.

Fernando Mateo emphasized that livery drivers are predominantly minorities and immigrants serving outer-borough communities often neglected by yellow cabs. He reaffirmed the Federation’s mission:

“We are here to protect the men and women who risk their lives every night behind the wheel. They deserve the same respect, protection, and security as any other New Yorker.”

Broader Context

The summit reflected a pattern of collaboration between local elected officials and the NYSFTD during the late 2000s. Building on earlier successes in securing partitions, cameras, and accountability rules, the Bronx meeting showed how advocacy had become more localized, with borough leaders directly engaging the Federation to address driver safety.

For the NYSFTD, this event cemented its reputation as both a citywide and community-level advocate, ensuring that the concerns of livery drivers remained part of the public safety agenda.

Source: NYSFTD News Archive