FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2002

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES JOB FAIR TO HIRE 3,000 NEW NYC TAXI DRIVERS

Schumer: With Over 265,000 NYC Residents Unemployed, 3,000 New Jobs Could Provide Significant Boost to Local Economies, Families Impacted by 9/11

Standing in front of dozens of taxis and joined by Matthew W. Daus, Chairman of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), leaders in the taxi industry, and New York City taxi drivers, US Senator Chuck Schumer today announced that 3,000 new jobs are available as New York City taxi drivers. Schumer said that a job fair will be held on Friday, March 15 from 9 am to 11:30 am at the Astoria World Manor (25-22 Astoria Boulevard at the foot of the Triborough Bridge). With over 265,000 New York City residents unemployed, Schumer said the addition of 3,000 new jobs could provide a significant boost to the local economy and help many families affected by the devastating economic impact of September 11.

Schumer said that the March 15 job fair would be open to all New Yorkers, and would provide everything a prospective taxi driver would need to begin work, ranging from information on how to obtain an expedited license to how to finance and purchase a taxi medallion to how to operate a taxi meter. Schumer said that jobs are available on both a part-time and full-time basis, and that the job fair would include representatives from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, leasing agents, taxi brokers, and meter shops, as well as displays of the latest taxi technology. Schumer praised the TLC for quickly helping the taxi industry recover from the impact of September 11 and thanked the Committee for Taxi Safety for creating the job fair.

"With so many hard working people all of a sudden out of work, 3,000 new jobs right here in New York City is a blessing," Schumer said. "Driving a taxi is a good, honest, respectable way to earn a living and if you're looking for work, you should attend the job fair and see whether driving a taxi is right for you." Schumer also said that his father-in-law drove a taxi over his entire career.

"I would like to thank Senator Schumer for his support of the TLC's regulated industries at this most challenging time," said Daus. "The TLC has been proactive about helping the taxi and for-hire vehicle industries recover from the tragic events of September 11th, and our expedited licensing program is the perfect way to match people who need jobs with interesting and lucrative opportunities. Information about getting licensed quickly and easily is only a phone call away at 212-NYC-TAXI."

"We want unemployed New Yorkers to realize we have thousands of jobs available for every employment situation. Our industry is well known for its flexibility for people who want to work part-time and for providing steady jobs for career minded individuals," said David Pollack, Executive Director of the Committee for Taxi Safety.

The combination of the recession and the terrorist attacks on September 11 has spelled severe trouble for the New York City economy, creating a greater need for new employment opportunities than at any time in recent history. Schumer cited the following facts at the press conference:

In December 2001, the New York City unemployment rate jumped up to 6.5% with 268,885 New York City residents out of work. The New York State unemployment rate, as of December 2001, was 5.8%, with 515,254 individuals unemployed.

A February 13 report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics cited 408 extended mass layoff events since September 11 involving 114,711 workers (most, but not all, occurred in New York). Of those 114,711 workers, 42% (44,756 individuals) worked in the air transportation industry and an additional 28% (32,044 individuals) worked in the hotel industry.

A recent report issued by the New York City Partnership found that insurance claims related to September 11 are likely to be $52 billion, passenger volume at the metro area's three major airports has dropped more than 20 percent, compared with a 15-percent drop nationally, and local retail sales have dropped at a rate 10 percent below the rest of the nation.

In addition to Daus and Pollack, Schumer was also joined by Alan Kaplan, Vice President of the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, Lou Jiminez, President of the Taxicab Services Administration, and Vincent Sapone, Managing Director of the League of Mutual Taxi Owners.

For more information on the job fair, interested candidates should call the Committee for Taxi Safety at (718) 706-8294.

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