New York, NY – Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday the city may be forced to lay off workers after a judge ruled that a plan to expand taxi service outside Manhattan is unconstitutional, a decision that could leave the city with a $1.46 billion hole in its budget.
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Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron ruled Friday that the plan violates the state constitution’s “home rule” provisions, which protect cities from undue interference by state legislators. The taxi plan was enacted by the state Legislature after a failed attempt to get it through the City Council.
City lawyers said they would appeal the ruling, which they warned would leave a hole in the budget. Officials have said 2,000 yellow-cab medallion sales included in the plan would earn the city $635 million this fiscal year and $825 million more over the following two years.
Asked about the ruling Monday, Bloomberg said, “What it means is, since we really don’t have the opportunity to raise taxes, it means cutting expenses and we will continue to do that.”
He said some jobs will be lost either through attrition or layoffs.
Bloomberg added, “We still think that we will win on appeal, but it’s going to be a real challenge.”
The plan would have let the city sell 18,000 permits allowing livery cabs to pick up passengers who hail them on streets in upper Manhattan and the other boroughs. Only yellow cabs can do that now.
Bloomberg took the taxi plan to Albany after negotiations stalled in the City Council. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature reached a deal on it in December but yellow-cab owners sued to block the plan.
Oh so now we can expect Parking violations and meter prices to double as well as higher tolls on all bridges and tunnels because that’s what King Bloomberg does when he has a budget hole.
No. This is his way of getting back at us for having his taxi plan denied and judged unconstitutional.
Bloomberg is a shoiteh and makes Dinkins look like a saint. I would rather have a riot with nobody getting killed then another year of the idiot Bloomberg
Goldy,
Ten bucks says you are not old enough to remember the hell that new York was under Dinkins. Believe me, you are better off getting hit with the occasional parking and recycling ticket.
You’re all a bunch of idiots, Mr. Blomberg is the best mayor the city that never sleeps has ever had.
If u know mnhtn u should know that all he wants 2 do is disturb the car trafffic & make every1 use public transit… 1)hudson st use 2 b a good alternetiv 2 the hallond tunnel bloomberg noticed that ppl have a shurtcut & dont use canal st he shut of that st with trees
&lets; not 4get these new meters theyre putting now all around. It sounds good cause u wont need quarters all the time … but if u think y the city does it like this u cant overlap from 1 car 2 the next now #6 is he still the best mayor?(sounds like u dont have a car)