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| Boston taxi drivers laud ruling in NYC http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9826 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Boston taxi drivers laud ruling in NYC |
Boston taxi drivers laud ruling in NYC While not ruling on the merits of the case, Crotty said he believed the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 preempts the city's regulation. He issued the injunction after concluding that the drivers would suffer financial hardship if they were forced to comply with the regulation before the case is heard in full. The Hackney Carriage Unit of the Boston Police Department has also required all Boston taxis to be fully hybrid by 2015. Boston cab drivers have been watching the case since New York drivers filed for the injunction, a manager at the USA Taxi Garage in Dorchester said. "All eyes have been on New York since the motion for the injunction was filed," Andrew Herbert said. "As soon as the judge issued it today, everybody's been really happy because we're so bitterly opposed to the mandate." A group of about half the medallion-owners in the city was pleased to hear the New York decision, but said it is too soon to tell exactly how this decision will affect Boston taxis. "I would say it's a great start for the Boston industry," said Oleg Uritsky, a spokesman for a group. "It's premature to say how it's going to reflect on the Boston industry, but it's a great step." The Boston-based group will meet next week to discuss whether to file a similar injunction, Uritsky said. "We were waiting for the New York decision," Uritsky said. When Boston's mandate was issued in August, Mayor Thomas M. Menino said, "Requiring taxicabs to go hybrid is an essential step in not only improving air quality, but also improving the quality of our taxi fleet." The Environmental Defense Fund, a national environmental group, said that Crotty's ruling was a mistake. "If the taxis become more fuel-efficient, it's better for everyone," defense fund spokeswoman Isabelle Silverman said. "There's environment benefits, health benefits." "Whenever we can reduce emissions, we are helping the environment, and taxi drivers are saving on fuel costs," she said. But Uritsky said that falling gasoline prices void most of the projected fuel savings for the drivers. Herbert said that in the midst of the nationwide financial crisis, the mandate showed poor timing on the city's part. |
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