Local taxi drivers shared difficulties since the arrival of Uber and Lyft with members of the Syracuse Common Council’s Airport (Public Transportation) committee at a contentious meeting at City Hall on Wednesday afternoon.

The forum came about a year after the legalization of ride-hailing services in upstate New York.

Ride-hailing services have taken about 75 percent of the taxi market, said Jacques Zenner, vice president of the Syracuse Independent Taxi Association.

“I think it’s time to level the playing ground,” he said.

Frank Manzi III, owner of the Yellow Taxi Company, said his business used to operate 43 taxis but now uses only 19 because of the loss of business, which he blamed on Uber.

Many of the owners and drivers complained about inequities between taxi and ride-hailing regulations. While taxis follow regulations, fees and background checks set by the state and local government, Uber is primarily self-regulated, or has made deals with the state, he said.

Taxi drivers must pay a $300 annual fee for a yearly car inspection and $50 for a hack license, which is proof of a background check. These allow taxis to operate at airports, use toplights and park in taxi stands.

Independent driver Chris McCarthy said ride-hailing drivers capitalize on these benefits without paying the fees or following the same regulations.

Several of the drivers and owners said that taxis receive tickets at a higher rate than Uber and Lyft drivers. Ramona Bellavia, who owns Bellavia Transportation, said Uber and Lyft drivers are breaking laws by parking in taxi stands and using toplights without a taxi license. She claimed Uber and Lyft drivers aren’t getting tickets for breaking the rules.

“I really feel like we’re being harassed, and the city of Syracuse is pro-Uber,” she said.

Bellavia said she wants the city to treat Uber and Lyft as they treat taxis.

Many people at the meeting urged the Council to regulate Uber and Lyft more heavily but regulate taxis less. Joe Driscoll, District 5 common councilor, and Councilor-at-large Khalid Bey repeated several times that there was little the Council could do to change regulations because state law supersedes city law.

Published on May 30, 2018 at 6:34 pm

Contact Catherine: ccleffer@syr.edu | @ccleffert