NEWBURGH – Dozens of Latino cab drivers told the Newburgh City Council Monday night that they are being ticketed by the police if they double-park for a minute to pick up a customer and they say that is unfair, but also costly to pay those tickets.
Several cabbies told stories of how some officers are even asking them for their Social Security numbers as they wait for a fare.
Rene Mejia, the community organizer for the grassroots group For the Many, a cabbie for a while after college, said he understands their plight.
“As a cab driver, I can definitely empathize with concerns that a lot of people are bringing up that it is dangerous and at times it does feel like we are being discriminated typically because the color of our skin,” he said.
City Councilwoman Giselle Martinez suggested the council change policy to allow taxi drivers to double park long enough to pick up a fare.
