Livery drivers with the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers rallied exterior Gov. Hochul’s midtown workplace on Monday, calling for an finish to the town’s testing of driverless taxi automobiles by tech big Waymo.
“Taxi and livery drivers risk their lives every day to transport New Yorkers safely,” NYSFTD President Steven Rivera mentioned in an announcement. “Robots cannot replace human instinct, compassion or accountability.”
Monday’s rally, wherein a couple of dozen drivers confirmed up exterior Hochul’s workplace, comes days after Mayor Adams’ announcement on Friday that the town had accredited an software by the Google subsidiary, permitting it to check eight driverless automobiles in downtown Brooklyn and in Manhattan south of a hundred and tenth St.
The automobiles will nonetheless be required to have people within the driver seat, and Waymo must file a report with the town every time the human driver has to take over for the robotaxi.
Theodore Parisienne / New York Day by day Information
In July, Waymo started operating its automobiles on metropolis streets, however at all times with a human driver in full management. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Day by day Information)
Metropolis and state legislation forbids the eight automobiles from performing as taxis in the course of the take a look at interval, and Waymo has not utilized for plates with the town’s Taxi and Limousine Fee.
However, Fernando Mateo, a spokesman for the Federation of Taxi Drivers, mentioned the take a look at was a grave risk to his members’ livelihood.
All three organizations representing Gotham’s taxi, livery and ride-share drivers have now referred to as on the town to finish testing and defend the roles of human drivers.
Final week, Brendan Sexton, head of the Unbiased Drivers Guild, accused Adams of turning Gothamites into “lab rats for Silicon Valley investors who are seeking to destroy the livelihoods of the 100,000 New Yorkers.”
Barry Williams/New York Day by day Information
Individuals maintain sigs agains Waymo exterior Gov. Hochul’s midtown workplace on Monday. (Barry Williams/New York Day by day Information)
Bhairavi Desai, head of the New York Taxi Staff Alliance, questioned whether or not there was any actual client demand.
Requested in regards to the rally, Sean Butler, a spokesman for Hochul, emphasised that the state was making certain the security of any driverless know-how testing.
“State law establishes clear procedures for permitting of autonomous vehicle testing, with the highest safety standards applied,” he mentioned in an announcement. “New York State will continue to work with New York City officials to ensure the safety of any testing program.”
Waymo started lobbying in June for New York to permit absolutely autonomous robotaxis on metropolis streets, a transfer that’s at present prohibited by state legislation.
Barry Williams/New York Day by day Information
Fernando Mateo, spokesman for the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, speaks throughout a press convention on Monday in Manhattan. (Barry Williams/New York Day by day Information)
In July, the corporate started operating its automobiles — identifiable by their spinning, roof-mounted sensor system — alongside metropolis streets, however at all times with a human in full management.
Final week, lower than two months later, the town’s Transportation Division accredited Waymo’s plans to let computer systems start to take the wheel — albeit with a human prepared to leap in if want be.
A legislation that may enable autonomous automobile operation within the state is at present earlier than the Transportation Committee of the state Senate, however is spinning its wheels within the Meeting.
With Barry Williams
Initially Printed: August 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM EDT
