NY Taxi Workers Alliance

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s taxi medallion debt forgiveness plan is a sham! It would give the people’s stimulus money to hedge fund lenders instead of drivers drowning in debt. In return, there is zero guarantee of debt forgiveness! And what insufficient relief might come from the plan would only reach half of the owner drivers in need. What’s worse is that if we don’t stop it, de Blasio’s plan would undercut the possibility of real debt forgiveness! NYTWA has a real debt forgiveness plan that would cost less, help more, and give drivers much needed hope for the future. And we won’t stop fighting until we win! Learn more here: https://www.nytwa.org/debt-forgiveness

Follow the link to register for today’s 3pm session.

At the same time as we’ve been in the streets demanding #debtforgiveness, we are at the office helping drivers apply for PPP (and EIDL and UI reconsideration)! All drivers can sign-up for an appointment online here: nytwa.org/ppp

Tomorrow we go back to the streets for 9 days of action for our 9 brothers we lost lost to suicide. We demand real #DebtForgiveness and answers about the city's sham plan! The city intervened to undermine the drivers' solution & favor their "partner" banks & hedge funds. They can't stop us! Join us: Sun. 3/21 at 11AM at City Hall!

"Not only is the city directing its stimulus through the drivers to the lenders, it is doing it with no guarantee that the loans will be meaningfully paid down... The De Blasio administration is experiencing a lame duck year, with city elections coming November 2021. Current officials will be looking for work, and it doesn’t look like they want to become cabbies. Many of them come out of finance, Desai puts it. They’re making their plans to go back into finance. Securing a bailout for a big operation like Marblegate doesn’t look bad on that resume."

Bhairavi Desai: The city's plan is basically a cash giveaway to lenders and does nothing for drivers. Since 2019, one of the biggest holders of medallion debt, the hedge fund Marblegate, has been squeezing drivers to pay $25,000 cash to have loans restructured to $300,000 with monthly payments close to $2,000... The city is now using federal money to loan drivers the cash Marblegate has been demanding of them, while getting no concessions from the lenders to the benefit of the drivers.

WE WON!!! Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall granted a Preliminary Injunction in our federal case against the Governor, Dept of Labor and Labor Commissioner for delaying benefits for Uber/Lyft drivers and paying them a lower rate. The Judge ordered the Dept. of Labor to pay drivers their full rightful rate under state Unemployment for employees - instead of under the PUA self-employed rate. That means the difference of getting $504 instead of $182 for tens of thousands of our famil...ies when we need it the most. The DOL must form a 30-staff team to review Reconsiderations filed by Uber/Lyft drivers and process and pay them out within 45 days. For thousands, it means $6,000 in back payments and then moving forward at the correct rate, up to $1288/month more. When we fight back, we win! When we organize, justice prevails! Congratulations to the plaintiffs: MD Islam, Seydou Ouatara, Harnek Singh, and Abdul Rumon! Because you stood up, over 120,000 Uber/Lyft driver families were heard! And endless thank you's to our legal team who worked tirelessly - in the middle of a pandemic - and made sure justice arrived. Nicole Salk LSNYC and NYTWA General Counsel Zubin Soleimany. https://nyti.ms/2P1bDqx ***JOIN our victory/next steps Zoom Call on THURSDAY, July 30th at 11AM. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81476207431 Meeting ID: 814 7620 7431 Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) ***FILL OUT this intake so we can make sure you get the benefits you are owed! https://bit.ly/3gbKFIz

"Drivers are dying from debt. Mr. Mayor, wake up!" New York taxi drivers shut down the Brooklyn and Queensboro Bridges to demand debt forgiveness. Cabbies have seen a significant loss of ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today NYTWA members SHUT DOWN the 59st Bridge to demand debt relief for yellow taxi owner-drivers NOW! We won’t stop fighting until we win!

Uber, Lyft, Via & Juno Drivers: You may be owed up to $6,000 in additional Unemployment Insurance money because of a NYTWA legal victory. Watch this video now to find out how to apply for a reconsideration!

ATTN: APP DRIVERS - Because of a NYTWA legal victory you may be owed unemployment insurance $$$! Watch this video to find out how to apply for a reconsideration. Because of our victory, many App drivers will be eligible to receive $504 instead of $182 per week. For thousands of app drivers, that means up to $6,000 in back payments! NYTWA members sued the NYS Department of Labor for failing to pay app drivers regular unemployment insurance benefits you are entitled to. A jud...ge ruled in our favor, ordering the Dept. of Labor to pay app drivers the full employee rate of UI benefits, instead of the lower rate for self-employed workers that many app drivers were getting under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. http://www.nytwa.org///8/13/b9dgvuvsjk99vse2x5zt3czn3zpt67

Attention All Uber/Lyft/Via/Juno Drivers! TODAY, AUGUST 6th AND FRIDAY, AUGUST 7th AT 2PM: Join a Zoom info session with members of our legal team, who will provide information about the next steps to get the benefits you are owed. On July 28th, NYTWA and four of our Uber/Lyft members won an order in our federal lawsuit against the Governor, Dept. of Labor and Labor Commissioner, requiring the Dept. of Labor to pay drivers the full rate you are entitled to under state Une...mployment, instead of the lesser rate many of you were getting under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Because of this victory, it means many App drivers will be eligible to receive $504 instead of $182 per week. For thousands of our families, it means $6,000 in back payments and then moving forward at the correct rate, up to $1288/month more. Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall ordered the DOL to form a special, 30-staff team to review Reconsiderations filed by Uber/Lyft drivers and process and pay them out within 45 days. YOU MUST FILL OUT A RECONSIDERATION FORM TO HAVE YOUR BENEFIT RATE REVIEWED. Join us for a zoom meeting on how to fill out the Reconsideration form and learn more about the case and campaign! WHEN: Thursday, August 6th and Friday, August 7th at 2 pm for details about how to make sure you get what you are owed! WHERE: Click here for Zoom link. https://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php OR Join by phone: Phone number: 929 205 6099, Meeting ID: 876 1202 0121.

Brothers and Sisters: the office has to be closed to the public today. Best way to reach us today is after 3pm by phone, 718-706-9892, or email [email protected]. *Owner-drivers: We will still hold our Zoom meeting tonight at 7PM* https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86238573371... Meeting ID: 862 3857 3371 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86238573371# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 862 3857 3371 And everyone, join us on Sunday night at 9PM for our weekly call. *Call in to Join the New York Taxi Workers Alliance Radio Show!* *SUNDAY, August 2nd* *9 PM* *Call: 712-770-5345, Code 123843#* For T-mobile & MetroPCS Call : 206 4516052 712 770 5345# 123843# Between our victory for Uber/Lyft drivers on Tuesday; protests for Debt Forgiveness; solidarity action for wealth tax and a People's Stimulus, we have so much to talk about, strategize and plan next steps. To all of our families celebrating today, Eid Mubarak! Wishing all a happy, healthy, restful holiday.

Uber/Lyft Drivers: Don't miss today's Zoom call with NYTWA Legal Team on what our recent Federal court Victory on Unemployment could mean for you! Thousands of Uber/Lyft drivers wrongly receiving only $182 could start to get their rightful $504 each week; and back benefits up to $6,000. ***JOIN the Victory/Next Steps Zoom Call TODAY, THURSDAY, July 30th at 11AM. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81476207431 Meeting ID: 814 7620 7431 Dial by your location... +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) ***FILL OUT this intake so we can make sure you get the benefits you are owed! https://bit.ly/3gbKFIz

TAX THE RICH, NOT THE POOR! PEOPLES' STIMULUS NOW! DEBT FORGIVENESS NOW! *ACTION ALERTS!* Sign up and join *WED Caravan to Marblegate HQ* and *THURS Caravan to Hamptons* with our allies! ... Sign up and join: https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSfB6M6c3kp9JOrB1w/viewform *This Tues at 1pm: Special Zoom on filing for rental assistance* (Zoom Mtng ID 85803476448) *TONIGHT* *Call in to Join the New York Taxi Workers Alliance Radio Show!* *SUNDAY, July 26th* *9 PM* *Call: 712-770-5345, Code 123843#* For T-mobile & MetroPCS Call : 206 4516052 712 770 5345# 123843# The show is hosted on Radio Samatiguila Download their App: www.radiosamatiguila.com To ask a question if you listen online, call: 917-331-8437

*National Day of Action* SAVE THE $600!!! Demand a Peoples' Stimulus! As Congress is back in session and negotiating a new Stimulus bill, join the week of action and keep up the pressure! *Call 1-888-668-8919 and be connected to your Senator's Office.*... 1. Demand the $600 Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, PUC, be extended and boosted! Don't cut the lifeline for drivers and 30 million fellow Americans! Transportation is among hardest hit industries. We don't know when business will pick up again. 40% drivers report having been sick from COVID. 82% report being one month away from running out of money for meals. PUA, the only benefit yellow cab drivers will get, is only $182/week. We need PUC extended! 2. Uber/Lyft blocked drivers from getting full Unemployment since March, leaving drivers with 10+ weeks wait and up to $1,200/month less in benefits, and forcing us to sue in federal court for what should have already been ours! Now they want Congress to give them 'safe harbor' from ever having to follow employment law. Tell Congress to protect the drivers, not the companies! 3. Ask for bill H.R. 5617 (Meeks) to be included in stimulus bill so that medallion owners do not have to pay a tax on any debt amount that is forgiven as we fight to free 6,000 families from the pain of life-long debt. Call now!

Brothers and Sisters: Check out our Calculator to help you see if you are eligible for the state's rent assistance program and what subsidy amount you may receive. The deadline to apply is July 30th. The state will let you know in about 2 weeks after applying how much you may receive. You can use our calculator to give you a sense for yourself now. *You can come to the office, Mon to Fri, for copies of the paper application to mail in w postmark no later than July 30th* ht...tp://www.nytwa.org//new-york-covid-rent-relief-subsidy-c THE STATE'S PROGRAM IS NOT ENOUGH. AND MANY WILL NOT EVEN RECEIVE IT. WE HAVE TO KEEP UP THE ORGANIZING FOR A PEOPLE'S STIMULUS! *Call in to Join the New York Taxi Workers Alliance Radio Show tonight!* *SUNDAY, July 19th* *9 PM* *Call: 712-770-5345, Code 123843#* For T-mobile & MetroPCS Call : 206 4516052 712 770 5345# *Special focus on Rental Assistance application; update on Uber/Lyft driver federal lawsuit for Unemployment; week of action for Debt Forgiveness and a People’s Stimulus bill as Congress and Albany are back in session tomorrow!* The show is hosted on Radio Samatiguila Download their App: www.radiosamatiguila.com To ask a question if you listen online, call: 917-331-8437 *New York Taxi Workers Alliance* 718-706-9892

Brothers and Sisters: Join us tonight at 9PM for our weekly Radio Show with updates and call-ins. * Call: 712-770-5345, Code 123843# For T-mobile & MetroPCS Call : 206 451-6052; then dial 712 770 5345#; then dial 123843# * Tonight's focus will be EIDL, rent assistance, and updates on our Uber/Lyft members' federal law suit against the Dept. of Labor and Governor on slowing down and holding up the full benefits drivers are entitled to under the law after our 2018 Unemployment... victory. On Monday, July 6th, we answered the Judge's request with two proposals on how the Labor Dept. could get the necessary information on driver earnings quickly in order to pay out Uber/Lyft/other FHV drivers their rightful rate under NYS Unemployment Law as employees: 1. Require Dept. of Labor to use its legal authority to require Uber/Lyft and other FHV companies to provide drivers' gross earnings data; or 2. Require Dept. of Labor to allow drivers to provide the gross earnings over the phone or online by swearing to the information, without having to give the documents as proof immediately. See our latest email for a copy of the brief filed by our attorneys Legal Services NYC + NY Taxi Workers Alliance The email also includes links on more resources: free tax prep sites in time for July 15th tax deadline; free air conditioner or fan up to $800; free legal help for life planning documents such as wills and power of attorney; and how to get a location near you to test for COVID-19. https://conta.cc/2OknX4M Join the conversation tonight! Build the union: www.nytwa.org/dues

Dear Brothers and Sisters: So many critical updates to report on from this past week - housing rights training; federal Judge calling the Dept of Labor "preposterous"! in our lawsuit against the Governor, DOL and Labor Commissioner on making sure Uber/Lyft drivers get their full benefits under the law and don't lose Unemployment after the pandemic period is over; having the ultra wealthy of the Hamptons so scared that they hired private security after our Wed coalition mar...ch led by the Shinnecock Indian Nation and with NY Communities for Change & other allies; our lawsuit to recover BCF + sales tax monies for Uber & Lyft drivers regardless of whether they signed out of arbitration; national coverage of our Debt Forgiveness fight; and more! Join the conversation tonight & check out our latest eblast for article and video links! TONIGHT! **Call-In Radio: Sundays 9PM Radio Call In Show: CALL 712-770-5345; Code 123843# For T-mobile & MetroPCS Call : 206 4516052 712 770 5345# 123843# The show is hosted on Radio Samatiguila Download their App: www.radiosamatiguila.com To ask a question if you listen online, call: 917-331-8437 *Update on Uber& Lyft NYTWA members lawsuit against Dept. of Labor and Gov Cuomo regarding Unemployment! *What to do about evictions and foreclosures *Debt Forgiveness Campaign update *Tax the Rich, Not the Poor Campaign and why it matters to drivers! * EIDL questions, and anything you want to talk about! Join the conversation. Ask your individual questions. The Union is working to help all sectors of drivers and families. https://bit.ly/31QOtdV