"I'm aghast that this is happening. It's not OK. Empower lures drivers with these claims, but yet, if or when a driver is in a crash, a passenger gets injured, they leave them high and dry. I will use every power in the TLC's authority and as much as I can in the city's authority to stop Empower and to stop this illegal operation."
"In New York City, Empower is required to register a 'base' with the TLC. Officials say registration allows the city to regulate rides and cover insurance claims, should a driver get into a car accident. Valdivia said TLC officials have repeatedly urged Empower to become licensed but they refused. She described the decision as a 'huge risk to drivers and passengers.'"
Midori Valdivia, nominated to lead New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission, committed to eliminating Empower, an illegal taxi app that operates without city regulation. Empower's business model allows licensed TLC drivers to pay monthly fees and retain all fares, resulting in lower prices than Uber and Lyft. However, the unregulated operation creates significant risks: passengers and drivers lack insurance protection in accidents, and the app ignores city safety requirements. Valdivia expressed concern that Empower lures drivers with promises but abandons them during crashes. The company's CEO has faced contempt charges in Washington D.C. for regulatory non-compliance. TLC officials have repeatedly requested Empower register as a licensed base, which would enable city oversight and insurance coverage, but the company has refused.
Read at Gothamist
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