Mayor Zohran Mamdani has tapped seasoned transit expert Midori Valdivia to head the Taxi and Limousine Commission, tasked with regulating New York City's vast fleet of cabs and ride-hailing vehicles.
Valdivia, who previously worked as an analyst for the Port Authority, spent six years advising on transportation issues before becoming a deputy commissioner of finance at the TLC in 2015. Her most recent stint was serving on the MTA board, where she built a reputation as a leading advocate for transportation policy reform.
As chair of the TLC, Valdivia would oversee policies governing over 84,000 Uber and Lyft vehicles, as well as the city's struggling yellow taxi industry. Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Mamdani hailed Valdivia as "the woman to my left" who shares his commitment to improving transportation for working people.
Valdivia's appointment is pending City Council approval, but her background suggests she is well-equipped to tackle the complex issues facing New York City's taxi industry. Transportation, she said, is "our lifeline," and it's essential that policies prioritize the needs of both drivers and riders.
The TLC has recently made strides in protecting workers' rights, including imposing new rules for Uber and Lyft app drivers and codifying protections against companies locking workers out of the apps. Valdivia's appointment comes at a time when yellow taxi medallion owners are still struggling with debt and foreclosure, following years of deregulation under previous administrations.
Mamdani's nomination is part of his broader effort to build a coalition of support among taxi drivers and medallion owners. In 2021, he formed an alliance with many drivers and joined a hunger strike outside City Hall in protest of debt relief for medallion owners. While progress has been made, many drivers still face foreclosure and financial hardship.
Valdivia's leadership will be crucial in shaping the future of New York City's transportation landscape, as she navigates complex policy issues and works to protect the interests of all stakeholders involved.
Valdivia, who previously worked as an analyst for the Port Authority, spent six years advising on transportation issues before becoming a deputy commissioner of finance at the TLC in 2015. Her most recent stint was serving on the MTA board, where she built a reputation as a leading advocate for transportation policy reform.
As chair of the TLC, Valdivia would oversee policies governing over 84,000 Uber and Lyft vehicles, as well as the city's struggling yellow taxi industry. Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Mamdani hailed Valdivia as "the woman to my left" who shares his commitment to improving transportation for working people.
Valdivia's appointment is pending City Council approval, but her background suggests she is well-equipped to tackle the complex issues facing New York City's taxi industry. Transportation, she said, is "our lifeline," and it's essential that policies prioritize the needs of both drivers and riders.
The TLC has recently made strides in protecting workers' rights, including imposing new rules for Uber and Lyft app drivers and codifying protections against companies locking workers out of the apps. Valdivia's appointment comes at a time when yellow taxi medallion owners are still struggling with debt and foreclosure, following years of deregulation under previous administrations.
Mamdani's nomination is part of his broader effort to build a coalition of support among taxi drivers and medallion owners. In 2021, he formed an alliance with many drivers and joined a hunger strike outside City Hall in protest of debt relief for medallion owners. While progress has been made, many drivers still face foreclosure and financial hardship.
Valdivia's leadership will be crucial in shaping the future of New York City's transportation landscape, as she navigates complex policy issues and works to protect the interests of all stakeholders involved.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT EASY TO REGULATE OVER 84,000 UBER AND LYFT VEHICLES, BUT I KNOW SHE'S UP FOR THE CHALLENGE! 
LET'S HOPE SHE CAN HELP THOSE YELLOW TAXI DRIVERS OUT OF DEBT AND FORECLOSURE TOO! 
... Like, Midori Valdivia sounds super qualified and all, but hasnt New York City's taxi industry been struggling for years? And now theyre making her head of the TLC? That just seems like more of the same problem-solving, you know? I mean, whats to say that she wont just make things worse for medallion owners or Uber/Lyft drivers? And what about the environmental impact of all these ride-hailing vehicles? We should be focusing on getting more people out of cars, not encouraging them to drive around more. Not saying she's a bad person or anything, but maybe we need someone with a totally different perspective to shake things up?
. What it shows us is that having someone with experience and expertise lead the way can make a big difference in navigating complex problems. It's like when you're trying to solve a puzzle, you need someone who has all the pieces and knows how they fit together 
. Midori Valdivia seems like exactly that person - she's got the background and the passion to make a real impact. And I love that Mayor Mamdani is acknowledging her strengths and values their partnership 
. It just goes to show that even in the midst of tough challenges, we can find ways to work together and come out stronger on the other side 
.
but i guess she's got the right background to tackle it, been around the block a few times 
and if mamdani says she's the woman to his left, that means he believes in her 
maybe it'll finally give drivers some relief from those debt issues 
Look, I get it, some drivers need help paying their medallion debts, but can't we just have an open and honest conversation about the whole thing? The TLC already has rules in place to protect workers' rights... what's the point of changing leaders if everything stays the same?
think midori valdivia is exactly what nyc needs right now, been following her work for years and she's got a solid track record on transportation policy reform 
she's not afraid to speak truth to power and advocate for workers' rights, which is more than can be said for some of the others involved in this mess 
it's about time someone with her expertise and passion gets behind the wheel 
. She seems like someone who understands both sides of the issue - drivers and riders need each other, you know? It's not just about making money for Uber or Lyft, it's about getting people from point A to point B safely and efficiently 
. Let's see how she does!
. She's got this extensive background in transportation policy reform and a proven track record of fighting for workers' rights, which is super crucial right now. I mean, those yellow taxi medallion owners are still reeling from deregulation and it's a ticking time bomb if they don't get some debt relief ASAP 
. Valdivia's got the chops to tackle these complex issues and bring about real change, so fingers crossed she gets that City Council approval 
.
her experience on the mta board was super valuable, i'm curious to see how she'll tackle the complex issues facing nyc's taxi industry 
but midori valdivia seems legit 
. Valdivia's got the right vibe going on with her advocacy for policy reform 
and protecting workers' rights 
. Medallion owners have been struggling for ages 
.
"
. Fingers crossed Valdivia can bring some much-needed change to the TLC and make NYC's transportation system more equitable 
. Hopefully she can build on the progress made so far at TLC, especially when it comes to protecting workers' rights 
. But with Valdivia at the helm, I think we might see some real progress 
. And let's not forget about the TLC's efforts to protect workers' rights - that's definitely a step in the right direction 
. Bring on the changes and let's hope they make a real difference in people's lives 
idk what all the drama is about w/ the taxi industry like let's support our workers & drivers 
valdivia seems super experienced & knows her way around transportation policy reform 
. Like, what's next? Gonna bring in some Uber rep to head the Port Authority too 
? Midori Valdivia sounds like just another politician who's never actually had to deal with the struggles of being a driver. I mean, she's worked with ride-hailing companies and now she's gonna be in charge of regulating them? That's just rich 
.