As the streets of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn become the testing grounds for Waymo’s driverless cars, New York City taxi drivers are expressing vehement opposition, raising concerns over the potential erosion of their livelihoods, according to ABC7NY. The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers has called upon Governor Kathy Hochul to intervene and halt the advances of this autonomous technology, which they view as a job killer and a safety risk in an already congested city.
In a display of unity against the perceived threat, taxi drivers rallied outside Governor Hochul’s office, signaling their discontent with the pilot program that allows for the testing of up to eight Waymo vehicles until late September; the president of the federation, Fernando Mateo, conveyed their displeasure, suggesting that those who stand behind driverless vehicles seek to undermine the transportation industry in New York, as reported by NY1.
The taxi drivers are not alone in their concern; Chanel Hernandez, an owner of a black car service, echoed the worries of many stating that “My concern is that it is going to put our drivers out of business and many of our companies out of business,” in an interview with NY1. These concerns highlight an ongoing tension within the gig economy, where advances in technology continuously collide with the security of traditional employment…