Mayor Mamdani nominates Midori Valdivia as chair of Taxi and Limousine Fee

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday nominated transit fanatic Midori Valdivia as chair of the Taxi and Limousine Fee, tasking her with governing the tens of hundreds of rideshare automobiles and taxicabs throughout the Massive Apple.

Valdivia isn’t any stranger to the TLC, the place she beforehand labored because the deputy commissioner and made “historic strides,” increasing “accessibility throughout our taxi fleet,” Mamdani introduced throughout a press convention at Laguardia Airport’s Terminal C Taxi Maintain Lot Tuesday evening.

She presently serves because the chief working officer of the Coro New York Management Heart, a civic management coaching group, and held a earlier gig because the senior advisor to the manager director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Hizzoner stated.

“Most of all, she deeply loves transit … and he or she sees it as the muse of the colourful place that we name New York,” Mamdani stated.

Valdivia is a vocal advocate of congestion pricing, writing in a February opinion piece printed within the New York Every day Information that the controversial toll program makes NYC’s streets safer.

“We can’t afford to permit congestion to as soon as once more stifle our financial system and endanger our streets when a confirmed resolution is inside attain. Our streets are actually extra secure,” Valdivia wrote, citing reducing automotive crashes within the congestion reduction zone.

The Princeton graduate has had a seat on the MTA’s board since 2022 — the place she was the chief of employees to the CEO of the transit company from 2018 to 2020.

“If confirmed, I decide to an agenda that works to supply a for-hire financial system that serves all New Yorkers. Placing individuals first have to be on the high of our agenda, whether or not they’re drivers, passengers, [or] small enterprise house owners. And I’ll dedicate myself to those that upheld these iconic cultural establishments in New York Metropolis throughout a time of nice change,” Valdivia informed reporters after the announcement of her nomination.

“Extra lately, in personal follow, I’ve labored alongside gig drivers to deal with wage theft complaints and to make our New York streets extra livable, safer, much less congested, and fewer polluted,” Valdivia stated.

“To me, transportation is freedom, how we transfer, how we navigate this nice metropolis of ours. It’s our lifeline. It’s crucial. It’s important. And that’s why I’ve been so dedicated to enhancing transportation in New York Metropolis for my total skilled profession.”

Valdivia can be the founding father of her personal enterprise, Midoria Valdivia Consulting LLC., which touts itself as a consulting service for transportation, city planning, and non-profit administration.

“From metropolis and state companies to communities and advocates working to avert the local weather disaster, we craft insurance policies that middle fairness, lead mission groups to middle communities, and facilitate advanced coverage selections alongside changemakers,” the consulting enterprise’s web site reads.

Her nomination have to be accredited by the Metropolis Council earlier than she will take the reins of the TLC. If accredited, she’s going to take over the seat of David Do, former Mayor Eric Adams’ 2022 appointee for chair of the TLC.