Central Taxi of Scarsdale may be going out of business

Central Taxi of Scarsdale has been serving residents of Edgemont, Greenburgh Hartsdale for many decades. Sadly, they are in danger of going out of business within weeks. The nature of the taxi business has changed. They are looking for investors or grants that can assist their drivers continue to provide service to residents who have depended on this service. An e mail was sent to from Peter Blier who is manager of Central Taxi. He encouraged me to share the e mail. Please contact taxiofscarsdale@aol.com with ideas, suggestions. Let’s keep the service going.

There will be significant negative impacts to our town if Central Taxi goes out of business. Many Greenburgh residents have, over the years, taken advantage of group rides. Parents appreciate the fact that they know the drivers and feel safer having their children take a taxi with a driver who they know. Senior citizens who are not computer savvy may not know how to use an Uber or Lyft app. And nanny’s and caretakers for the elderly who don’t speak English or have credit cards prefer using a Taxi company—with drivers who have served the community for many years.

I’m hopeful that someone who reads this e mail will help figure out a way to save our local taxi service.

PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor

E MAIL FROM PETER BLIER OF CENTRAL TAXI

Let me fill you in on our attempts to reorganize Central Taxi of Scarsdale.

As you know and appreciate, we one of the oldest taxi companies in

the country. The pandemic shut down, the change is commutation to the City, and the ever changing

and often predatory pricing policies and uneven playing field from Uber and Lyft, has all left us

a shadow of what we were in terms of size and ability from 5 years ago.

That all being said, we still serve over two hundred people a day who need or

prefer our differences. Our prices are set, and do not fluctuate wildly moment to moment

based on demand or an individuals use profile, as recorded and exploited by an algorithm.

We provide group ridership to and from the trains, keeping the number of cars

driving downtown lower during peak times. We provide locally licensed and police vetted drivers

who are part of our community, not just passing through, a difference often crucial to the parents

that instruct their kids to use a taxi over an Uber or Lyft.

Seniors citizens who ride us to the doctor or shopping for food often are uncomfortable ordering by app.

The caretakers who help them stay in their homes often do not speak english,

or have the credit card required, choose us daily over the app cars.

We still have dedicated drivers who have served the community for decades

wanting to continue, but lacking the financial resources or personal credit to make the transition

to a cooperative of owner drivers. So what is needed to keep this community resource

available in a recognizable fashion is a way for the drivers to each individually receive

financing to purchase individual vehicles.

Any leads or info on how to accomplish this, knowing that few of the drivers will qualify

for traditional financing, will be much appreciated.

Thanks, Peter