New York City will not appeal a judge’s temporary restraining order blocking implementation of a state law that would increase the number of taxi medallions and issue licenses authorizing the pick up of outer borough street hails. On June 1, Manhattan Acting Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron (See Profile) issued the order temporarily halting implementation of the Street Hail Livery Law in Taxicab Service Association v. State of New York, 102553-2012 (NYLJ, June 4).
In order to get to the case’s merits, New York City announced yesterday its decision to proceed with the case before Engoron rather than appealing the temporary restraining order. “Because the judge has said he will attempt to decide all the pending motions quicklyand given the utmost importance of deciding all the issues promptlythe City will not immediately appeal the court’s interim decision, which is only expected to remain in place for a few weeks,” Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo said in a statement. He added that the new law would raise $1 billion in revenue for the city and offer “safe and legal taxi service” throughout the city, thus making a speedy resolution “critical.”
