Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday nominated transit enthusiast Midori Valdivia as chair of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, tasking her with governing the tens of thousands of rideshare vehicles and taxicabs across the Big Apple.
Valdivia is no stranger to the TLC, where she previously worked as the deputy commissioner and made “historic strides,” expanding “accessibility across our taxi fleet,” Mamdani announced during a press conference at Laguardia Airport’s Terminal C Taxi Hold Lot Tuesday night.
She currently serves as the chief operating officer of the Coro New York Leadership Center, a civic leadership training organization, and held a previous gig as the senior advisor to the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Hizzoner said.
“Most of all, she deeply loves transit … and she sees it as the foundation of the vibrant place that we call New York,” Mamdani said.
Valdivia is a vocal advocate of congestion pricing, writing in a February opinion piece published in the New York Daily Newsthat the controversial toll program makes NYC’s streets safer.
“We cannot afford to allow congestion to once again stifle our economy and endanger our streets when a proven solution is within reach. Our streets are now more safe,” Valdivia wrote, citing decreasing car crashes in the congestion relief zone.
The Princeton graduate has had a seat on the MTA’s board since 2022 — where she was the chief of staff to the CEO of the transit agency from 2018 to 2020.
“If confirmed, I commit to an agenda that works to provide a for-hire economy that serves all New Yorkers. Putting people first must be at the top of our agenda, whether they are drivers, passengers, [or] small business owners. And I will dedicate myself to those who upheld these iconic cultural institutions in New York City during a time of great change,” Valdivia told reporters after the announcement of her nomination.
“More recently, in private practice, I have worked alongside gig drivers to tackle wage theft complaints and to make our New York streets more livable, safer, less congested, and less polluted,” Valdivia said.
“To me, transportation is freedom, how we move, how we navigate this great city of ours. It’s our lifeline. It’s critical. It’s essential. And that’s why I’ve been so committed to improving transportation in New York City for my entire professional career.”
Valdivia is also the founder of her own business, Midoria Valdivia Consulting LLC., which touts itself as a consulting service for transportation, urban planning, and non-profit management.
“From city and state agencies to communities and advocates working to avert the climate crisis, we craft policies that center equity, lead project teams to center communities, and facilitate complex policy decisions alongside changemakers,” the consulting business’s website reads.
Her nomination must be approved by the City Council before she can take the reins of the TLC. If approved, she will take over the seat of David Do, former Mayor Eric Adams’ 2022 appointee for chair of the TLC.
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