09/05/2024
My friend .chishti is fundraising for , a powerful documentary that sheds light on NYC taxi drivers and their fight against the predatory medallion lending system.
Once seen as a path to the “American Dream,” taxi medallions — the permits needed to operate taxis — were grossly inflated by city officials during the Bloomberg and Giuliani administrations to generate revenue, peaking at over a million dollars. When ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft entered the scene, the medallion values plummeted, leaving drivers burdened with massive debt. Today, many are facing bankruptcy, foreclosure, and heartbreak. Tragically, nine drivers have died by su***de as a result of this financial ruin.
Help us bring these stories to the forefront by supporting the documentary’s Kickstarter campaign. Every donation helps us give these drivers a voice. You can contribute via the link in ’s bio.
Meet Kuber Sancho-Persad, a 29-year-old NYC taxi driver with $599,000 in debt:
“My dad, Choonilal Sancho-Persad, was a NYC taxi driver like me. In 2017, he passed away, leaving behind a cycle of predatory lending. They promised him that the medallion value would rise if he borrowed more. Instead, it became a nightmare. Just one month before his death, the bank sued him.
Now I’m living through the same struggle. At 29, I’m drowning in debt and living in a homeless shelter. My dad was my best friend. We used to drive side-by-side on the same shift, and he would add little gadgets to make his cab unique. But the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) would fine him for it. Then Uber came, and everything fell apart. No one made money unless they were sleeping in their cars overnight. I know because I’ve done it, waking up at JFK at 6 a.m. to start another day of driving.
I’m holding on to my dad’s medallion — one of the last things I have of him. I’m fighting for his legacy, but every day it’s a battle just to survive.”
Link to Kickstarter in Bio
Huge thanks to and .nyc for developing, processing, and scanning the film rolls I captured for this project! Your support is greatly appreciated.
