A New York City livery cab advocate, Fernando Mateo, has increased his reward to $7,500 for anyone providing information leading to the arrest of suspects involved in a series of robberies targeting for-hire drivers. The latest incident involved a 56-year-old livery driver, Bamory Sanogo, who was robbed and carjacked in the Bronx. Mateo highlighted the prevalence of such robberies, with nine occurring this month, mostly in the Bronx, and targeting traditional livery services rather than app-based rideshare companies. Unlike rideshare companies, liveries are dispatched by bases and often accept cash payments, making them more vulnerable. The Taxi and Limousine Commission recently repealed a rule requiring cameras or bullet-resistant partitions in liveries, which advocates like Mateo supported. However, Mateo emphasizes the need for more cameras to enhance driver safety.
