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The New York City Council has confirmed Midori Valdivia as Commissioner and Chair of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), following a public hearing on March 12 that drew broad support from drivers, advocates, and industry leaders.
Matt Daus, President of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) and former longest-serving TLC Chair, said:
"Congratulations to my friend and colleague Midori Valdivia on her confirmation as NYC Taxi & Limousine Commissioner and Chair. As the longest-serving Chair myself, I know firsthand how challenging this role is, and without question, Midori brings an exceptional and uniquely diverse multi-modal transportation background to the job. She is hardworking, dedicated, and ethical, and her prior leadership experience has prepared her well to take on this responsibility.
I also want to again thank my friend and outgoing Commissioner David Do for his steady leadership and commitment to advancing environmental initiatives and Vision Zero goals.
The key to success in this role is the ability to engage thoughtfully with a wide range of stakeholders across the industry. I am confident that Midori will build on the agency’s progress and take it to the next level. I look forward to continuing to work with her in this new role, and to supporting her as a leader within the global regulatory community.”
Upon Valdivia's nomination in January, Meera Joshi, President of Green-Wood and former TLC Chair and former Deputy Mayor for Operations, said:
“Yet again, the Mamdani Administration selects a ringer for its A team. Midori Valdivia’s broad experience, tenacity, and values are just what is needed to guide the for-hire and taxi industry through the next sea change in transportation. She has weathered and prevailed through transportation storms of every variety and scale, and will prove essential to protecting our professional drivers citywide and ensuring safe transportation for all.”
As part of the public hearing process, Matt testified in strong support of her appointment, emphasizing Valdivia’s uniquely comprehensive background across the transportation ecosystem, noting that she may be the most experienced multi-modal mobility professional ever nominated for the position, with leadership experience spanning the TLC, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Port Authority.
He highlighted the importance of that multi-modal perspective, particularly as cities increasingly look to integrate for-hire transportation with public transit, airports, and first- and last-mile connections. Valdivia’s experience, he noted, positions her to ensure that TLC-regulated services are not siloed, but instead operate as part of a broader, coordinated mobility network. Matt also pointed to her prior service within the TLC as a critical advantage, emphasizing that she will be able to hit the ground running with a deep understanding of both policy challenges and agency operations. Her leadership style, grounded in transparency, stakeholder engagement, and professionalism, was described as essential to managing the complex and diverse interests within the industry.
More broadly, Matt’s testimony underscored the global importance of the New York City TLC as a model regulator, noting that agencies around the world look to New York for leadership on safety, sustainability, accessibility, and affordability. Matt concluded that Valdivia’s appointment would help advance key priorities including Vision Zero, equity, and driver well-being, and recommended her confirmation without hesitation or reservation.
Public testimony during the hearing reflected strong support for Valdivia’s nomination across a wide range of stakeholders, including individual drivers, labor representatives, accessibility advocates, and major industry organizations. At the same time, speakers used the hearing to underscore the urgent challenges facing the industry, particularly rising insurance costs, declining driver earnings, and broader structural pressures within the for-hire vehicle market. Despite these challenges, testimony reflected a high level of confidence in Valdivia’s leadership, with many speakers highlighting her willingness to engage directly with drivers and stakeholders and her ability to navigate complex policy issues.
With her confirmation now complete, Valdivia assumes leadership of the nation’s largest for-hire vehicle regulatory body at a pivotal moment for the industry. The issues raised during the hearing are expected to shape the agency’s agenda in the months ahead, and IATR looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the NYC TLC under her leadership.
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