Buffalo is going to get 25 new cab licenses and 25 livery cab licenses. Officials say they are responding to a growing demand.
The Buffalo Common Council approved the plan yesterday and Mayor Brown has already signed off.
North District Common Coucnil Member Joe Golombek works closely with the cab industry and says there is enough interest there will likely be a lottery system within the next month or two allocating the hack licenses and making sure they don't all go to one company.
Golombek said the old distinction that cabs tended to be used inside the White community and Livery cabs in the Black community has gone away.
"I think it's less than it had been in the past. I had received calls from the cab companies throughout the City of Buffalo and from the region, so, from every community contacting me as well as individuals that want to be taxi cab drivers. So, I don't think that it's along racial lines. I just think it has been along business lines this time," Golombek said.
Golombek said there is new business and it seems to be tourists who don't want to rent a car and possibly younger people who don't want to own a car. He's going to be meeting with the cabbies to ensure the cars are in good shape and drivers are properly dressed. There are 300 of each type of license now.
