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November 15, 2018

NY: Queens Cab Driver Becomes 8th Driver-for-Hire to Die by Suicide in Past Year
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In New York, a taxi driver took his own life earlier this month,
becoming the eighth driver-for-hire in the city to die by suicide over
the past year. Fifty-eight-year-old Roy Kim of Queens acquired his New
York City taxi medallion just last year and was reportedly struggling
with a debt of over half a million dollars. New York Taxi Workers
Alliance Executive Director Bhairavi Desai said, "Owner-drivers have
suffered a deep and vicious slide from the middle class into crushing
poverty, in a just a few short years. … Banks and lenders need to work
with the city and philanthropy to write off 20 percent of outstanding
debts, lower interest rates, and restructure contracts."


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