• Home
  • Book a Ride
  • Lost and Found
Toll Free: +1-800-609-8731

Cash-strapped veteran cab driver hangs himself in his Queens garage

Posted by NYCYellowCabTaxi.com on March 26, 2018

A Queens cabbie who drove a yellow taxi for three decades hanged himself in his garage after suffering massive financial woes in the era of Uber, officials and friends said Wednesday.

Nicanor Ochisor, 65, was found hanging from a wooden beam in his garage on 58th Road near 69th Lane in Maspeth Friday morning, police said.

Taxi advocates quickly blamed the Romanian immigrant’s suicide on the glut of drivers working for app-driven, for-hire companies like Uber and Lyft taking money from medallion drivers.

“He could no longer bear the strain of the impending loss of everything he had worked for in his life in America,” the Taxi Medallion Owner and Driver Association said in a statement.

The organization pointed out that in 2014, medallions were selling for more than $1 million. Now, the value has dropped to about $175,000.

The group said Ochisor is the fourth cab driver, and first medallion owner, to take his own life over the last few months.

“We have been begging the mayor and the Taxi and Limousine Commission to act, and all we have gotten is either lip service or meaningless gestures that don’t get to the root of the problem: There are way too many cars on the streets,” taxi industry group spokesman Nino Hervias said.

TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi said the agency was “deeply distressed” by Ochisor’s death.

“To all that he has left behind, his family, friends and his brothers and sisters in the industry, our heartfelt condolences — we mourn with you,” Joshi said.

Ochisor had his medallion for nearly 30 years after purchasing it in 1989, officials said. He never rented out his medallion, but shared the driving duties with his wife, longtime friend Dan Nitescu said.

“His wife was driving in the morning, he was driving in the afternoon to midnight,” said Nitescu, 64. “Since Uber came to town … the whole taxi business was almost destroyed. The medallion value went to almost zero.”

As the price of a taxi medallion continued to tumble, Ochisor “got into a deep depression,” Nitescu said.

“He was telling me all the time that the value of the medallion is not going to be like it used to be anymore, ever,” he said. “Now, he told me, for the last six, seven months that whatever he makes together with his wife, he was making by himself alone, before the Uber.

“He’s gotta pay his mortgage on the medallion,” Nitescu added. “He was making the payments, but it was very hard. He struggled himself. It was bothering him all the time.”

Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx) has proposed a bill that would more tightly regulate the online for-hire industry.

The bill would establish an annual $2,000 fee on each vehicle, and any new services would have to do an environmental study. It would cap the number of vehicles per base at 250. Currently any Uber driver can respond to a call from any Uber base.

You may also like

  • Taxi King no longer allowed to manage hundreds of medallionsTaxi King no longer allowed to manage hundreds of medallions
  • Yellow Cab Driver was slashes in the face in WilliamsburgYellow Cab Driver was slashes in the face in Williamsburg
  • Westchester Taxi and Car ServiceWestchester Taxi and Car Service
  • A passenger hijacked a  taxicab for a joyrideA passenger hijacked a taxicab for a joyride
  • Greenpoint Brooklyn Car ServiceGreenpoint Brooklyn Car Service

6 thoughts on “Cash-strapped veteran cab driver hangs himself in his Queens garage”

  1. Martindoups on April 24, 2018 at 10:05 pm said:

    Hi All im newbie here. Good art! Thx! Thx!

  2. Buffalo Taxi on April 30, 2018 at 2:19 am said:

    It is very sad situation, thank you for sharing this. I am deeply saddened by the news. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and your family. In my opinion, since I am driving my own taxi. Uber and other App transport business are not affecting my business. I develop my own regular clients, and yeah there are huge demands for taxi service that we don’t have to worry for anything. It’s a healthy competition on transport business.

  3. Tampa Taxi on May 18, 2018 at 12:08 am said:

    Our hearts go out to the wife and your family. Although we don’t know exactly what to say, we want the family to know that we are with you in thought and wish you comfort and peace as you remember Nicanor Ochiso.

  4. Buffalo Express Taxi on May 18, 2018 at 12:11 am said:

    Our heart aches for you and your family during this time. Our condolences.

  5. Phil Mccracken on May 30, 2018 at 2:01 am said:

    Why kill yourself over money?

  6. dan anton on November 25, 2018 at 3:55 am said:

    MANY TOURISTS TOLD ME THEY LIKE NEW -YORK,BECAUSE OF FRIENDLY TAXI DRIVERS, THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE!
    YELLOW CABS IN NYC IT IS ,AND IT WAS A “STATE OF MIND”…..
    UNFORTUNATLY SOMEBODY,FROM THEYRS HATE OF HARDS WANTED TO KILL IT!
    THEY KILLED THIS FREE PR OF NEW YORK!
    GOOD NIGHT SMALL BUSINESS,…GOOD MORNING ,…BIG CORPORATIONS!!
    THE SOCIAL STATE FOR …CORPORATIONS!
    ANY COOMENTS ? CALL ME AT 929 435 1456 DANY

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Drivers Lounge

Previous Next All

adinda: Taksi di New york

mitchell: 24/7 2016 pruis vhybrid $400 also 6 day and 5 day deals big discount 1st week week 917 374 8538 chelsea at subway

Casie Beale: Happy New Year!!!

Gilbert: Forgot my iPhone in the cab on Jan 12th Jean was my driver. Please call me ASAP 3474769077

Mike: 24/7 yellow 280 week take home 2014 Prius (929) 274-1546

Mike: Yellow 24/7 take home 2014 Prius 280

nikhil: what is the tagline of yellowcabs for wheelchair accessible cabs?

johni: I rent a wheelchaire medalion 200/month call me at 929-435-1456

Sai: Where is my cab?

resident: plate Y103416C parking yellow cab on residential street every night.

Gourav basu: I m from India, can i get a job there? I m a very good driver. Please give me the job

Madison Dubiski: Hi I left my black Chanel purse in a cab. I am needing it because it has my ID in it to fly home tomorrow.

Sal: Left keys in cab at 8:25, was dropped off on Hudson/10th. Happy to pay cash reward $150 for safe return, call me ASAP at 646 522 7430

Sal Monaco: Left very important keys in yellow cab around 8:25, was dropped off on Hudson and 10th. Happy to pay cash reward $150 for safe return, call me at 646 522 7430

Sal Monaco: Left very important keys in yellow cab around 8:25, was dropped off on Hudson and 10th. Happy to pay cash reward $150 for safe return

Bangla kitchen: Desi food for pickup in QUEENS. Call/Text for daily menu 9172264352. Fish, curry, shrimp, biryani and more!

Bangla kitchen: Desi food for pickup in QUEENS. Call/Text for daily menu 9172264352. Fish, chicken, beef, shrimp, biryani and more!

Bangla kitchen: Desi food available for pickup in QUEENS. Call or Text for daily menu 9172264352. Fish, chicken, beef, shrimp, biryani and more!

Bangla kitchen: Desi food available for pickup in QUEENS. Call or Text for daily menu 9172264352. Fish, chicken, beef, shrimp, biryani and more! Special order also available with 24hour notice!

banglamomskitchen: Desi food available for pickup in QUEENS. Call or Text for daily menu 9172264352. Fish, chicken, beef, shrimp, biryani and more! Special order also available with 24hour notice!

»




Recent Comments

  • Cafe Ekipmanları: “Cafe Ekipmanları, Endüstriyel Mutfak, Büfe Ekipmanları, Kantin Ekipmanları, Restaurant Ekipmanları, otel ekipmanları”
  • Cafe Ekipmanları: “Cafe Ekipmanları, Remta Satış, Remta Online Satış, Remta Mutfak, Remta, Endüstriyel Mutfak, Büfe Ekipmanları, Kantin Ekipmanları, Restaurant Ekipmanları, otel ekipmanları”
  • toplu sms: “nice car 🙂 I like it”
  • torrent: “Wonderful article! We are linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing. Maritsa Stanislaus Lorenza”
  • Nikhil: “what is the tagline of your company for the wheelchair accessible cabs?”
  • dan: “who invented the human trafficking ?…. New Your City?…..write me back for comments! to email”
  • CreditCardCabbie: “What kinds of support cabdrivers are getting from the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission to drive the new Tesla yellow…”
  • rafael brito: “I had a friend and his wife with corona virus and I sent them some wormwood with instructions on how…”
  • James John: “This is the nice work”
  • Jose H Reynoso: “I had TLC license for more than 20 years: But this year expired because. I’m applying for a new one…”
  • acaustralia: “Assurance Cover Australia was established in response to the rising cost of insurance in the point to point transportation industry.…”
  • Casey hogan: “I did took my cash cab quiz and passed it my cash cab quiz for fourth time arow”
  • Casey hogan: “I did pass three times on cash cab test”
  • brother f: “You are a yellow cab driver. Uber would want nothing more than to see you destroyed. The drivers for those…”
  • pok: “I m a police detective,….and i watch you closely! if you don’t keep your mouth shut,I will destroy you ,….!!”
  • DAVE SANCHEZ: “NEVER MIND THE BAILOUT GETTING READY UBER & LISP, THERE IS YOUR CORONAVIRUS KILLING OUR COMMUNITY, MY BROTHERS!!!! KEEP ON…”
  • Jimmy: “call me 929 435 1456 Jimmy”
  • Pedro herrera: “Hello would you please have Esteban contact me re a pink card i gave to him as a form of…”
  • Pedro herrera: “Hello would you please have Esteban contact me re a pink card i gave to him as a form of…”
  • Pedro herrera: “Hello would you please have Esteban contact me re a pink card i gave to him as a form of…”
  • Pedro herrera: “Hello would you please have Esteban contact me re a pink card i gave to him as a form of…”
  • PATRICIA TOME: “Even if it’s understandable, is not fare and legal, is racist and in many cases, asian people look the same…”
  • Alexandria Jude: “HULU-Magnet Row FDR Tunnel Human Trafficking Suispicious Activity Via and MTA can I take Taxi and Fuel on Instead? San…”
  • Aitzaz: “Anybody know chacha Mazhar Iqbal Who was died in March 2019”
  • Edward Ng: “Hi, let me know if someone may like to trade taxi’s receipt. Kindly contact me via edward.ndh at gmail.com”

You may also like

  • Taxi King no longer allowed to manage hundreds of medallionsTaxi King no longer allowed to manage hundreds of medallions
  • Yellow Cab Driver was slashes in the face in WilliamsburgYellow Cab Driver was slashes in the face in Williamsburg
  • Westchester Taxi and Car ServiceWestchester Taxi and Car Service
  • A passenger hijacked a  taxicab for a joyrideA passenger hijacked a taxicab for a joyride
  • Greenpoint Brooklyn Car ServiceGreenpoint Brooklyn Car Service

INFORMATION

  • Home
  • Reserve NYC Taxi
  • Lost Property
  • NYC Taxi Phone Number
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact

OTHER

  • Drivers Wanted
  • New York Car Service
  • Medallions for Sale or Lease
  • Brooklyn Car Service
  • JFK Airport Taxi
  • Refund Request
  • Satisfaction Guarantee

FOLLOW US

  • New York
  • Brooklyn
  • Queens
  • New York Airports
  • JFK Airport
  • LGA Airport
  • Newark Airport

Footer Logo




© 2021, NYCYellowCabTaxi.com ™. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Services | Disclaimer
NYC Yellow Cab Taxi Lost and Found Service helps increase your chances of recovering your lost property that was left behind in a taxi cab. NYCYellowCabTaxi.com is a private blog about New York City Yellow Cab Taxis and is not affiliated with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. Individual results may vary