Mid Hudson Times May 18 2016 | Page 3

Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , May 18 , 2016
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City police crackdown on taxicabs

By SHANTAL RILEY sriley @ tcnewspapers . com
Police are taking a closer look at taxicabs and taxicab companies in the City of Newburgh to ensure they are operating with the proper permits and licenses .
“ The City of Newburgh Police Department is strongly advising taxi operators to follow the city code ordinances regarding taxicabs ,” a City of Newburgh Police Department press release states .
Many city residents do not own their own vehicles , said city police Lieutenant Frank Labrada .
“ They rely on public transportation and taxicabs ,” he said . “ It all comes down to public safety . We want to make sure the taxicab companies and drivers are properly licensed .”
Last week , city police carried out an enforcement detail that resulted in 10 traffic tickets , five appearance tickets , a custodial arrest and one taxi impoundment . Police will be conducting additional enforcement details in the coming weeks .
Drivers are required to be licensed to operate taxicabs by the city and have a Class-E driver ’ s license from New York State .
The City of Newburgh Police Department is strongly advising taxi operators to follow the city code ordinances regarding taxicabs .
City taxicabs are also required to be licensed and inspected by the city as well as the state . Additionally , cabs are required to be painted yellow , equipped with an exterior roof light and properly marked as a taxicab .
The Newburgh city code states , “ Taxicab markings must be permanently displayed on both front doors of each vehicle . Markings must include taxi owner or company name , taxicab number , the words ‘ taxi ’ or ‘ taxicab ’ or ‘ cab ,’ and ‘ Newburgh , New York .’”
Additionally , “ The taxicab number must also be permanently and visibly displayed on the rear of such vehicle ( left and right rear fenders and left side of trunk lid or tailgate ).”
Each taxicab should display the driver ’ s license and a taxicab license sticker , to be visibly displayed on the left rear window of the vehicle . Stickers must be posted to the left and right passenger doors stating in English and Spanish that the vehicle may be inspected at any time by police , Labrada said .
Violations carry a maximum penalty of $ 250 or 15 days in jail , or both .
Labrada said there were many taxicab drivers not following the current Newburgh city code rules . When asked if it was possible there may be a language barrier resulting in non-compliance , he said possibly .
“ We ’ re looking for compliance from cab companies ,” Labrada said . “ It ’ s incumbent on the taxicab owners themselves to make sure their drivers and vehicles are licensed .”
Taxicab inspections are offered by appointment from 8 a . m . to 12 p . m . on Tuesdays at the City of Newburgh Police Department . For information on taxicab licenses , fees and application forms , visit the City of Newburgh website at Cityofnewburgh-ny . gov - or call the City of Newburgh clerk ’ s office at 845-569-7311 .
To make an appointment for a taxicab inspection , contact the City of Newburgh Police Department at 845-561-3131 .

Mount Saint Mary Commencement set for Saturday

Mount Saint Mary College will recognize hundreds of bachelor ’ s and master ’ s degree candidates during the 53rd annual commencement ceremony on May 21 .
The college will also confer an honorary doctor of humane letters upon commencement speaker Timothy P . Flanigan , MD , professor of Medicine and Health Services , Policy and Practices in the Alpert Medical College at Brown University , for his humanitarian efforts around the world and contributions as a physician and a deacon .
Dr . Flanigan earned his BA from Dartmouth College and his MD from Cornell University Medical College . He joined Dr . Charles Carpenter at Brown in 1991 to lead the HIV and AIDS medical program . In 1999 , Dr . Flanigan was appointed Director of Infectious Diseases , an academic and hospital appointment ( The Miriam Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital ).
He spearheaded HIV care in the Rhode
Island Department of Corrections . He is recognized for his community-based work with HIV-infected men and women in prisons and jails , and for providing educational support for children of incarcerated parents .
Dr . Flanigan also had the courage to respond to another severe public health emergency : Ebola . In 2014 , he traveled to St . Joseph Catholic Hospital in Monrovia , Liberia . The husband and father of five said in an interview , “ I expected that fear of Ebola had already inflicted a deep wound … in part , because it attacks families in the household and healthcare workers .”
His two-month mission focused on training personnel to care for Ebola patients without contracting the virus . Working closely with Catholic missionary orders , he was moved by their efforts . Liberia ’ s families , he observed , are grateful for medical assistance , and also solidarity . Caregivers learned to use protective gear , and community leaders
shared health guidelines to stem the perilous tide .
In addition to his university teaching and mentoring roles , he has worked on more than two dozen research grant projects , 260 original articles in peerreviewed publications , 20 books and book
chapters , and has presented some 120 scholarly works around the world .
Flanigan is ordained as a permanent Deacon for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence , Rhode Island , serving at Saint Theresa ’ s and St . Christopher ’ s churches in Tiverton .