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L to R: NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi, President Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Maine Limousine, Vice President Tina Benson of L.A. Limousine Service, Treasurer Terry Murtaugh of United Private Car, Lynda Saitta of Momentum Drives, Director Keith Ali of Dav El/BostonCoach, Secretary Brittni Kirk of All Points Limousine, and Director Larry White of Maine Limousine
The New England Livery Association (NELA) held its annual Chauffeur Appreciation Day on June 6. The yearly event has been part of the association for more than two decades and sees the board of directors and members volunteering to prepare lunches for the chauffeurs who serve as the public faces of luxury ground transportation operations throughout New England.
Held at the Logan International Airport Limo Pool, NELA transformed the lot into the place to be to grab some grub, win some prizes, check out some entertainment, and be recognized for all the work that chauffeurs do. The long-running day of gratitude served up free meals of hotdogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, and sausages by the hundreds—and with all the fixin’s—to busy chauffeurs as they make airports runs to and from New England’s largest airport.
Larry White of Maine Limousine
Officers and members of NELA came out to work the food stations and booths, but the event would not be possible without the year-after-year dedication to chairing the event from NELA Vice President Tina Benson of L.A. Limousine Service. In addition to Benson, her brother Carl Varney is always instrumental in hauling the wooden “store-front” they had built for the event years ago, as well as the grills, picking up most of the food to be prepared, and then cooking all day long. Supporting Benson on the Chauffeur Appreciation Day committee, and working hard all day and the weeks leading up to the event, were NELA Director Alicia Hayes of American Classic Limousine, Secretary Brittni Kirk of All Points Limo, Treasurer Terry Murtaugh of United Private Car, and Director Larry White of Maine Limousine. Others who were there to make the event a success serving food, running the raffle tables, and ensuring that the day runs smoothly were Lynda Saitta of Momentum Drives, Deb Rourke of Avery Insurance, Steve Crispo of Research Underwriters, Denis Sema of Prestige Livery, and Keith Ali of Dav El/BostonCoach.
Longtime volunteer Carl Varney of L.A. Limousine Service
More than two dozen sponsors helped make this year’s Chauffeur Appreciation Day possible. Platinum and Gold Sponsors included Above All Transportation/Maine Limousine, Dav El/BostonCoach, Commonwealth Worldwide, Great Bay Limousine, LTI Worldwide Limousine, Metro West Car Service, Pro Limo, RMA Worldwide, and United Private Car, while Avery Insurance served as the Entertainment Sponsor. Silver Sponsors included All Points Limousine, AOT Global, Carey Boston, DPV Transportation, Freedom Assets Inc., L.A. Limousine Service, TBR Global Chauffeuring, and Waverley Insurance Agency.
NELA Vice President Tina Benson of L.A. Limousine Service with Executive Director Rick Szilagyi of Lexian Management
DJ Nick Lamberti, who has become a regular at NELA events, served as the MC and spun tunes throughout the day. Deb Rourke of Avery Insurance managed the raffle table, which included a giveaway of Red Sox tickets provided by Above All Transportation/Maine Limousine and Waverley Insurance.
The NELA stated that they are grateful to Mike Hadley, assistant director of transportation operations at Massport’s Logan Airport, who they credit for making the event possible at the airport every year, in addition to supporting their needs throughout the day.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
[06.11.24]
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Several industry associations are cheering the recent postponement of New York City’s congestion pricing, which was scheduled to go into effect June 30. Drivers would have been assessed a toll of $15 for driving in Manhattan below 60th Street. As of press time, New York Governor Kathy Hochul halted the program indefinitely, citing a burden to working- and middle-class families.
Congestion pricing had been talked about for years and was fought hard against by everyone from everyday commuters to special interest groups to neighboring states—but the program also had its supporters. The program was designed to reduce vehicular traffic in Manhattan’s busiest areas with an anticipated revenue of $1 billion, which would have gone to NYC’s transit authority, MTA, for upgrades and improvements of the city’s transportation system.
NLA President Brett Barenholtz
Congestion pricing was a top agenda item at the National Limousine Association’s (NLA’s) advocacy event in Washington, D.C., last month, which included meetings with 68 legislators total (10 from New York and New Jersey). The NLA asked Congress to co-sponsor the Economic Impact of Tolling Act (H.R. 1759), which would prevent the Department of Transportation (DOT) from authorizing or implementing congestion pricing plans without first completing and publishing an economic impact analysis.
NLA President and New England Livery Association (NELA) President Brett Barenholtz:
“The NLA applauds Governor Hochul for taking action against congestion pricing. As we discussed with legislators on Capitol Hill last month, the public overwhelmingly opposes congestion taxes. They divert funds away from roads, failing to reduce congestion and instead merely moving it to areas less equipped to handle it. We continue to keep a watchful eye on what is happening in New York for potential impact to operators and passengers around the country in the future. Congestion pricing should not move forward unchecked.”
LANJ President Mike Rose
Limousine Association of New Jersey President Mike Rose:
“Our membership is very happy to hear the news of the congestion pricing program being postponed and thank Governor Hochul for her stance on this matter. As we have previously made clear with the MTA and other organizations, we are sympathetic to their budget issues but do not feel that this program is being implemented properly and puts many of our members in the chauffeured transportation at a disadvantage as opposed to those who have a New York TLC License as well as the rideshare companies. The clients who travel in a chauffeured car from upstate New York, Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania should not be penalized by because of their geographic location and the fact that they do not have a New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Base License. Additionally, this program penalizes those travelling on buses charging them a premium when they are trying to be conscious of congestion and emissions and choose a greener form of transportation. I am hopeful that when and if this program is implemented, it is done so in a more thoughtful and pragmatic approach taking into consideration for hire vehicles from adjoining states and those travelling as groups in motorcoaches and buses.”
LANY President Jeff Rose
Limo Association of New York (LANY) President and NLA Legislative Committee Co-Chair Jeff Rose:
“As the president of the Limo Association of New York (LANY) and a board member of the NLA, I am thrilled that Governor Hochul has prioritized the best interests of New Yorkers regarding the congestion pricing rollout. While it may be a worthy tool down the road, its implementation was a bit rushed, and it showed in some of the procedures proposed. If nothing else, this will give the powers that be the time to reconsider some aspects of implementation while allowing the city’s economy to recover. Better to get it right than to push for right away.
The NLA wishes to express its profound gratitude to Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.-5), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.-17) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.-11). Their Herculean efforts in D.C. on behalf of the working class are to be lauded. We thank them for their hard work.”
[06.07.24]
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UPDATED: 5.29.24
Have a 2024 event that you’d like to share? Let us know! Send an email to susan@chauffeurdriven.com or rob@chauffeurdriven.com and we’ll add your meeting/conference to our list of events in the monthly magazine, in our weekly newsletter, and on our website.
MAY
5/3-5/7
U.S. Travel’s IPW (Los Angeles)
ustravel.org/events/ipw
5/14-5/15
GBTA APAC Conference (Singapore)
apacconference.gbta.org
5/14-5/15
NLA Day on the Hill (Washington, D.C.)
limo.org
5/16
CLA Topgolf Networking Event (Thornton)
cololimo.org
5/20-5/22
Meeting Professionals International’s WEC (Louisville, Ky.)
mpi.org/events/wec24
5/21
ILLBA Breakfast With ILLBA (Willowbrook)
illba.org
5/21-5/23
TTA Legislative Fly-In (Washington, D.C.)
thetransportationalliance.org/legislative-fly-in
5/21
LANJ General Meeting and Auction (Cedar Grove)
lanj.org
JUNE
6/2-6/5
CD/NLA Executive Retreat (Miami, Fla.)
cdnlaexecutiveretreat.com
6/2-6/5
Tennessee Motor Coach Association Convention (Johnson City)
tnmca.net
6/6
NELA Chauffeur Appreciation Day (Boston Logan Airport)
nelivery.org
6/11
VLA Membership Meeting (Springfield Hilton)
virginialimousineassociation.org
6/17-6/20
Pennsylvania Bus Association Convention (Ithaca, N.Y.)
pabus.org
6/18
CLA Membership Meeting (online)
cololimo.org
6/18
ILLBA Coffee With ILLBA (online)
illba.org
6/18
MLA General Meeting (Baltimore)
mdlimoassoc.org
6/18-6/20
TTA RevUp 2024 (Niagara, N.Y.)
thetransportationalliance.org
[05.14.24]