BCF celebrated 25 years (L to R): NYC TLC Commissioner David Do, BCF Executive Director Ira Goldstein, and BCF CFO/CCO David Perine
Ira Goldstein, executive director of the New York Black Car Fund (BCF), has been honored as The Transportation Alliance’s (TTA’s) 2024 Advocate of the Year. Goldstein was celebrated at an awards ceremony during TTA’s Mobilize 2024 Convention in Dallas on October 1 for his longstanding dedication to the industry as well as his lobbying efforts on behalf of the tens of thousands of independent drivers that BCF represents. Goldstein, who is also on the TTA Board of Directors, has been recognized by the association in the past, most recently as the 2020 Executive of the Year.
TTA is among the oldest transportation associations in the country. Formerly known as the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association, the longtime organization advocates for taxicab companies, executive sedan and limousine services, airport shuttle fleets, non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) companies, and paratransit services.
The plaudits coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Black Car Fund, which was established to provide workers’ compensation coverage and other benefits to the black car operators in New York. Goldstein joined BCF in 2010, and under his exceptional leadership, BCF has implemented programs to streamline workers’ compensation, increase driver safety, and expand benefits to include health insurance at no cost to drivers.
BCF marked the milestone occasion with a celebration at the TWA Hotel, located at New York’s JFK Airport, on September 17. The evening’s guest list was a who’s who of New York transportation professionals, including Matt Daus of Windels Marx and Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) Commissioner David Do, to name a few.
Daus, who is also a former TLC commissioner and current International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) president, congratulated Goldstein in his daily newsletter for his award from TTA: “Ira is a ‘one-of-a-kind’ tenacious advocate and representative of the industry. He deeply cares about the industry and has continued his public service orientation after being the tech architect at TLC of so many innovative projects by effectively representing the black car and limousine industry in NYC and through his adept management of the NY Black Car Fund, which has helped countless drivers. Ira is a close friend, confidant and, might I add, a ‘true mensch’ overall. Kudos to the TTA for acknowledging our Ira, as he is truly an inspiration to so many and his good work has and will continue to benefit so many people. Congratulations!”
Goldstein has been recognized for his work in the past. He was given the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s first annual 9/11 Commemoration Hero for Tolerance award, and the League of Mutual Taxi Owners’ “Man of the Year” award. He has also received an award for Corporate Social Responsibility in the Banking, Finance, and Insurance fields from City & State Reports, and was again named to the “Transportation Power 100” list this year from City & State New York (#65), alongside Do (#15) and Daus (#68).
Visit nybcf.org and thetransportationalliance.org for more information.
Hat tip to Matt Daus of Windels Marx and Neil Weiss of Black Car News for additional information and photos.
[10.01.24]