3-year anniversary- Gov. Hochul Announces Appointments to the Limousine Passenger Safety Task Force

October 9, 2021

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced she has appointed four new members to the Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Task Force and directed the task force to immediately convene and agree on a timeline for completing its comprehensive study of safety measures.

The four newly appointed members join the three members who were already designated, enabling the task force to begin the study that will be presented to the Governor and State agencies that oversee limousine services in New York State. Recommendations for the remaining spots on the task force are all in and undergoing vetting. The task force's study will closely examine matters influencing the safety, adequacy, efficiency and reliability of stretch limousine transportation.

"As we mark the three-year anniversary of the tragic crash, we must honor the memory of these individuals by realizing our obligation to review every single aspect of limousine transportation and help prevent such tragedies,"

Governor Hochul said.

"With all recommendations for the task force now in, I am directing the task force to convene without further delay and commit to a timeline for conducting and submitting its review of safety measures, so we can better protect every passenger and others who share the road."

The new members include Joan McDonald, Westchester County Director of Operations, and Matthew J. Driscoll, Executive Director at New York State Thruway Authority, selected and appointed by the Governor; and David J. Brown, President and CEO at Premiere Transportation, and Edward Stoppelmann, Co-owner of Red Oak Transportation, appointed by the Governor upon recommendation from the Speaker of the Assembly as required by law.

The new members join the commissioners of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the New York State Department of Transportation and the Superintendent of State Police, all of whom were already designated as members of the task force by statute.

The Senate has submitted their recommendations for appointments to the task force and those are under review.

New York Pressroom

October 6, 2021