2 NYC Commissioners, Heads of Taxi Commission and Buildings, Announce Resignations

What to Know

Two NYC commissioners are stepping down, the mayor announced Saturday
Meera Joshi, the head of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, is leaving after five years in the position
Buildings commissioner Rick D. Chandler will retire at the end of January after more than three decades in city government.

The heads of New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission and the Buildings Commission are stepping down, the mayor announced Saturday.

TLC Chairwoman Meera Joshi will step down in March, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. He said a replacement will be chosen in the coming months.

Joshi has led the agency that regulates for-hire vehicles since 2014. New York City has grappled during her tenure with the explosive growth of Uber and other ride-hailing apps.

The City Council in the past year has approved a moratorium on new licenses for app-based cars and a minimum pay standard for app-based drivers. Joshi said it's been an honor to serve the city "through the effective regulation of almost 200,000 drivers in over 130,000 vehicles moving over a million people each day."

Buildings Commissioner Rick D. Chandler will retire at the end of January after more than three decades in city government.

The mayor praised the 58-year-old official for leading a department modernization effort that includes the digitalizing of construction filings and inspection records.

Chandler also hired more than 230 new inspectors and 150 technical staff - a move the mayor says has speeded up construction permit reviews and complaints and to regulate real estate during the current building boom.