Metro

Taxi industry gave De Blasio over $550,000 for campaign

Mayor de Blasio’s campaign haul from the yellow taxi industry was much higher than previously reported – with the influential sector ponying up more than $550,000 for Hizzoner’s successful run, a Post review found.

That massive intake was matched by an additional $150,000 in public funds last year, according to Campaign Finance Board records.

The bulks of donations came from a half-dozen bundlers — including yellow cab lobbyist Michael Woloz, who alone brought in nearly $237,000.

De Blasio initially supported but soon became critical of ex-Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s plan to put 18,000 outer-borough green taxis on the streets over three years — a plan that taxi medallion owners see as a competitive threat.

The Post’s review of donations followed the administration’s refusal to confirm on Thursday that this year’s batch of 6,000 green cabs – the second round of three – would go out as planned.

“He’s someone that’s totally indebted to the medallion industry,” said former City Councilmember and ex-mayoral candidate Sal Albanese, who now works as a lawyer. “They have huge hooks in de Blasio – and he owes them big time.”

After media reports highlighted the delay in getting more green cabs rolling, city officials did a sudden about-face late Friday and said they “should” begin issuing more permits in late summer.

That would still be a delay from the starting date allowed by law of June 12.

Taxi and Limousine Commission Chair Meera Joshi blamed the lag on the need to ensure sufficient wheelchair accessibility and to get feedback from stakeholders before OK’ing more cabs.

The green cars were meant to fill a gap in yellow taxi service to the outer-boroughs and northern Manhattan.

— Yoav Gonen