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Indian Americans recognized in New York power list
The list recognizes the most influential leaders, innovators and advocates who are shaping the future of New York’s infrastructure, public transit and mobility
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Ishani Duttagupta - Thu, 09, Apr 2026
- 04:43 EDT
- 23
Bhairavi Desai, Jeremy Cooney and Kovid Saxena. / X
The City & State 2026 Trailblazers in Transportation, a power list published by New York’s premier politics and policy media organization, features the Indian American founder and executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Bhairavi Desai. The list, which recognizes the most influential leaders, innovators and advocates who are shaping the future of New York’s infrastructure, public transit and mobility, also has two other Indian Americans — Jeremy Cooney and Kovid Saxena — on board.
Desai, who is the co-founder of the advocacy group for thousands of cab drivers in New York City, started working for their rights when she was just 23. New York City’s for-hire drivers have no greater advocate than Desai, the City & State Trailblazers list says about her. As the influential leader of the NYTWA, Desai served on the worker justice transition team for Mayor Zohran Mamdani — a longtime ally who once joined her on a successful hunger strike to secure taxi medallion debt relief.
ALSO READ: TIME names 2 Indian Americans Women of the Year
Recently, Desai pushed for city legislation to prevent ride-hailing drivers from being deactivated without recourse. The legislation, which was originally vetoed by former New York City Mayor Eric Adams in his final hours in office, was passed by the City Council in a veto override in January.
Kolkata-born New York state Sen. Cooney, who is chair of the State Senate Committee on Transportation, is also on the list for “charging ahead with an ambitious transportation agenda for the state.” His recent milestones include securing $500,000 for a high-speed rail study — a longstanding priority — while successfully advocating for a 4.9% increase in public transit funding and expanded budgets for state and local road repairs.
Cooney has also recently introduced a bill that will expand pre-tax benefits for commuters to bicycle rentals, ride-hailing services and bicycle commuting costs. He is a leading proponent of autonomous vehicles.
Saxena, vice president for mobility global business at design, engineering and consultancy services firm Arcadis, is the third Indian American featured on the list. An industry veteran, Saxena has influenced several major infrastructure projects in the New York City metropolitan area. His current portfolio includes high-profile consulting roles on the Second Avenue Subway (Phase 2) and the Gateway Hudson River Tunnel.
His extensive track record also encompasses the city’s curbside EV charging rollout, the BQE triple cantilever reconstruction, the raising of the Bayonne Bridge, and critical safety enhancements on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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