Anyone could own a BNB or a Taxi or a Manufacturing business, or even a publishing business. There was certainly no 'privelege' in any of those fields.
A medallion (to be able to legally drive a cab in NYC) alone costs more $1.3 million[1], let alone any other costs. No privilege?
[1] http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-28/if-uber-is-k...