I just read Taxi shot where my friend Tim says that Derrick Brooks is the best lineback ever. I am hoping he means the best the Bucs ever had. I am a great Buc's fan however, as much as I hate to admit, as I don't care for teams from New York and anyone who plays on said teams. Read on folks. This was taken from the internet.
Lawrence Taylor
There is absolutely no debate - Lawrence Taylor is unequivocally the best linebacker in NFL history. Taylor, the second overall selection in the 1981 draft, came into the league and immediately began establishing the greatness that would make him a household name and a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Taylor was named first-team All-Pro in each of his first nine seasons and brought a whole new dimension to the pro game - that of an outside, speed-rushing linebacker, who could not only make plays in the field, but rush the quarterback better than a defensive lineman.
In 1986, Taylor became the first defensive player since 1971 to be named the league's MVP. That season, Taylor recorded a career high 20.5 sacks, 105 total tackles, five passes defensed, and two forced fumbles.
Taylor recorded 142 sacks, 1,088 tackles, 33 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, and nine interceptions during his career and was selected to play in 10 Pro Bowls. However, statistics can never justify the impact Lawrence Taylor made on professional football. He literally changed the game and the way the outside linebacker position would be played forever more. Off the field issues aside - and he had plenty - Taylor is hands-down, the best linebacker in NFL history.
It doesn't say how many interceptions for touchdowns, I think Brooks had five in one year, super bowl year. I, like so many Buc fans hate to see him have to go in that fashion. The turkey with the money did those five the same way they did John Lynch. I hope all of them get on another team and make the pro bowl like John did.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Next week cab drivers in Dublin, Ireland plan to bring the city streets to a standstill with there protest
Next week cab drivers in Dublin, Ireland plan to bring the city streets to a standstill with there protest.
What's there problem you ask, same as everywhere else to many cabs and to few riders.
Story is from RTE News.
Taxi drivers threaten to escalate protestWednesday, 25 February 2009 22:09.
Taxi drivers have threatened to bring Dublin city to a standstill next week in an escalation of protest action, which has been taking place for several weeks now.
Leaders from the Taxi Drivers For Change group said cars will be used in a demonstration to take place in the city centre.
Today, almost 700 taxi drivers and their supporters marched in Dublin.
Marchers walked from Parnell Square to Kildare Street.
The group has given more than 1,500 letters of protest to the Minister for Transport this afternoon.
The group criticised unions representing taxi drivers for failing to fully back their action, it said the unions are sitting on the fence on the issue.
Taxi drivers claim that since the deregulation of licensing in 2000 the number of taxis in Dublin has risen from 2,000 to 25,000.
They say too many taxis are currently operating and as a result it is impossible for drivers to make a living.
Taxi Drivers For Change public relations officer Jim Waldron said drivers had no option but to take the action to protect their livelihoods.
The full details of next week's action has not been decided.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Recession what recession
This is a switch a cab company and drivers that seem to be doing well despite the current recession, story is from KCBY.com, in North Bend, OR.
By Kristina Nelson, COOS BAY, Ore. - It seems no business is recession proof these days.
But for Yellow Cab Taxi in Coos Bay, Owner Dick Leshley has gone back to basics to ensure riders choose his cabs when heading across town.
It was business as usual at Yellow Cab on Friday morning.
News of the state's latest economic woes didn't seem to affect Leshley.
"we've collectively decided not to take part in the recession and do something different."
Since the beginning of the year, Leshley says he's seen a 10 percent increase in ridership.
"We're very pleased with our customer response and we just hope we can continue to give quality service and earn what they've given us," says Leshley.
It seems as though Yellow Cab has created a safety net for itself during this recession, implementing some new incentives like a dollar off a ride, hoping to entice riders to hop in a cab toward their destination.
"We've offered some specials and we've done some extra training with our drivers. We've just decided to do business as usual."
Business has been so good in fact, that Yellow Cab is currently hiring at least four more drivers to expand their fleet.
"We're looking for quality people that are looking to give quality service. You must have a clean driving record and be drug free. If you have those things, we can offer you a pretty good living."
As far as the future of the economy is concerned, Leshley says he's not too worried about what's to come.
"I started this business in 1986, it's not going to be as bad as that. We've prospered when unemployment has been at 15 percent in Coos County. I'm not worried."
If you're interested in applying for a job with Yellow Cab, call Dick Leshley at 267-3111 .
By Kristina Nelson, COOS BAY, Ore. - It seems no business is recession proof these days.
But for Yellow Cab Taxi in Coos Bay, Owner Dick Leshley has gone back to basics to ensure riders choose his cabs when heading across town.
It was business as usual at Yellow Cab on Friday morning.
News of the state's latest economic woes didn't seem to affect Leshley.
"we've collectively decided not to take part in the recession and do something different."
Since the beginning of the year, Leshley says he's seen a 10 percent increase in ridership.
"We're very pleased with our customer response and we just hope we can continue to give quality service and earn what they've given us," says Leshley.
It seems as though Yellow Cab has created a safety net for itself during this recession, implementing some new incentives like a dollar off a ride, hoping to entice riders to hop in a cab toward their destination.
"We've offered some specials and we've done some extra training with our drivers. We've just decided to do business as usual."
Business has been so good in fact, that Yellow Cab is currently hiring at least four more drivers to expand their fleet.
"We're looking for quality people that are looking to give quality service. You must have a clean driving record and be drug free. If you have those things, we can offer you a pretty good living."
As far as the future of the economy is concerned, Leshley says he's not too worried about what's to come.
"I started this business in 1986, it's not going to be as bad as that. We've prospered when unemployment has been at 15 percent in Coos County. I'm not worried."
If you're interested in applying for a job with Yellow Cab, call Dick Leshley at 267-3111 .
Monday, February 23, 2009
Dodgers 2009
The biggest acquisition the Dodgers made was the re-signing of Rafael Furcal. This guy when healhy is one of the top 5 lead off hitters in baseball. He runs, he hits, he can hit for power, his defense is above average and he makes the Dodgers go. Every good team needs a guy that can make the whole team play better. However, I really think that the boys in blue need another big bat in the line up. Especially if Manny can't be signed. I also feel that the pitching roation needs help in order for them to compete for a playoff berth. Chad Billingsley, Hong-chin Kuo and Clayton Kershaw have great potential, but losing a work horse like Lowe hurts. When he throws it give the bull pen usually much needed rest.
The Dodgers trusted McDonald enough to let him pitch in the post-season last year. This year, they will have to trust him even more.
Fantasy Tip. Dodger catcher, Brad Ausmus says, Drafdt anyone but me. "Do not draft me under any circumstances. In fact, the only people who drafted me in the past were either related to me or didn't understand the fantasy baseball scoring system".
The Dodgers trusted McDonald enough to let him pitch in the post-season last year. This year, they will have to trust him even more.
Fantasy Tip. Dodger catcher, Brad Ausmus says, Drafdt anyone but me. "Do not draft me under any circumstances. In fact, the only people who drafted me in the past were either related to me or didn't understand the fantasy baseball scoring system".
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Hero taxi driver up for bravery award
This is an update to my story from Feb 12.
To recap cab driver James Brown went into a frozen lake to save the life of a woman who lost control of her car and it had flipped over after going into the lake
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has nominated Mr Brown for a Spirit Of Fire award.The awards ceremony is held annually by The Firefighters' Charity and acknowledges acts of bravery and achievement by firefighters and members of the public.
Mr Brown said: "I am overwhelmed by the nomination.
"The response since it all happened has been amazing.
"It would be very exciting to go to the awards, but the important thing is that the girl is okay.
"I'm sure a lot of people would have gone into the water.
"I'm just glad it all ended well."
To recap cab driver James Brown went into a frozen lake to save the life of a woman who lost control of her car and it had flipped over after going into the lake
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has nominated Mr Brown for a Spirit Of Fire award.The awards ceremony is held annually by The Firefighters' Charity and acknowledges acts of bravery and achievement by firefighters and members of the public.
Mr Brown said: "I am overwhelmed by the nomination.
"The response since it all happened has been amazing.
"It would be very exciting to go to the awards, but the important thing is that the girl is okay.
"I'm sure a lot of people would have gone into the water.
"I'm just glad it all ended well."
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Cabbies in fear for their Future
Other then the recession, the other major problem that face cabby's world wide is every municipality want's to add cabs to the fleets, and cab co owners are happy to oblige.
The story from Stockport, England is different, the drivers are the owners and they are trying to stop the local powers that be from selling more permits, in there small town.
These Driver-owners are in thousands of pounds of dept and are at risk of not only losing there cab's but there homes.
Story from Stockport Express.
Cabbies in fear for their Future
by Peter Devine
18/ 2/2009
A NUMBER of taxi drivers in Stockport claim they are facing home and vehicle repossessions following a council decision to deregulate the issue of cab licences in the borough.
Currently the licences are limited by the council to 120 in Stockport, but last weeks decision to deregulate means that anyone can now apply for a taxi licence for the borough.
The decision, which was taken by Stockport Councils licensing committee last Wednesday (Feb 11), has led to many cab drivers fearing a mass influx of taxis vying for their trade in what they already view as a diminishing market.
A report - which was part of a four-month, £22,000 consultation - determined that while there was no unmet demand by members of the public for cabs, it was believed by the council it would be foolish to challenge previous court decisions which had ruled against limiting licences.
One cab driver, George Manoli, who is currently paying off a debt on his cab of £38,000, told the Stockport Express the trade in Stockport faced a bleak future if they could not get the decision reversed:
He said: "If this decision is allowed to stand many drivers will lose their homes and have their taxis repossessed. The job of a taxi driver in Stockport is already on its knees due to the recession, with trade falling between 30 and 40 percent and cab drivers working long hours. When I went home from the meeting and told my wife she just broke down, and for the first time in my life I felt useless. Its not like having our backs to the wall, its more like our backs are on the canvas."
Steve Hulme, the chairman of the Stockport Owner/Drivers Association (SODA), who attended the packed meeting of the committee, said: "What many drivers don't understand is how you can produce a report which states there is no unmet demand, and yet still go ahead with this decision to de-limit.
"If we were to maintain the limit theres no certainty that it would satisfy the courts and it does not follow they would accept it remaining at 120 licences. Its not envisaged that Stockport would be flooded with a large number of licence applications."
Speaking after the meeting Councillor Peter Scott, the leader of Stockport Labour group, said: "I don't believe that the interests of local residents are best served by a free-for-all. Hackney operators have to invest many tens of thousands of pounds in their businesses, and their vehicles are much more expensive than private hire cars.
Taxi owners won't bother to operate if they can't be sure of getting enough work. In fact, we could end up with fewer taxis as a result of this. It appears that the committee was bounced into this decision without members realising the implications of such a drastic and unwarranted step."
The Stockport Express understands that cab drivers in Stockport are now planning to challenge the decision through a judicial review.
The story from Stockport, England is different, the drivers are the owners and they are trying to stop the local powers that be from selling more permits, in there small town.
These Driver-owners are in thousands of pounds of dept and are at risk of not only losing there cab's but there homes.
Story from Stockport Express.
Cabbies in fear for their Future
by Peter Devine
18/ 2/2009
A NUMBER of taxi drivers in Stockport claim they are facing home and vehicle repossessions following a council decision to deregulate the issue of cab licences in the borough.
Currently the licences are limited by the council to 120 in Stockport, but last weeks decision to deregulate means that anyone can now apply for a taxi licence for the borough.
The decision, which was taken by Stockport Councils licensing committee last Wednesday (Feb 11), has led to many cab drivers fearing a mass influx of taxis vying for their trade in what they already view as a diminishing market.
A report - which was part of a four-month, £22,000 consultation - determined that while there was no unmet demand by members of the public for cabs, it was believed by the council it would be foolish to challenge previous court decisions which had ruled against limiting licences.
One cab driver, George Manoli, who is currently paying off a debt on his cab of £38,000, told the Stockport Express the trade in Stockport faced a bleak future if they could not get the decision reversed:
He said: "If this decision is allowed to stand many drivers will lose their homes and have their taxis repossessed. The job of a taxi driver in Stockport is already on its knees due to the recession, with trade falling between 30 and 40 percent and cab drivers working long hours. When I went home from the meeting and told my wife she just broke down, and for the first time in my life I felt useless. Its not like having our backs to the wall, its more like our backs are on the canvas."
Steve Hulme, the chairman of the Stockport Owner/Drivers Association (SODA), who attended the packed meeting of the committee, said: "What many drivers don't understand is how you can produce a report which states there is no unmet demand, and yet still go ahead with this decision to de-limit.
"If we were to maintain the limit theres no certainty that it would satisfy the courts and it does not follow they would accept it remaining at 120 licences. Its not envisaged that Stockport would be flooded with a large number of licence applications."
Speaking after the meeting Councillor Peter Scott, the leader of Stockport Labour group, said: "I don't believe that the interests of local residents are best served by a free-for-all. Hackney operators have to invest many tens of thousands of pounds in their businesses, and their vehicles are much more expensive than private hire cars.
Taxi owners won't bother to operate if they can't be sure of getting enough work. In fact, we could end up with fewer taxis as a result of this. It appears that the committee was bounced into this decision without members realising the implications of such a drastic and unwarranted step."
The Stockport Express understands that cab drivers in Stockport are now planning to challenge the decision through a judicial review.
Friday, February 20, 2009
David Price---Rays closer??
The following is from the Rays web site, good reading. More to come later.
No easy answer exists to the biggest question in the Rays' camp this spring. Based on what Tampa Bay's top prospect showed last year, it's hard to imagine that this is even a question.
At the end of the 2008 postseason, the more prevalent question was directed to whether Price, 23, would be the team's closer based on the composed way he pitched once the going got hot.
Particularly memorable from Price's stellar postseason was his outing against the Red Sox in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. Boston was threatening when he entered the game in the eighth inning to face J.D. Drew with two outs and the bases loaded. Price delivered an 89-mph slider on the outside part of the plate for strike one, which led to an inning-ending strikeout. He then got the final three outs in the ninth to preserve the win, earn a save and propel the Rays to their first World Series.
The talented left-hander went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 2 1/3 innings in three ALCS appearances, claiming the win in Game 2, and he went 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two World Series appearances.
Price has since been anointed a starter, but he has not been guaranteed a spot in the rotation. Other candidates to claim the No. 5 spot in the rotation this spring include Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann and Mitch Talbot. And other factors exist beyond Price's talents that could ultimately affect Tampa Bay's decision.
Front and center is the business of baseball
No easy answer exists to the biggest question in the Rays' camp this spring. Based on what Tampa Bay's top prospect showed last year, it's hard to imagine that this is even a question.
At the end of the 2008 postseason, the more prevalent question was directed to whether Price, 23, would be the team's closer based on the composed way he pitched once the going got hot.
Particularly memorable from Price's stellar postseason was his outing against the Red Sox in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. Boston was threatening when he entered the game in the eighth inning to face J.D. Drew with two outs and the bases loaded. Price delivered an 89-mph slider on the outside part of the plate for strike one, which led to an inning-ending strikeout. He then got the final three outs in the ninth to preserve the win, earn a save and propel the Rays to their first World Series.
The talented left-hander went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 2 1/3 innings in three ALCS appearances, claiming the win in Game 2, and he went 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two World Series appearances.
Price has since been anointed a starter, but he has not been guaranteed a spot in the rotation. Other candidates to claim the No. 5 spot in the rotation this spring include Jason Hammel, Jeff Niemann and Mitch Talbot. And other factors exist beyond Price's talents that could ultimately affect Tampa Bay's decision.
Front and center is the business of baseball
Thursday, February 19, 2009
AL East Chronicles
Yes Baseball is starting up again, pitchers and catchers reported a week ago as have the rest of the players this week.
I being a Yankee Fan have had enough of the A-rod drug story, and Ill bet you have as well.
I think it will be a three horse race in the division, I am just hopping for a slightly different order.
The free agent sighing's or the lack of the same have made for an interesting off season, did anyone think Manny would still be available at this date?
I didn't but with the economic weather being what it is, and Manny being Manny he is still available, along with Ben Sheets.
There have been many one year, low money deals along, with many middle of the road players who have several good years in front of them who have signed minor league deals.
I read something today that sums it all up, the Red Sox have tickets for sale for games in April and May, that's unheard of.
Fenway Park only holds about 35,000 and have had sellouts for many years, if the Red Sox are having money troubles what will be with the Rays and other small market teams?
I being a Yankee Fan have had enough of the A-rod drug story, and Ill bet you have as well.
I think it will be a three horse race in the division, I am just hopping for a slightly different order.
The free agent sighing's or the lack of the same have made for an interesting off season, did anyone think Manny would still be available at this date?
I didn't but with the economic weather being what it is, and Manny being Manny he is still available, along with Ben Sheets.
There have been many one year, low money deals along, with many middle of the road players who have several good years in front of them who have signed minor league deals.
I read something today that sums it all up, the Red Sox have tickets for sale for games in April and May, that's unheard of.
Fenway Park only holds about 35,000 and have had sellouts for many years, if the Red Sox are having money troubles what will be with the Rays and other small market teams?
Mass transit on the water, in Tampa?
Is this another pie in the sky money hole that the power's that be are dreaming up, this from the people who can't run a bus system.
Its Like replace the art museum that is losing money, with a bigger one and dig a lagoon in the Hillsbrough River where the old one was?
Or build a light rail systen over Malfunction Junction for trains to run to Orlando and beyond?
$10,000 has been spent for a study, they could have given me $2 and I would have told them it won't work, this is just another Tampa-Hillsbrough build it and hope they will come money hole.
Phase one is being planed to go up the Hillsbrough River to Columbus Drive, yeah it could pick up the people of Columbus Court Apartments and take them to work. I know west Tampa has improved but I didn't know it was that good.
Enjoy the story its from TBO.com.
TAMPA - Mass transit on the water?
A group of planners and architects called the Urban Charrette is proposing a small fleet of water taxis similar to water-borne services in Fort Lauderdale, New York City, Boston, San Diego and other cities.
"This is an opportunity not only to enjoy our city from the water but to get around in it," Taryn Sabia, a founding member of the group told city and business leaders this morning.
Unlike boats that pick up passengers at hotels or their homes, the 49-passenger taxis would make regular runs along the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel, stopping at docks behind the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa General Hospital and other spots.
Phase one would have the boats making seven stops from Columbus Drive to Cotanchobee Park in the Channelside district. Later phases would carry the taxis north to Lowry Park.
Sabia envisioned one-way fares at $2. The Downtown Partnership paid $10,000 for a study into the water taxis' feasibility.
Such vessels stopped running 15 years ago after their owner died. A couple of reserve-ahead services still offer rides to the public. One, the White Lightning, serves 500-600 passengers daily.
"It's doable but it has to take its place in the line of priorities," Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita said, noting most officials now are focused on land-based transit, such as buses and light rail.
Lee Hoffman, the city's Riverwalk manager, thought the service, nicknamed Hydro, could float. "It would happen slowly and we would have to get some grant money."
Sabia estimated that starting with a two- or three vessel system would cost about $1 million, mostly from government grants and corporate donations.
Its Like replace the art museum that is losing money, with a bigger one and dig a lagoon in the Hillsbrough River where the old one was?
Or build a light rail systen over Malfunction Junction for trains to run to Orlando and beyond?
$10,000 has been spent for a study, they could have given me $2 and I would have told them it won't work, this is just another Tampa-Hillsbrough build it and hope they will come money hole.
Phase one is being planed to go up the Hillsbrough River to Columbus Drive, yeah it could pick up the people of Columbus Court Apartments and take them to work. I know west Tampa has improved but I didn't know it was that good.
Enjoy the story its from TBO.com.
TAMPA - Mass transit on the water?
A group of planners and architects called the Urban Charrette is proposing a small fleet of water taxis similar to water-borne services in Fort Lauderdale, New York City, Boston, San Diego and other cities.
"This is an opportunity not only to enjoy our city from the water but to get around in it," Taryn Sabia, a founding member of the group told city and business leaders this morning.
Unlike boats that pick up passengers at hotels or their homes, the 49-passenger taxis would make regular runs along the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel, stopping at docks behind the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa General Hospital and other spots.
Phase one would have the boats making seven stops from Columbus Drive to Cotanchobee Park in the Channelside district. Later phases would carry the taxis north to Lowry Park.
Sabia envisioned one-way fares at $2. The Downtown Partnership paid $10,000 for a study into the water taxis' feasibility.
Such vessels stopped running 15 years ago after their owner died. A couple of reserve-ahead services still offer rides to the public. One, the White Lightning, serves 500-600 passengers daily.
"It's doable but it has to take its place in the line of priorities," Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita said, noting most officials now are focused on land-based transit, such as buses and light rail.
Lee Hoffman, the city's Riverwalk manager, thought the service, nicknamed Hydro, could float. "It would happen slowly and we would have to get some grant money."
Sabia estimated that starting with a two- or three vessel system would cost about $1 million, mostly from government grants and corporate donations.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
New Arm!!
I was fooling around on the internet looking for some funny taxi stories. Sometimes we all need a little humor in our life. I found this, I have had situations come up but never nothing like this.
Some years ago one of our drivers was sent to a pub to pick up a passenger. When he got there he discovered it was quite an old man rather drunk. The barman assured the driver that he was quite harmless and would not get any bother with him. So the driver set off with this chap on the short journey to his house. Sure enough the man gave him no problems in fact he was quite amicable. They got to the passengers house, the man paid him and he then tried to get out. Well, he struggled, so the driver got out the taxi, opened up the passenger door for him and helped him out, then thought that he had better make sure he got in safely. So up the garden path they went, the passengers arm fimly wedged and held tight by the driver to stop him falling over. Well, they nearly got to the front door, when the man stumbled, and started to fall, the driver quickly grabbed his arm firmly in a vice like grip , however the man fell flat on his nose on the concrete path, this puzzled the driver, untill he suddenly realised that allthough the man was a few feet in front of him sprawled out on the path, the mans arm was still firmly gripped by the drivers hands, his wife came out, looked at the driver, took the wooden arm off him, said" better get this inside it's always coming off, one day he'll lose it, mind you, it's a bloody pity the arm don't lose him, i say"
Some years ago one of our drivers was sent to a pub to pick up a passenger. When he got there he discovered it was quite an old man rather drunk. The barman assured the driver that he was quite harmless and would not get any bother with him. So the driver set off with this chap on the short journey to his house. Sure enough the man gave him no problems in fact he was quite amicable. They got to the passengers house, the man paid him and he then tried to get out. Well, he struggled, so the driver got out the taxi, opened up the passenger door for him and helped him out, then thought that he had better make sure he got in safely. So up the garden path they went, the passengers arm fimly wedged and held tight by the driver to stop him falling over. Well, they nearly got to the front door, when the man stumbled, and started to fall, the driver quickly grabbed his arm firmly in a vice like grip , however the man fell flat on his nose on the concrete path, this puzzled the driver, untill he suddenly realised that allthough the man was a few feet in front of him sprawled out on the path, the mans arm was still firmly gripped by the drivers hands, his wife came out, looked at the driver, took the wooden arm off him, said" better get this inside it's always coming off, one day he'll lose it, mind you, it's a bloody pity the arm don't lose him, i say"
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Keeping limit on taxi numbers is an essential task
This is not just a problem in Tampa it is world wide,
Governing Body's all over the world are adding to the numbers of taxis on the streets.
As it says in the story there can be a shortage of cab's at off times, but that will happen no matter how many permits a city or town putts out there.
It looks good for the politicians, they can tell the general public that they improved taxi service, but we all know no matter what the number of cabs is, some calls at some times in some areas will have problems getting covered.
It was big news on Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune a few years ago about a cab shortage in Y-bor City a few years ago on New Years Eve.
It seemed people in some 7th Ave watering holes could not get a cab, maybe the problem was 7 Ave gets shut down every Friday and Saturday night and on all big occasions, yeah I guess New Years Eve is a big occasion
I e-mailed the Trib and Channel 8 and wanted to explain, I got a short reply, basically its old news.
This story is from the News Scotsman.com and is from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Published Date: 14 February 2009
YET again we have Jim Taylor being economical with the truth (Interactive, February 12). He seeks to give the impression that the number of taxis in Edinburgh has not increased in seven years .
This is incorrect. In addition, most taxis are double shifted now as the cab test is perceived to be easier to pass in its present modular form.
We are entering a recession of indeterminate length and since this began taxis, like every other sector, have begun to suffer.
The alleged difficulty in hailing a taxi refers to a couple of hours on a few Saturdays in the early hours of the morning. It is unreasonable to expect taxis to clear the streets in an hour when people have been pouring into town by train and bus for the previous six or eight hours and these services effectively disappear when needed.
Hopefully when the trams come in, there will be a lobby demanding that they run throughout a Friday and Saturday night. That would be a far more effective measure.
At a time when taxi drivers see more and more private hire drivers picking up off the streets out of sheer desperation to make a living, and a time when it is almost impossible to make money during the week, and with a recession that sees the numbers out on the streets falling dramatically and with less money to spend on taxis, the last thing that is needed is to destroy the balance that the council has striven to maintain.
Governing Body's all over the world are adding to the numbers of taxis on the streets.
As it says in the story there can be a shortage of cab's at off times, but that will happen no matter how many permits a city or town putts out there.
It looks good for the politicians, they can tell the general public that they improved taxi service, but we all know no matter what the number of cabs is, some calls at some times in some areas will have problems getting covered.
It was big news on Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune a few years ago about a cab shortage in Y-bor City a few years ago on New Years Eve.
It seemed people in some 7th Ave watering holes could not get a cab, maybe the problem was 7 Ave gets shut down every Friday and Saturday night and on all big occasions, yeah I guess New Years Eve is a big occasion
I e-mailed the Trib and Channel 8 and wanted to explain, I got a short reply, basically its old news.
This story is from the News Scotsman.com and is from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Published Date: 14 February 2009
YET again we have Jim Taylor being economical with the truth (Interactive, February 12). He seeks to give the impression that the number of taxis in Edinburgh has not increased in seven years .
This is incorrect. In addition, most taxis are double shifted now as the cab test is perceived to be easier to pass in its present modular form.
We are entering a recession of indeterminate length and since this began taxis, like every other sector, have begun to suffer.
The alleged difficulty in hailing a taxi refers to a couple of hours on a few Saturdays in the early hours of the morning. It is unreasonable to expect taxis to clear the streets in an hour when people have been pouring into town by train and bus for the previous six or eight hours and these services effectively disappear when needed.
Hopefully when the trams come in, there will be a lobby demanding that they run throughout a Friday and Saturday night. That would be a far more effective measure.
At a time when taxi drivers see more and more private hire drivers picking up off the streets out of sheer desperation to make a living, and a time when it is almost impossible to make money during the week, and with a recession that sees the numbers out on the streets falling dramatically and with less money to spend on taxis, the last thing that is needed is to destroy the balance that the council has striven to maintain.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Specials
Thank you Tim regarding specials. When I was driving there were a few, not many that would call me on my cell. Than there were a couple that was a prearranged special. Every day at the same time, five days a week. They didn't pay that much, two come to mind, one for $15.00 and the other for $14.00. Now this was counting the tip. I wouldn't even turn the meter on. I didn't want them to see the actual cost. As it ran more than what they were giving me. The offsetting factor was that I took them everyday, five days a week. 50 weeks a year, yes boys and girls they took vacations too. Now it doesn't take a MIT graduate to see that this is a lot of money. $7500.00 Just for about a hour of my time. Or 30% of my lease for the week. I think that every good cab driver needs "specials". I know that some companies, not mentioning any names of course, the dispatcher will call his friend on the cell and give him good calls. Just put his cab number on the computer board. Case closed. Does it happen sure, as long as I could make a living when I was out there I didn't care. What I did care about was a driver streching the hood. But that is a later post.
Something to think about
Thanks for the great comments Sawbriars, on my story about Las Vegas cab driver's and minimum wage, I posted that to show how cab company's are with drivers, not to say cabby's want or should get minimum wage.
It is a different world for cabby's in Las Vegas with the drivers being an employee, when you add it all up its still all the same, the company will still stick it to the drivers when and where it can.
In with the story about the cops of Wellington, New Zealand, there was a story from a driver in NV who received from his boss a certificate for over 10 years of service, no accidents, no tickets, no customer complaints and no work days missed – perfect attendance.
A certificate big wow could they spare it.
I just finished reading a story in a newspaper from Wellington, New Zealand it seems young people use the cops as an alternative cab service to get them out of jams.
That reminded me of the last Gasparilla I worked, it was 1 am and as I am dropping of at whiskey park 3 young guys tell me they want to go to Tierra Verde for $ 25.
I tell them sorry but $25 won't get you across the bridge, they then tell me that's all they had, while I felt sorry for them I have to make a living and maybe they should have thought about it before drinking up all there money.
As they leave an older man asks if Ill go to Clearwater Beach for the same amount and I tell him sorry but no, he asks how much then I say aprox. 40 but it will be on the meter, he shakes his head and says Ill find someone to go for $25, I told him good luck I would not do it for that much on Gasparilla.
As he walked away I got a fare to another bar and that's how the night went someone gets out and someone was waiting to get in, to take a long run on days like Gasparilla and other big events is not good business but I did it all the time, but not for cut rate prices.
I also don't mind giving someone a break who is down on there luck but not someone who is not being responsible with there money, you can't expect someone to always save you from your own stupidity.
It is a different world for cabby's in Las Vegas with the drivers being an employee, when you add it all up its still all the same, the company will still stick it to the drivers when and where it can.
In with the story about the cops of Wellington, New Zealand, there was a story from a driver in NV who received from his boss a certificate for over 10 years of service, no accidents, no tickets, no customer complaints and no work days missed – perfect attendance.
A certificate big wow could they spare it.
I just finished reading a story in a newspaper from Wellington, New Zealand it seems young people use the cops as an alternative cab service to get them out of jams.
That reminded me of the last Gasparilla I worked, it was 1 am and as I am dropping of at whiskey park 3 young guys tell me they want to go to Tierra Verde for $ 25.
I tell them sorry but $25 won't get you across the bridge, they then tell me that's all they had, while I felt sorry for them I have to make a living and maybe they should have thought about it before drinking up all there money.
As they leave an older man asks if Ill go to Clearwater Beach for the same amount and I tell him sorry but no, he asks how much then I say aprox. 40 but it will be on the meter, he shakes his head and says Ill find someone to go for $25, I told him good luck I would not do it for that much on Gasparilla.
As he walked away I got a fare to another bar and that's how the night went someone gets out and someone was waiting to get in, to take a long run on days like Gasparilla and other big events is not good business but I did it all the time, but not for cut rate prices.
I also don't mind giving someone a break who is down on there luck but not someone who is not being responsible with there money, you can't expect someone to always save you from your own stupidity.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tampa Bay Rays
Watch out for Joyce sa lefthanded hitter and a Tampa native, he hit 25 homers last year between class AAA and the majors last year. To get him the Rays parted with Jackson, a 14 game winner, but they have a surplus of starting pitchers.
We were looking for some righthanded pop in the line-up and Pat Burrell should be able to provide it, this from Fred McGriff who retired as Rays player after the 2004 season. The question is how he will adjust as a DH. Keeping you head in the game is a lot different when you are not in the field. They have also aquired OF Matt Joyce. Joyce is a young player with power and a pretty good outfielder. He will be the only newcomer in the lineup. Unlike seasons gone past the Rays did not have many holes to fill in the offseason.
It is going to be very hard to repeat the season that they had last year. There are not too many teams in baseball that have the money that that other team has. I prefer not to type that name as my puter gets upset when I force him to type it. Or should I say puter type person, rather than "him"
We were looking for some righthanded pop in the line-up and Pat Burrell should be able to provide it, this from Fred McGriff who retired as Rays player after the 2004 season. The question is how he will adjust as a DH. Keeping you head in the game is a lot different when you are not in the field. They have also aquired OF Matt Joyce. Joyce is a young player with power and a pretty good outfielder. He will be the only newcomer in the lineup. Unlike seasons gone past the Rays did not have many holes to fill in the offseason.
It is going to be very hard to repeat the season that they had last year. There are not too many teams in baseball that have the money that that other team has. I prefer not to type that name as my puter gets upset when I force him to type it. Or should I say puter type person, rather than "him"
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Cab driver dives into an icy pond to save woman from drowning
We have all seen accidents and have called 911 on our cell phone's, but this man went well beond that he jumped into an icy pond, despite being told not to by 911 operators and saved the woman's life, story form BBC.
A woman whose car plunged into an icy pond has thanked a taxi driver who defied warnings not to go into the water to save her life.
James Brown, 41, was driving when he came across Caroline Saunders' car sinking in the village pond at Bishop Burton just before midnight on Tuesday.
Once he realised she was inside, he defied emergency call handlers pleas to stay out of the water.
Miss Saunders, 28, said: "He's a hero. I can't thank him enough."
Miss Saunders said when she saw Mr Brown's headlights she began pressing the horn of her submerged car.
The controller kept saying 'Please, please don't go into the pond,' but there was a car on its roof and it was sinking. I put the phone down and went in.
"I just banged frantically on the window, thinking come and help me, please come and help me, and luckily someone did," she said.
"He came and smashed the window and dragged me out and saved my life."
Father-of-one Mr Brown called 999 and fire service controllers told him to stay out of the water.
But he ignored their pleas and managed to smash the car window with a hammer he got from flagging down a passing motorist.
He said: "The controller kept saying 'Please, please don't go into the pond,' but there was a car on its roof and it was sinking. I put the phone down and went in.
"It was sinking down and filling water. Half the car was underwater already and and I could hear someone screaming and banging on the window.
"I shouted to her and she said she was the only one in the car. I was just so relieved she was talking to me.
"I smashed the window. I caused cuts to me and to her but at least she got out."
Fire crew manager Mike Davis from Beverley fire station said: "The taxi driver performed an exceptional rescue, his quick actions averted what was a potential fatal incident."
A woman whose car plunged into an icy pond has thanked a taxi driver who defied warnings not to go into the water to save her life.
James Brown, 41, was driving when he came across Caroline Saunders' car sinking in the village pond at Bishop Burton just before midnight on Tuesday.
Once he realised she was inside, he defied emergency call handlers pleas to stay out of the water.
Miss Saunders, 28, said: "He's a hero. I can't thank him enough."
Miss Saunders said when she saw Mr Brown's headlights she began pressing the horn of her submerged car.
The controller kept saying 'Please, please don't go into the pond,' but there was a car on its roof and it was sinking. I put the phone down and went in.
"I just banged frantically on the window, thinking come and help me, please come and help me, and luckily someone did," she said.
"He came and smashed the window and dragged me out and saved my life."
Father-of-one Mr Brown called 999 and fire service controllers told him to stay out of the water.
But he ignored their pleas and managed to smash the car window with a hammer he got from flagging down a passing motorist.
He said: "The controller kept saying 'Please, please don't go into the pond,' but there was a car on its roof and it was sinking. I put the phone down and went in.
"It was sinking down and filling water. Half the car was underwater already and and I could hear someone screaming and banging on the window.
"I shouted to her and she said she was the only one in the car. I was just so relieved she was talking to me.
"I smashed the window. I caused cuts to me and to her but at least she got out."
Fire crew manager Mike Davis from Beverley fire station said: "The taxi driver performed an exceptional rescue, his quick actions averted what was a potential fatal incident."
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
All in a days work
I know you folks are tired as I am of A-Rod. I think the only reason he admitted his usage was that he was going to get caught. Now everyone thinks, not this writer, thinks how brave he is. Now the following is from a Tallahassee cab driver. This same thing has happened to me and yes around 10:00 am. As a recovering alky, I didn't care what time it was when I was drinking.Tallahassee is a small city, but big enough to have interesting cab adventures. We mostly have to deal with drunk college kids, yet since they think they are so funny, the stories are not as funny. The funniest people are the ones who do what they do, thinking it is perfectly normal.
This story, which would more likely fit in the context of a night shift, actually took place around 10:00am. And to think, I was working the dayshift to avoid the troubles of the night hours!
I get dispatched to the Lafayette Motel, one of the standard sleasebag inns of Tallahassee. The destination says Popeye's chicken, so I figure it would be a typical non-tip $4 fare and I could go on with my day.
A black guy and a white guy hop into my cab, acting like they're ready to go out to the clubs at 10:00am (but not dressed like it). They say they are visiting from Miami and ask me if I can take them to where the whores are and that they will pay me well. In Tallahassee, this is a very small area: a few city blocks, but yes, I know where the dopehole is. My logic was, these guys are already in the cab...I may as well comply to avoid further danger. I have thrown people out of my cab before, but these guys seemed pretty capable and dangerous. With that in mind, it also probably meant they could take care of their business in the dopehole quickly. I just wasn't sure how this would pan out at 10:00 in the morning.
I made a left onto Dewey St. and a right onto 4th Ave., which would be considered Main St. and Central Ave. of the Tallahassee dopehole. The black guy tells me to slow down next to the first crowd of people he sees, and says "These are my people," and gets out to deal with them. I pull into the Ghetto Mart across the street with the white guy still in the back of the cab, giving me a synopsis of his life story. The black guy finishes his business and comes back to the cab and tells me to start driving around again.
I go back down 4th Ave. and turn down a side street. He for some reason eyes a pregnant woman, and asks her if she's willing to put in some work. She agrees, with the unofficial approval of the crowd with her, and gets in the cab. This guy managed to score crack and get a whore (a pregnant whore, at that!) in a matter of 5 minutes...in Tallahassee...at 10:00 am.
As I drove them back to the Lafayette Motel, it turned out she grew up in the same neighborhood of Miami these two guys were from. The black guy emphasized throughout the ride that he would pay me well for this. I thought to myself, I'm sure you will, the question is will the money be real. I didn't care much. My top priority was to get them out of the cab without putting my life in danger. When we returned to the Lafayette Motel, he handed me twenty dollars for an eleven dollar trip. And yes, the money happened to be real.
One thing is true in Tallahassee: the dopehole never fails.
This is me again, how true, the streets mentioned above could just as well be E. Hillboro or Nebraska. Be careful out there
This story, which would more likely fit in the context of a night shift, actually took place around 10:00am. And to think, I was working the dayshift to avoid the troubles of the night hours!
I get dispatched to the Lafayette Motel, one of the standard sleasebag inns of Tallahassee. The destination says Popeye's chicken, so I figure it would be a typical non-tip $4 fare and I could go on with my day.
A black guy and a white guy hop into my cab, acting like they're ready to go out to the clubs at 10:00am (but not dressed like it). They say they are visiting from Miami and ask me if I can take them to where the whores are and that they will pay me well. In Tallahassee, this is a very small area: a few city blocks, but yes, I know where the dopehole is. My logic was, these guys are already in the cab...I may as well comply to avoid further danger. I have thrown people out of my cab before, but these guys seemed pretty capable and dangerous. With that in mind, it also probably meant they could take care of their business in the dopehole quickly. I just wasn't sure how this would pan out at 10:00 in the morning.
I made a left onto Dewey St. and a right onto 4th Ave., which would be considered Main St. and Central Ave. of the Tallahassee dopehole. The black guy tells me to slow down next to the first crowd of people he sees, and says "These are my people," and gets out to deal with them. I pull into the Ghetto Mart across the street with the white guy still in the back of the cab, giving me a synopsis of his life story. The black guy finishes his business and comes back to the cab and tells me to start driving around again.
I go back down 4th Ave. and turn down a side street. He for some reason eyes a pregnant woman, and asks her if she's willing to put in some work. She agrees, with the unofficial approval of the crowd with her, and gets in the cab. This guy managed to score crack and get a whore (a pregnant whore, at that!) in a matter of 5 minutes...in Tallahassee...at 10:00 am.
As I drove them back to the Lafayette Motel, it turned out she grew up in the same neighborhood of Miami these two guys were from. The black guy emphasized throughout the ride that he would pay me well for this. I thought to myself, I'm sure you will, the question is will the money be real. I didn't care much. My top priority was to get them out of the cab without putting my life in danger. When we returned to the Lafayette Motel, he handed me twenty dollars for an eleven dollar trip. And yes, the money happened to be real.
One thing is true in Tallahassee: the dopehole never fails.
This is me again, how true, the streets mentioned above could just as well be E. Hillboro or Nebraska. Be careful out there
Monday, February 9, 2009
A fair wage for cab driver's
A fair wage for cab driver's what a concept, it seem's to work in Nevada or does it could we see something like this happening in Florida anytime soon?
The story is from the Las Vagas Sun.
On a recent weekday, Tulay Koseoglu sat in her taxi at the Riviera for more than an hour waiting for a tourist to exit the property.
“This just kills me,” said Koseoglu, who became a cabdriver three years ago to escape her “ordinary office job.”
On bad days, which are becoming more frequent, Koseoglu might take home $60 after a 12-hour shift.
Momentarily, there was good news: She scored a ride for two passengers to the airport, from which she might pocket another $10, including a tip. This afternoon ride would be her 11th of the day. She had a couple of hours to scramble for more rides before her shift ended.
Her friendly chatter is tinged with desperation.
While her peers pass the time in cab lines reading newspapers, doing crosswords or playing miniature video games, Koseoglu can’t relax. Her mind is racing with worry. In recent months, drivers say, cab companies — which pocket more than half the money drivers collect from passengers — have fired hundreds of drivers for below-average bookings.
“I’m thinking about bills,” she said. “I’ve got a 7-year-old.”
Like sparse crowds inside casinos and on Strip sidewalks, empty cab stands have become a symbol of the epic tourism downturn in Las Vegas. On any given day, cabs gather at hotel entrances in lines so long they clog off-ramps and roadways.
At McCarran International Airport, a former gold mine for taxis during the boom years, more than a hundred cabs line up on weekdays. With airport traffic down 7 percent and visitor volume down 4 percent last year through November — some drivers say they are waiting 45 minutes or more for their turn at the front of the line.
Slow business has led to layoffs and fewer hours for casino and hotel workers, but the picture looks bleaker for taxi drivers, who aren’t paid a base wage like most workers but instead must depend on their ability to get rides.
These days, some cab drivers who used to make more than $30,000 a year are earning less than $20,000. Drivers who got 25 to 30 rides per shift are now lucky to get 20.
Drivers are supposed to have a safety net.
In November 2006, voters amended the state Constitution to raise Nevada’s minimum wage, which now starts at $5.85 per hour. That amendment applied the minimum wage to all Nevada employees, removing an exemption for taxi drivers.
Before the recession, the minimum wage standard was moot — all but the worst performers were assured a paycheck higher than minimum wage.
These days, at least one major cab company has acknowledged that some drivers aren’t booking enough rides to earn minimum wage, forcing the company to supplement those drivers’ paychecks as company revenue is plummeting.
Not all companies are going quietly. Some cab companies think drivers should still be exempt from the minimum wage and are pressing Nevada’s labor commissioner to take their side.
Lucky Cab owner Jason Awad called the position taken by some of his competitors “disturbing” and said companies have a moral obligation to pay minimum wage. “Drivers must be able to support themselves and their families,” he said.
Awad says he hasn’t laid off hardworking drivers in recent months who are booking fewer rides with the understanding that business is slow for everyone. Because drivers split their take with cab companies, both parties have the same incentive to earn as much as they can during tough times, he said.
“These are unprecedented times but we’re in this together, and we need to help each other get through this.”
That said, Awad noted that all drivers should be able to make minimum wage “and if they are not they should be looking for another job.”
Bill Shranko, chief operating officer of Yellow Checker Star, said his company hasn’t laid off any drivers because of the economy.
“Some companies are taking a very strict approach to it,” Shranko said. “As a company, we are taking a very liberal approach during these hard times.”
Business hasn’t been so bad that minimum wage has been an issue, he said.
It’s unclear whether drivers who have been fired since business slowed were earning below minimum wage. Some drivers claim that several fall into that category based upon dismal bookings of well under $200 per day and drivers pocketing 40 percent of that. (During December, one of the worst months on record, drivers booked an average $192 per shift.)
Driver Bill Talley says he was fired from his job at a Frias Transportation-owned cab company in September after 15 years of service.
With the slow economy, Talley said, some drivers have inflated their bookings through an illegal practice called long-hauling, which involves taking passengers on longer routes than necessary. Although long-hauling has always been a problem, some Las Vegas taxi drivers say it’s getting worse now that drivers are afraid they will be fired for low bookings.
“It’s a money game, and drivers have to steal to make it work,” said Talley, who hasn’t been able to get a job driving a cab elsewhere. “I didn’t want to get into that game. But nobody wants to hire a guy who’s been fired for low book. They don’t make as much money as the hustlers.”
Drivers caught long-hauling by Nevada Taxicab Authority police are fined, but drivers say the extra cash — especially if they think their jobs are on the line — is worth the minimal risk of getting caught.
Frias Chief Executive Mark James said his company pays at least minimum wage and is supplementing drivers who are earning less than that in rides to bring them up to that standard.
“The lion’s share of the time, our drivers are way beyond minimum wage,” he said. “If they have a low book, for whatever reason ... we make up the difference.”
Ask a cabdriver whether he or she makes minimum wage and you will more likely than not get a blank look. Many drivers don’t know the law or have never calculated whether their paychecks come out to the minimum wage.
Meanwhile, regulators say Nevada’s two-tier minimum wage law is difficult for employees and employers to understand.
These days, word is spreading and some drivers are fighting for minimum wage. Some drivers have pushed for a wide-ranging investigation or a class action complaint.
But Nevada Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek says his small staff, handling more than 6,000 pending wage claims, is hamstrung by a lack of resources.
He investigates claims on a case-by-case basis. Because a significant number turn out to be bogus, Tanchek says the initial burden is placed on employees to prove what they are owed.
Some drivers are reluctant to file complaints, saying the process gives employers plenty of time and opportunity to fire low-performing drivers despite state law protecting workers from retaliation.
“I have pretty much stopped telling drivers to file complaints with the labor commissioner because it was like telling them to walk into a buzz saw,” said Randell Hynes, a cabdriver who was fired from Nellis Cab last year.
One group of drivers has lost the battle for minimum wage.
The state’s minimum wage law includes an exemption for union-represented employees with collective bargaining agreements that specifically waive workers’ rights to complain about wage violations. But the drivers’ employer, Frias, together with the United Steelworkers Local 711A union, signed a waiver last year preventing the drivers from getting the money they were owed.
The waiver forced the labor commissioner to revoke a complaint against Frias on behalf of a group of drivers who weren’t earning minimum wage.
That a union would agree to a lower standard is surprising, Tanchek said.
“To be honest, I never thought I’d see something like this,” he said. “I can see why the drivers would be unhappy.”
Gene Brady, Frias unit president for the local Steelworkers union, said the union signed away rights to minimum wage in 2007 in exchange for a union contract at Virgin Valley Cabs, one of the five cab companies owned by Frias.
“At the time, with the economy as strong as it was, nobody felt this would be an issue, or that people would want to work for minimum wage,” Brady said.
During the boom years in Las Vegas, Hynes recalls, he made more than $40,000 a year driving a cab — about what he used to make building Web sites. By the time he complained to the Taxicab Authority last year about not earning minimum wage, he estimates he was making less than $20,000 a year.
He says he was fired by Nellis for speaking at a Taxicab Authority meeting but was rehired when he mentioned an anti-retaliation section of state law.
Hynes ended up quitting when he couldn’t make ends meet on his earnings.
Nellis representatives declined to comment.
Cab companies generally blame drivers’ job skills, rather than the economy, for poor performance.
Some companies say drivers are given more training if their earnings are more than 10 percent below the average for a given day or shift.
“We have some guys who take a lot of breaks, or maybe they were not feeling well that day, or their child was sick,” said Awad, the Lucky Cab owner. “It’s like any business in any industry — some employees don’t work as hard as others ... When somebody books $400, the average is $250 and someone comes in with $100, there’s a problem.”
High-earning drivers are in constant motion, rarely waiting in a cab line for more than 30 minutes before seeking riders elsewhere, he said. Trip sheets for low-booking drivers reveal long waits at hotels or shifts drivers ended early, he added.
Taxicab Authority Administrator Gordon Walker says it’s unlikely drivers aren’t earning minimum wage, given the agency’s own figures. According to audited figures collected from the 16 cab companies, drivers booked an average of $250.49 in revenue per shift in 2008.
Hynes, who is now seeking employment as a computer programmer, said drivers’ efforts to fight for minimum wage reflect a change in the industry or tougher times.
It used to be that low wages were an accepted hazard of the cab business during slow times, he said.
“If you didn’t get as many rides, you just took your lumps,” he said. “Now, more drivers are realizing that they are entitled to a fair wage.”
The story is from the Las Vagas Sun.
On a recent weekday, Tulay Koseoglu sat in her taxi at the Riviera for more than an hour waiting for a tourist to exit the property.
“This just kills me,” said Koseoglu, who became a cabdriver three years ago to escape her “ordinary office job.”
On bad days, which are becoming more frequent, Koseoglu might take home $60 after a 12-hour shift.
Momentarily, there was good news: She scored a ride for two passengers to the airport, from which she might pocket another $10, including a tip. This afternoon ride would be her 11th of the day. She had a couple of hours to scramble for more rides before her shift ended.
Her friendly chatter is tinged with desperation.
While her peers pass the time in cab lines reading newspapers, doing crosswords or playing miniature video games, Koseoglu can’t relax. Her mind is racing with worry. In recent months, drivers say, cab companies — which pocket more than half the money drivers collect from passengers — have fired hundreds of drivers for below-average bookings.
“I’m thinking about bills,” she said. “I’ve got a 7-year-old.”
Like sparse crowds inside casinos and on Strip sidewalks, empty cab stands have become a symbol of the epic tourism downturn in Las Vegas. On any given day, cabs gather at hotel entrances in lines so long they clog off-ramps and roadways.
At McCarran International Airport, a former gold mine for taxis during the boom years, more than a hundred cabs line up on weekdays. With airport traffic down 7 percent and visitor volume down 4 percent last year through November — some drivers say they are waiting 45 minutes or more for their turn at the front of the line.
Slow business has led to layoffs and fewer hours for casino and hotel workers, but the picture looks bleaker for taxi drivers, who aren’t paid a base wage like most workers but instead must depend on their ability to get rides.
These days, some cab drivers who used to make more than $30,000 a year are earning less than $20,000. Drivers who got 25 to 30 rides per shift are now lucky to get 20.
Drivers are supposed to have a safety net.
In November 2006, voters amended the state Constitution to raise Nevada’s minimum wage, which now starts at $5.85 per hour. That amendment applied the minimum wage to all Nevada employees, removing an exemption for taxi drivers.
Before the recession, the minimum wage standard was moot — all but the worst performers were assured a paycheck higher than minimum wage.
These days, at least one major cab company has acknowledged that some drivers aren’t booking enough rides to earn minimum wage, forcing the company to supplement those drivers’ paychecks as company revenue is plummeting.
Not all companies are going quietly. Some cab companies think drivers should still be exempt from the minimum wage and are pressing Nevada’s labor commissioner to take their side.
Lucky Cab owner Jason Awad called the position taken by some of his competitors “disturbing” and said companies have a moral obligation to pay minimum wage. “Drivers must be able to support themselves and their families,” he said.
Awad says he hasn’t laid off hardworking drivers in recent months who are booking fewer rides with the understanding that business is slow for everyone. Because drivers split their take with cab companies, both parties have the same incentive to earn as much as they can during tough times, he said.
“These are unprecedented times but we’re in this together, and we need to help each other get through this.”
That said, Awad noted that all drivers should be able to make minimum wage “and if they are not they should be looking for another job.”
Bill Shranko, chief operating officer of Yellow Checker Star, said his company hasn’t laid off any drivers because of the economy.
“Some companies are taking a very strict approach to it,” Shranko said. “As a company, we are taking a very liberal approach during these hard times.”
Business hasn’t been so bad that minimum wage has been an issue, he said.
It’s unclear whether drivers who have been fired since business slowed were earning below minimum wage. Some drivers claim that several fall into that category based upon dismal bookings of well under $200 per day and drivers pocketing 40 percent of that. (During December, one of the worst months on record, drivers booked an average $192 per shift.)
Driver Bill Talley says he was fired from his job at a Frias Transportation-owned cab company in September after 15 years of service.
With the slow economy, Talley said, some drivers have inflated their bookings through an illegal practice called long-hauling, which involves taking passengers on longer routes than necessary. Although long-hauling has always been a problem, some Las Vegas taxi drivers say it’s getting worse now that drivers are afraid they will be fired for low bookings.
“It’s a money game, and drivers have to steal to make it work,” said Talley, who hasn’t been able to get a job driving a cab elsewhere. “I didn’t want to get into that game. But nobody wants to hire a guy who’s been fired for low book. They don’t make as much money as the hustlers.”
Drivers caught long-hauling by Nevada Taxicab Authority police are fined, but drivers say the extra cash — especially if they think their jobs are on the line — is worth the minimal risk of getting caught.
Frias Chief Executive Mark James said his company pays at least minimum wage and is supplementing drivers who are earning less than that in rides to bring them up to that standard.
“The lion’s share of the time, our drivers are way beyond minimum wage,” he said. “If they have a low book, for whatever reason ... we make up the difference.”
Ask a cabdriver whether he or she makes minimum wage and you will more likely than not get a blank look. Many drivers don’t know the law or have never calculated whether their paychecks come out to the minimum wage.
Meanwhile, regulators say Nevada’s two-tier minimum wage law is difficult for employees and employers to understand.
These days, word is spreading and some drivers are fighting for minimum wage. Some drivers have pushed for a wide-ranging investigation or a class action complaint.
But Nevada Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek says his small staff, handling more than 6,000 pending wage claims, is hamstrung by a lack of resources.
He investigates claims on a case-by-case basis. Because a significant number turn out to be bogus, Tanchek says the initial burden is placed on employees to prove what they are owed.
Some drivers are reluctant to file complaints, saying the process gives employers plenty of time and opportunity to fire low-performing drivers despite state law protecting workers from retaliation.
“I have pretty much stopped telling drivers to file complaints with the labor commissioner because it was like telling them to walk into a buzz saw,” said Randell Hynes, a cabdriver who was fired from Nellis Cab last year.
One group of drivers has lost the battle for minimum wage.
The state’s minimum wage law includes an exemption for union-represented employees with collective bargaining agreements that specifically waive workers’ rights to complain about wage violations. But the drivers’ employer, Frias, together with the United Steelworkers Local 711A union, signed a waiver last year preventing the drivers from getting the money they were owed.
The waiver forced the labor commissioner to revoke a complaint against Frias on behalf of a group of drivers who weren’t earning minimum wage.
That a union would agree to a lower standard is surprising, Tanchek said.
“To be honest, I never thought I’d see something like this,” he said. “I can see why the drivers would be unhappy.”
Gene Brady, Frias unit president for the local Steelworkers union, said the union signed away rights to minimum wage in 2007 in exchange for a union contract at Virgin Valley Cabs, one of the five cab companies owned by Frias.
“At the time, with the economy as strong as it was, nobody felt this would be an issue, or that people would want to work for minimum wage,” Brady said.
During the boom years in Las Vegas, Hynes recalls, he made more than $40,000 a year driving a cab — about what he used to make building Web sites. By the time he complained to the Taxicab Authority last year about not earning minimum wage, he estimates he was making less than $20,000 a year.
He says he was fired by Nellis for speaking at a Taxicab Authority meeting but was rehired when he mentioned an anti-retaliation section of state law.
Hynes ended up quitting when he couldn’t make ends meet on his earnings.
Nellis representatives declined to comment.
Cab companies generally blame drivers’ job skills, rather than the economy, for poor performance.
Some companies say drivers are given more training if their earnings are more than 10 percent below the average for a given day or shift.
“We have some guys who take a lot of breaks, or maybe they were not feeling well that day, or their child was sick,” said Awad, the Lucky Cab owner. “It’s like any business in any industry — some employees don’t work as hard as others ... When somebody books $400, the average is $250 and someone comes in with $100, there’s a problem.”
High-earning drivers are in constant motion, rarely waiting in a cab line for more than 30 minutes before seeking riders elsewhere, he said. Trip sheets for low-booking drivers reveal long waits at hotels or shifts drivers ended early, he added.
Taxicab Authority Administrator Gordon Walker says it’s unlikely drivers aren’t earning minimum wage, given the agency’s own figures. According to audited figures collected from the 16 cab companies, drivers booked an average of $250.49 in revenue per shift in 2008.
Hynes, who is now seeking employment as a computer programmer, said drivers’ efforts to fight for minimum wage reflect a change in the industry or tougher times.
It used to be that low wages were an accepted hazard of the cab business during slow times, he said.
“If you didn’t get as many rides, you just took your lumps,” he said. “Now, more drivers are realizing that they are entitled to a fair wage.”
Friday, February 6, 2009
Adventures in strip club transportation
Are Tampa drivers getting cheated, are we still getting $5 pre passinger
In Thursday's Los Angeles Times, Ashley Powers wrote about the latest round of complaints and litigation involving the kickbacks that nudie bars pay to taxi drivers for delivering passengers.
Often this money is immediately recouped by the club thanks to the cover charge paid by the customers. Therefore, in addition to paying your taxi driver for the ride to the club, as a tourist, you are also indirectly paying the bounty for delivering you to the club to the taxi driver.
I have always found this practice despicable and have written frequently about it on the Buffet. My recommendation for tourists remains to ask to be delivered across the street from whatever nudie bar you want to go to unless the taxi driver waves the meter charge.
Even a low-paying, $20-a-head club will pay the driver more than the meter in almost every case. And because the bounty is per-customer, if three people are in the cab that represents big money to the cab driver.
Periodically, some of the clubs will start paying more than the traditional $20-per-customer delivery charge, and that is when this issue explodes. This may be one of those times.
That is at least the allegation in a lawsuit covered by Powers, whose story includes an interview with a lawyer for Deja Vu as well as allegations about the latest bounty numbers. This from Power's story:
'The clubs are being shaken down,' groused Neil Beller, an attorney for Deja Vu Showgirls and Little Darlings, which recently sued rivals that pay cabbies more. A hearing on a defendant motion to dismiss the case is scheduled for March. ... Beard said paying the cabbies $20 a passenger hasn't been enough to compete for a dwindling pool of customers. Some places are paying $70.
The worry is that the taxi drivers will run down the clubs that pay less and steer customers to the clubs that pay more. So as a test, my friend L. and I drove to the Hard Rock last night to see what would happen when we, like tourists, tried to take a taxi to Deja Vu.
The first interesting thing to happen to us is that even though we were in the taxi line when we told the Hard Rock's doorman where we wanted to go, he pulled us out of that line and told us -- not asked but told us -- to go with a limousine driver without any further explanation.
The limousine driver also ordered us along with "Come on, guys." Two taxi drivers later explained to me that, unlike taxi drivers, limousine drivers pay doormen part of the strip club bounty to divert strip club customers to them. I have also been told strip clubs will pay a bigger bounty on customers who arrive by limousine. And although I can't say for sure why I was pulled from the taxi line and steered to a limo, I know that is exactly what happened. When I demanded an explanation before getting into the limousine of what was going on in terms of asking for a taxi and being placed in a limousine, the limo driver walked away from us and the Hard Rock doorman put us in a taxi, refusing further comment.
The taxi driver, by the way, did not badmouth Showgirls, but took us there directly and honestly. However, after I paid and tipped him well ($11.10 ride for which I gave him $15 and asked for no change) there was some commotion when L. and I told the doormen at Deja Vu and the taxi driver we were not going into the club but only wanted the ride there.
After a few moments of confusion and the two of them not accepting that explanation -- and trying to tell me I did not understand that I needed to just go into the club and check it out (my friend L. is a woman, by the way) -- they yielded to the inevitable.
We were not going inside to pay any cover to resolve whatever problem was caused by our arrival. We paid for a taxi ride and had no further involvement with their payment issues.
Moments later, L. and I got another taxi for the trip back to the Hard Rock. When I told the taxi driver I wanted to go to the Hard Rock, his first words were: "Don't you want to go to another strip club? This isn't a good club. Spearmint Rhino has a lot more girls and is the club in town to go to."
I insisted on a trip directly to the Hard Rock. And so ended our adventure in strip club transportation.
In Thursday's Los Angeles Times, Ashley Powers wrote about the latest round of complaints and litigation involving the kickbacks that nudie bars pay to taxi drivers for delivering passengers.
Often this money is immediately recouped by the club thanks to the cover charge paid by the customers. Therefore, in addition to paying your taxi driver for the ride to the club, as a tourist, you are also indirectly paying the bounty for delivering you to the club to the taxi driver.
I have always found this practice despicable and have written frequently about it on the Buffet. My recommendation for tourists remains to ask to be delivered across the street from whatever nudie bar you want to go to unless the taxi driver waves the meter charge.
Even a low-paying, $20-a-head club will pay the driver more than the meter in almost every case. And because the bounty is per-customer, if three people are in the cab that represents big money to the cab driver.
Periodically, some of the clubs will start paying more than the traditional $20-per-customer delivery charge, and that is when this issue explodes. This may be one of those times.
That is at least the allegation in a lawsuit covered by Powers, whose story includes an interview with a lawyer for Deja Vu as well as allegations about the latest bounty numbers. This from Power's story:
'The clubs are being shaken down,' groused Neil Beller, an attorney for Deja Vu Showgirls and Little Darlings, which recently sued rivals that pay cabbies more. A hearing on a defendant motion to dismiss the case is scheduled for March. ... Beard said paying the cabbies $20 a passenger hasn't been enough to compete for a dwindling pool of customers. Some places are paying $70.
The worry is that the taxi drivers will run down the clubs that pay less and steer customers to the clubs that pay more. So as a test, my friend L. and I drove to the Hard Rock last night to see what would happen when we, like tourists, tried to take a taxi to Deja Vu.
The first interesting thing to happen to us is that even though we were in the taxi line when we told the Hard Rock's doorman where we wanted to go, he pulled us out of that line and told us -- not asked but told us -- to go with a limousine driver without any further explanation.
The limousine driver also ordered us along with "Come on, guys." Two taxi drivers later explained to me that, unlike taxi drivers, limousine drivers pay doormen part of the strip club bounty to divert strip club customers to them. I have also been told strip clubs will pay a bigger bounty on customers who arrive by limousine. And although I can't say for sure why I was pulled from the taxi line and steered to a limo, I know that is exactly what happened. When I demanded an explanation before getting into the limousine of what was going on in terms of asking for a taxi and being placed in a limousine, the limo driver walked away from us and the Hard Rock doorman put us in a taxi, refusing further comment.
The taxi driver, by the way, did not badmouth Showgirls, but took us there directly and honestly. However, after I paid and tipped him well ($11.10 ride for which I gave him $15 and asked for no change) there was some commotion when L. and I told the doormen at Deja Vu and the taxi driver we were not going into the club but only wanted the ride there.
After a few moments of confusion and the two of them not accepting that explanation -- and trying to tell me I did not understand that I needed to just go into the club and check it out (my friend L. is a woman, by the way) -- they yielded to the inevitable.
We were not going inside to pay any cover to resolve whatever problem was caused by our arrival. We paid for a taxi ride and had no further involvement with their payment issues.
Moments later, L. and I got another taxi for the trip back to the Hard Rock. When I told the taxi driver I wanted to go to the Hard Rock, his first words were: "Don't you want to go to another strip club? This isn't a good club. Spearmint Rhino has a lot more girls and is the club in town to go to."
I insisted on a trip directly to the Hard Rock. And so ended our adventure in strip club transportation.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Even when we are right we are wrong!!!
February 1, 2009
NEW YORK - Police say a cab driver who tried to take a purse from a woman fare beater was beaten by a group of good Samaritans who thought they were seeing a robbery.
Police say it happened Saturday morning near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal when four woman, who had been club-going, got into a fight with the cab driver over the fare.
Police say the women left the taxi without paying and the cab driver gave chase, grabbing one of the women's purses.
That's when a group of men in a passing car thought they were witnessing a mugging and jumped on the cab driver, beating him and then fleeing the seen.
The cab driver was treated for cuts on his face.
The women were later picked up by police as they exited the Staten Island Ferry and issued summonses for fare beating.
NEW YORK - Police say a cab driver who tried to take a purse from a woman fare beater was beaten by a group of good Samaritans who thought they were seeing a robbery.
Police say it happened Saturday morning near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal when four woman, who had been club-going, got into a fight with the cab driver over the fare.
Police say the women left the taxi without paying and the cab driver gave chase, grabbing one of the women's purses.
That's when a group of men in a passing car thought they were witnessing a mugging and jumped on the cab driver, beating him and then fleeing the seen.
The cab driver was treated for cuts on his face.
The women were later picked up by police as they exited the Staten Island Ferry and issued summonses for fare beating.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Very Lucky Lady
Hi folks, the following was taken from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this morning. I feel it is important to convey to public that there are hard working cab drivers out there. most of us try to live our life the same way that this driver does. Most of us don't try and take our fares on a tour of the city when they are only going a few blocks. Enjoy: Cabbie returns woman’s bag of valuables
Fla. woman spends weekend searching for missing diamonds, watch, electronics
By BEN SMITH, RACHEL TOBIN RAMOS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, February 02, 2009
Someone else might have kept the diamond jewelry, the expensive wat ch, the iPod and the digital camera left in Miki Cooper’s lost bag.
But Walter Fernandez, the taxi driver who found Cooper’s bag and its expensive contents on the floor of his minivan, returned it to20her.
LOUIE FAVORITE/lfavorite@ajc.com
Walter Fernandez, a Uruguay native, has lived in Atlanta for 20 years and driven a cab for 10.
Explained the 64-year-old native of Uruguay: “It wasn’t mine.”
Cooper, a resident of Naples, Fla., spent a frantic Saturday evening and Sunday morning trying to find the bag.
Among the bag’s contents, she said, were three diamond rings, two one-carat diamond stud earrings and a Rolex watch. Cooper said the items were worth thousands of dollars.
“When I realized what I did, I was mortified,” Cooper said.
She called cab companies and the Atlanta Bureau of Taxi Services, but they were closed.
Cooper looked in the phone book for the number of the taxi driver named “Walter” who drove her and her pet Shih Tzu, Tatiana, to The Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead. She wasn’t entirely certain of his last name but she called the number and left a message.
On Sunday morning, cab drivers parked outside the hotel told Cooper they knew the minivan driver with the “WALTER” license plate.
=0 A
Cooper called Crown Taxi Cab Co., Fernandez’s employer, but nobody was there. So she drove to the Tucker address attached to the telephone number she thought belonged to Fernandez.
Meanwhile, Fernandez had called the Ritz-Carlton about the bag he’d found. He’s lived in Atlanta 20 years, driven a cab for 10. He said he remembered Cooper, whose passport he discovered in the black bag.
Shortly after that, Fernandez said he received a call from his wife, who told him Cooper was at the front door.
Upon delivering the bag to the hotel, Fernandez said Cooper hugged and kissed him and gave him a $200 reward.
“She was contentissima,” Fernandez said, “Very happy.”
Fla. woman spends weekend searching for missing diamonds, watch, electronics
By BEN SMITH, RACHEL TOBIN RAMOS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, February 02, 2009
Someone else might have kept the diamond jewelry, the expensive wat ch, the iPod and the digital camera left in Miki Cooper’s lost bag.
But Walter Fernandez, the taxi driver who found Cooper’s bag and its expensive contents on the floor of his minivan, returned it to20her.
LOUIE FAVORITE/lfavorite@ajc.com
Walter Fernandez, a Uruguay native, has lived in Atlanta for 20 years and driven a cab for 10.
Explained the 64-year-old native of Uruguay: “It wasn’t mine.”
Cooper, a resident of Naples, Fla., spent a frantic Saturday evening and Sunday morning trying to find the bag.
Among the bag’s contents, she said, were three diamond rings, two one-carat diamond stud earrings and a Rolex watch. Cooper said the items were worth thousands of dollars.
“When I realized what I did, I was mortified,” Cooper said.
She called cab companies and the Atlanta Bureau of Taxi Services, but they were closed.
Cooper looked in the phone book for the number of the taxi driver named “Walter” who drove her and her pet Shih Tzu, Tatiana, to The Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead. She wasn’t entirely certain of his last name but she called the number and left a message.
On Sunday morning, cab drivers parked outside the hotel told Cooper they knew the minivan driver with the “WALTER” license plate.
=0 A
Cooper called Crown Taxi Cab Co., Fernandez’s employer, but nobody was there. So she drove to the Tucker address attached to the telephone number she thought belonged to Fernandez.
Meanwhile, Fernandez had called the Ritz-Carlton about the bag he’d found. He’s lived in Atlanta 20 years, driven a cab for 10. He said he remembered Cooper, whose passport he discovered in the black bag.
Shortly after that, Fernandez said he received a call from his wife, who told him Cooper was at the front door.
Upon delivering the bag to the hotel, Fernandez said Cooper hugged and kissed him and gave him a $200 reward.
“She was contentissima,” Fernandez said, “Very happy.”
To Sawbriars
Sawbriars, this is the world famous "Cab Driver Hotel" I spoke to Larry and he said its still there but its no longer cheap. Tom
Coach Kennedy and the cab driver
Hi Everyone I have not touched on this subject for several reasons. One there are so many storys in the news about cab drivers getting robbed, beat up and killed by passingers and others and also up till now its been he said he said.
I am talking about Allan Kennedy the head baskettball coach of Mississippi, who back in December punched and shouted racial slurs at cab driver Mohammed Ould Jiddou.
The problems started when Kennedy, Bill Armstrong, director of operations for the basketball team who was also arrested and 3 other members of Kennedy's coaching staff where thrown out of the Lodge Bar.
Jiddou was then flagged to pick up Kennedy and the four other men at the Lodge bar Thursday morning. Jiddou says Kennedy got abusive when he wouldn't let all five men into the cab. Jiddou says his policy is to limit passengers to the number of available seatbelts... in this case, his car had four.
Jiddou claims Kennedy called him (Osama) Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein and then punched him in the cheek. Kennedy got out of Jiddou's cab, got into another cab, but was arrested a few minutes later.
Three things makes Jiddou's story more convincing, one is the valet at the bar backs up his side two the fact that the group just got thrown out of the bar and then there's this new video from You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0fBB1LfmU&eurl=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=513434&feature=player_embedded.
In the video Kennedy is trying to explain to the officer who he is and how important he is, and is more worried about how all this is going to play out in the press. It was almost funny he was telling the officer that this was going an "international incident" which he later changed to a national incident.
This case will be hanging around the courts for a while, it seems besides the criminal cases against Kennedy and Armstrong, Kennedy, his wife and Armstrong are all suing Jiddou and he is returning the favor.
As for Kennedy and Armstrong are they still working for "Old Miss" I let you decide from the statement from Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone "Clearly, this is an unfortunate situation. However, after a full discussion with Andy Kennedy and his staff, who were with him, I have the utmost confidence that once all the facts are known, Coach Kennedy will be cleared of all charges."
Ill translate for you, if he keeps winning he keep working, and that's the bottom line, what about Jiddou's bottom line is he still working, or did the cab company not want to "offend" anyone and cut there losses?
I am talking about Allan Kennedy the head baskettball coach of Mississippi, who back in December punched and shouted racial slurs at cab driver Mohammed Ould Jiddou.
The problems started when Kennedy, Bill Armstrong, director of operations for the basketball team who was also arrested and 3 other members of Kennedy's coaching staff where thrown out of the Lodge Bar.
Jiddou was then flagged to pick up Kennedy and the four other men at the Lodge bar Thursday morning. Jiddou says Kennedy got abusive when he wouldn't let all five men into the cab. Jiddou says his policy is to limit passengers to the number of available seatbelts... in this case, his car had four.
Jiddou claims Kennedy called him (Osama) Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein and then punched him in the cheek. Kennedy got out of Jiddou's cab, got into another cab, but was arrested a few minutes later.
Three things makes Jiddou's story more convincing, one is the valet at the bar backs up his side two the fact that the group just got thrown out of the bar and then there's this new video from You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0fBB1LfmU&eurl=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=513434&feature=player_embedded.
In the video Kennedy is trying to explain to the officer who he is and how important he is, and is more worried about how all this is going to play out in the press. It was almost funny he was telling the officer that this was going an "international incident" which he later changed to a national incident.
This case will be hanging around the courts for a while, it seems besides the criminal cases against Kennedy and Armstrong, Kennedy, his wife and Armstrong are all suing Jiddou and he is returning the favor.
As for Kennedy and Armstrong are they still working for "Old Miss" I let you decide from the statement from Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone "Clearly, this is an unfortunate situation. However, after a full discussion with Andy Kennedy and his staff, who were with him, I have the utmost confidence that once all the facts are known, Coach Kennedy will be cleared of all charges."
Ill translate for you, if he keeps winning he keep working, and that's the bottom line, what about Jiddou's bottom line is he still working, or did the cab company not want to "offend" anyone and cut there losses?
Monday, February 2, 2009
Good news about the Super Bowl-The real problem with the taxi business
Its great to hear the Tampa cabbies are doing so well with the Super bowl, despite my previous story, enjoy it while you can.
I do have a question, did they let drivers in from Pinellas County, I have not read anything on that in Tim's Blog, in the newspaper or the net.
It seems Tampa is not the only place that can't stop selling Taxi Permits, a small town in northern Canada called Yellowknife has the same problem, and it plus the economy is killing the taxi business.
Since 9-11 the economy and stock markets have been up and down but the cab business in Tampa and elsewhere has just been down.
The cab company don't care they get there money what ever kind of day the driver had or they take the cab.
Drivers try to avoid this at all cost's because besides the cab being there way of making money its there only form of transportation, and we all know how public transit is in and around Tampa.
This story is from the Northern News Services.
City won't limit cab licenses
By Herb Mathisen
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, January 15, 2009
Despite a lengthy presentation from a representative of the taxi drivers' association asking for industry regulation including a licensing freeze city council voted to have administration allow the marketplace to determine the number of taxis allowed on the streets when they draft an amendment to the livery bylaw.
The city has until June to amend the bylaw, but Dennis Marchiori, director of public safety, said he hopes to have=2 0it out much sooner.
Fadil Memedi, representing the Yellowknife Taxi Drivers' Association, spoke at the meeting and said more cabs on the street means companies are making more money, while individual drivers make less.
"It's to the benefit of both companies to keep adding, but it's not to the benefits of the individual driver," he said.
He said cab drivers have to work 16-hour days in order to make $30,000 net a year, an "amount still inadequate" to live in the North. Memedi added he wanted the city to limit the number of cabs on the road -- suggesting the city impose a five-year freeze on issuing licenses.
Marchiori said there are currently 133 taxi licenses issued, with City Cabs holding around 75 of those licenses, and Diamond Cab owning the remainder.
Councillor David Wind tried to amend the recommendations given to administration to draft the bylaw, arguing to set a limit on taxi licenses based on service levels, in-use rates and fares.
"The more cars you put on the road, the longer time it is going to be between fares and the less each car is going to be used to actually transport people from one place to another," he said.
Cabbies will have a stronger argument for fare increases when they start earning less during their shifts, he said, which could become a "disadvantage to the people who use the taxis."
Councillor Mark Heyck said the city is responsible for the increased number of licenses from the last time they issued a freeze in December 2007.
The threat caused individuals to scoop up licenses.
"The discussion of a temporary freeze is precisely what led to about a 30 per cent increase in the number of licenses," he said.
He argued that the time between the bylaw coming back before council รข€“ perhaps June and now would see more people picking up licenses and said he believed the number of licenses will eventually drop.
Memedi said the association was not consulted during the nine-month freeze, when the city was to review the bylaw to see if changes are required. Six new licenses have been approved since the freeze was lifted.
Wind and Kevin Kennedy voted for the amendment, with the remaining councillors voting against it. Councillors Shelagh Montgomery and Bob Brooks were not present at the meeting.
Councillor Dave McCann suggested the city instead limit the number of chauffeurs' licenses people permitted to drive cabs to limit the number of taxis on the street.
Other recommendations made to administration when they draft the bylaw include: restricting drivers convicted of sexual offences and violent crimes from operating taxis; allowing council to review taxi fares every year; to phase in restrictions on the number of taxi licenses an individual can possess; and to have all Yellowknife taxis use uniform colors.
I do have a question, did they let drivers in from Pinellas County, I have not read anything on that in Tim's Blog, in the newspaper or the net.
It seems Tampa is not the only place that can't stop selling Taxi Permits, a small town in northern Canada called Yellowknife has the same problem, and it plus the economy is killing the taxi business.
Since 9-11 the economy and stock markets have been up and down but the cab business in Tampa and elsewhere has just been down.
The cab company don't care they get there money what ever kind of day the driver had or they take the cab.
Drivers try to avoid this at all cost's because besides the cab being there way of making money its there only form of transportation, and we all know how public transit is in and around Tampa.
This story is from the Northern News Services.
City won't limit cab licenses
By Herb Mathisen
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, January 15, 2009
Despite a lengthy presentation from a representative of the taxi drivers' association asking for industry regulation including a licensing freeze city council voted to have administration allow the marketplace to determine the number of taxis allowed on the streets when they draft an amendment to the livery bylaw.
The city has until June to amend the bylaw, but Dennis Marchiori, director of public safety, said he hopes to have=2 0it out much sooner.
Fadil Memedi, representing the Yellowknife Taxi Drivers' Association, spoke at the meeting and said more cabs on the street means companies are making more money, while individual drivers make less.
"It's to the benefit of both companies to keep adding, but it's not to the benefits of the individual driver," he said.
He said cab drivers have to work 16-hour days in order to make $30,000 net a year, an "amount still inadequate" to live in the North. Memedi added he wanted the city to limit the number of cabs on the road -- suggesting the city impose a five-year freeze on issuing licenses.
Marchiori said there are currently 133 taxi licenses issued, with City Cabs holding around 75 of those licenses, and Diamond Cab owning the remainder.
Councillor David Wind tried to amend the recommendations given to administration to draft the bylaw, arguing to set a limit on taxi licenses based on service levels, in-use rates and fares.
"The more cars you put on the road, the longer time it is going to be between fares and the less each car is going to be used to actually transport people from one place to another," he said.
Cabbies will have a stronger argument for fare increases when they start earning less during their shifts, he said, which could become a "disadvantage to the people who use the taxis."
Councillor Mark Heyck said the city is responsible for the increased number of licenses from the last time they issued a freeze in December 2007.
The threat caused individuals to scoop up licenses.
"The discussion of a temporary freeze is precisely what led to about a 30 per cent increase in the number of licenses," he said.
He argued that the time between the bylaw coming back before council รข€“ perhaps June and now would see more people picking up licenses and said he believed the number of licenses will eventually drop.
Memedi said the association was not consulted during the nine-month freeze, when the city was to review the bylaw to see if changes are required. Six new licenses have been approved since the freeze was lifted.
Wind and Kevin Kennedy voted for the amendment, with the remaining councillors voting against it. Councillors Shelagh Montgomery and Bob Brooks were not present at the meeting.
Councillor Dave McCann suggested the city instead limit the number of chauffeurs' licenses people permitted to drive cabs to limit the number of taxis on the street.
Other recommendations made to administration when they draft the bylaw include: restricting drivers convicted of sexual offences and violent crimes from operating taxis; allowing council to review taxi fares every year; to phase in restrictions on the number of taxi licenses an individual can possess; and to have all Yellowknife taxis use uniform colors.
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