There's an interesting article at Worcester IndyMedia from yesterday about police harassment of livery vehicles. Whoever "pdm99" is (attributed author of the article), they might want to consider going out to the end of Prescott Street and interviewing taxi drivers at Red Cab during shift change between 3 and 4 pm some weekday, asking them only one question: "What do you think of livery cabs?"
Even if they interviewed only those drivers who speak some variant of Spanish, they'd end up with enough material to write a completely different article.
But I wouldn't argue with the article's main theme, that the WPD might be harassing livery cabs, or that they might be doing so with way too much zeal. My main quibble would be the article's author having, quite obviously, no slightest familiarity with the legal and business cost elements of the taxi vs livery issue in this city.
For instance, they say in the article, "The Ecuadoran and Dominican drivers, who each purchase their own Lincoln Continental livery vehicles, licenses and insurance, invest on average $10,000 to operate." If it only cost ten grand to put a taxicab on the road in Worcester, I'd have put at least three of them on the road, myself, long before this. Sheesh! Just the annual insurance premium for a taxicab in Worcester, all by itself, is more than ten freakin' grand!
There's a lot more to the livery vs taxicab issue in Worcester. But no matter how much Juan Gomez, et al, would like to marry this issue to any other Latino issues in the city, issues that are real and important, this just isn't one of them.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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6 comments:
I have a problem with that article also...the Chandler Business Association has busted it's collective but with the NRSA Program..and been pretty damn successful
your bottle Paddy Whiskey is on my back porch WormTown...can't get in the states:>)
I have to call you out on one thing, Jeff. There are now such thing as "Livery Cabs". There are Livery cars, and then are legal Taxi Cabs!!And, like you said, the big difference is about $50,000 a year in insurance,lincence fees, Quartely Inspection Fees, Medallion fees, regular up-keep ( The Cabs are more maintened than any vehical around!! Including Police cars!!)But I diress,, The Right to Own / Operate a Taxicab in The City of Worcester costs more than most people spend to buy a home.Which I think is justified in the fact that the owner is responsible for the safty of You, Me , our children ( and those of others ), and anything else that might happen on the road. Including safe and compitent drivers that might get yelled at, taken for granted, abused, having to avoid drunk/angry or just plain stupid drivers.They should and ARE held to a higher level of responsibility, which I find comforting when I need a ride.(P.S., I think Jaun Gomez is worse for this City than the Asian Longhorned Beetle, just more destruction!!)
Wait... why is there any special fee at all? Other business' are allowed to have vehicles and even fleets. The city even gives the city dictator er manager a vehicle to drive his associates around in. I, though not as a business, own a car and can give anyone a ride while I have auto insurance to cover any accident(s). Retailers pay in their tax based on register receipts. Why not eliminate the labels designate em all as a taxi and just allow a business to register at a nominal fee, say $200 a year, show proof of registration ( which requires auto insurance in MA anyway) and allow the taxi business to earn and pay taxes accordingly? I see no real justification for such outrageous fees. It seems the big issue is then there may become to many taxis to choose from. Well so, that's happening in other areas of business as well. The economy needs people working let em work. Some one needs a ride? Make a call to your favorite taxi guy (Jeff) he'll pick ya up you pay the meter fare and it's done, the taxi guy pays his taxes at the end of the year and kicks in his annual $200 registration fee. If you have more than one accident in a given you will not be allowed to register thats all. NO annoying 50 Grand. That's it. Why not? No wonder there is so much resentment in the industry. Some arbitrary determination sets one group to pay more than another. These stupid regulations continue to divide while doing nothing to improve economic conditions. Both factions should unite on this.
Recks, there are liability issues that make the insurance absolutely exorbitant, decades of problems and solutions regarding municipal legal issues that build up common local rules and regulations in cities all across the nation, and long term investments that all far exceed any of the local fees in any city, when it comes to taxicabs. This business is not like other businesses, so analogies really can't be drawn.
Jeff, thanks for the thoughtful comments. My articles focus was to publicize what was happening in my community and in the Latino community. As you said, “I wouldn't argue with the article's main theme, that the WPD might be harassing livery cabs”.
My knowledge about the economic and regulatory costs of operating a taxi is very limited, but I don’t believe my article goes there, nor do I think this is a liveries – good, taxis – bad conversation.
Would you agree, that if the City passed a law which among other things, banned exterior advertising on taxis and told drivers they really shouldn’t be using cash there would be a backlash? And then if the police later followed-up with enforcement that harassed passengers, drivers, had cops yelling at office staff and shutting down the whole system for a day there would be a public outcry?
ps I've been using the same on-line moniker since ...well, 1999. Thought you would have recognized it. Kevin
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