INDUSTRY IN REVIEW

By Don McCurdy

Meet the new boss.

Well, the song goes "same as the old boss," but Nevada is hoping the new boss at the taxicab authority (TA) will get some results on the issues facing the Nevada taxicab industry.

A serious concern of the previous administrator was claimed to be long hauling, or not taking the shortest route to the destination. Yes, well, that's one issue. I would say that strip clubs "tipping" drivers to bring them victims, er, customers is another issue that needs a little tune up. While the previous administration talked a good game they failed to follow up on the problem.

The new administrator, Charles Harvey, will no doubt have his hands full trying to keep the taxicab companies off his political throat if he attempts any meaningful change. The process can be quite simple if approached properly, but certainly not easy. Changing the culture of a company is hard enough, changing the culture of an entire industry will take perseverance. If Mr. Harvey's opponents sense any weakness or lack of resolve he's toast. Good luck, Vegas is a fun city to visit but it does have a bit of a reputation.

Why that's a travesty!

Former St. Paul taxicab driver Abdikadir Yusef Mohamed whined that four months in jail, two years probated to ten years was “unfair.” Really? I realize that some cultures treat women differently, but grouping a female passenger here in the US is still a pretty serious crime.

His lawyers reported comments about the victim's concerns and the comments had to be well received by the female judge. Say what? Apparently, the 30 other Somalis that showed up in solidarity at the sentencing frightened the victim and the perp's lawyer called her comments racist. Gee, how could that be? The fact that they showed up to share their friends shame does indicate a certain insensitivity.

Perhaps, the predatory sex offender's buds would be better served with a cultural realignment class instead of showing their solidarity with someone who shamed their culture with his inability to control himself. Besides that, isn't it like some really horrible crime to besmirch Mohamed's name? Or is that just for infidels? Is Jerry Kozubal right yet or can we still not handle the truth?

I'm in no position to want competition.

I don't normally comment on too many issues outside of North America, but this one interested me. Greece has opened several professions, including taxicab driving, to new applicants. Their new "liberalized" entry policies generated strikes by taxicab drivers along with other trades, but due to their financial situation Greece has been forced to make some "reforms." Some 130 professions will be opened up as a result of the court ruling that upheld the government's ability to alter the entry policies. So, really, what does it all mean? Well, it would appear to me to mean that if you stifle competition enough your economy will stall.

While the US certainly isn't Greece we can take away a lesson from their example. Of course, if you are too stuck in your political dogma to learn the lesson we can always blame the problem on someone else.

What could be more important?

Well, reports are that Jacksonville, Florida has decided on an exclusive taxicab company to service their airport. Good on 'em. The really unbelievable part of the story is what Michael Stewart, the director of external affairs for the airport, said the reason was for needing an exclusive taxicab company.

Better service? Well, no. Lower rates? Well, no. Mr. Stewart's reported comment is that it would make it easier to regulate the type of vehicle, it's condition, drivers and fares. Easier to regulate? Let me see, if I understand the airport's thinking, we're going to exclude licensed businesses to operate at the airport so that it will be easier for us to regulate the industry? Is that a compelling reason to deny a company access to one of the fundamental customer bases in their industry? Truly, we work for the government, they no longer work for us.

Is that all?

New Orleans has generated a taxicab passenger "bill of rights." Now, if you've been following the news out of New Orleans you have to wonder if one of the "rights" the passengers have is for an honest taxicab authority. If you've read this column before you know that I believe a passenger "bill of rights" is a do nothing, feel good way for the regulatory body to appear to be doing something. Considering corruption investigations not being confirmed or denied and previous convictions for corruption in the taxicab authority in New Orleans I would think the city is looking in the wrong direction.

Say it ain't so!

Undercover investigations in Las Vegas are reported to have discovered that limousine drivers are acting like taxicab drivers! WHAT? How can this be we wonder? Well, it's happening all over the country, in just about every major city. How was this discovered? Well, the taxicab companies hired a private investigator who managed to discover the illegal activity after a lengthy five night investigation. Five nights? Further evidence that my theory that regulations only regulate the willing is correct. If the regulatory authority can't find illegal activity right in front of their noses what is it exactly that they do?

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!

Well, Miami has decided to make some millionaires! Well, okay, it'll take them a while to accumulate the million, but the city/county is conducting a lottery for ten taxicab medallions. Yeah, sure, it's not Powerball or Mega Millions, but it's not bad. The current reported medallion rental rate is $500 a week. The stated purpose is to ensure a level of supply that will provide adequate service.

There are supposed to be around 750 applicants. Hey, why not give them all one? Yeah, that's the ticket! The city could give 750 people a $26,000 a year raise at no cost to the city. How great would that be? That sure would ensure an adequate supply of taxicabs, 750 new jobs and 750 new small business owners. Now, there's some stimulus! Isn't it nice when the government can just hand out free money?

So which is it?

Fernando Mateo of New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers is reported to be a supporter of Texas Governor Rick Perry. Mateo says he likes Perry's record on job creation and complains New York City's attitude toward small business is stifling the city's economy. All good stuff so far, but the noteworthy part of the story is the city and state leaders opposing Perry's visit because his policies are anti-immigration.

I guess I should explain here that what they really mean is that they think Perry's policies are anti-illegal immigration, but dishonest media and politicians act like both are the same so they can demonize those who disagree with their open borders philosophy. Anyway, Perry is getting hammered nationally for his "liberal" position on illegal immigrant children who went to high school in Texas getting in state tuition rates and he's getting hammered by the left for not being liberal enough. I suppose that's the life of someone with a reasonable set of values in the US today. Don't get me wrong, I'm considerably more libertarian than Perry, it was just an observation.

What's wrong with honest debate?

I recently read an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer regarding wheelchair accessible taxicabs. The rider's complaint was that there were no wheelchair accessible taxicabs in the city that could handle his 220 pound wheelchair. The comments attributed to the rider and comments about it in a news article made by the reporter had me wondering why there can't just be an honest debate without being a demagogue, shaming or blaming?

Facts are it costs a lot more for a wheel chair accessible taxi vehicle, it takes more time to load a wheelchair and it's illegal to charge for that time. Now, from the evil taxicab driver's perspective what would be the attraction? There are those who would simply say "make them all wheelchair accessible," those being the spend the entire national treasury if it saves one life in the crowd.

If a taxicab driver helps you load your groceries he can charge waiting time, if he helps you load your 220 pound wheelchair he can't. Why not? Why is it that the government deems it fit for a workman to provide his time for free. Well, Grasshopper, it's like this, the advocates for the disabled had it written into the law. It feels really good, but in real world practice it adds time to a trip that the driver doesn't get paid for.

What other trades are required to provide free services for the disabled? When I drove a taxi I carried wheelchair clients all the time, but they had to be able to transfer into the taxi. I assisted more than most, but my four year old sedan didn't come anywhere near the cost of a van that would accommodate a 220 pound wheelchair.

Should all 1600 of Philadelphia's cabs be made to spend thousands of dollars on the vehicle whose services they are required to give away? Well, at least partially. Let's discuss it openly, without name calling and demagoguing, or we can go on like it is with 'feel good laws' and little or no service.

So, what's the solution?

New Orleans has discovered that their taxicab medallions are worth a lot of money and the local media are looking for the city to cash in on the "value" of the medallions. Yeah, well that's wonderful, but you now have drivers paying a couple of hundred a week for the privilege of driving. Where do you suppose that money comes from? How about if the city just issues medallions to those who would own one and let small businesses flourish? Rather than the "what's in for me" attitude of a lot of big cities in the US, how about a free enterprise experiment to compare to the over regulated oligopolies prevalent throughout the US?

Man, when they turn on you!

Governor Cuomo and democrat state legislators took some serious abuse in the press recently when the outer borough street hail legislation slowed to a crawl. The press pointed up how much money was donated to each candidate by the yellow cab lobby in New York City. The article made the case that donations from the industry were what inspired the idea that a compromise was needed. Really? You mean like the GM/Chrysler bailout solution that basically stole money from bond holders and gave it to the unions who donated millions? Yeah, like that.

They did it!

In watching the still unfolding "occupy Wall Street" protests I've thought hard about my own life and opportunities if I had blamed someone else for my mistakes. Yeah, it would have been easy. The banks did it!

My introduction into the taxicab came as a result of difficulty I was having finding a decent electronics job. A dear friend of mine suggested I might try driving until the right job opportunity came along. I drove for several years then returned to the construction business. When the savings and loan "crisis" hit the construction industry collapsed and I lost everything. I didn't think of blaming the banks, politicians or anyone else, I just figured out how I was going to survive. Now, some thirty odd years later I watch as the protesters blame everyone but themselves. Fact of the matter is that I made the decisions that ultimately led to my losses.

I was not prepared for anything beyond the good times. This time around I did not lose everything, I was considerably better prepared. So, as we all look to the government to bail us out I can only hope that we don't get our wish.

We've become a bunch of whiners looking for someone else to take the blame for our mistakes. We elect people who we then allow to blame everyone but themselves for the results of their decisions. We continue to allow a complicit media to tell us obvious half-truths and cast about blame like they also had no part in it. I love our country and can't imagine how anyone could want to smother our personal liberty under the blanket of government "help." God help us all if they succeed.

If you have any comments regarding this or any of my articles please feel free to contact me at dmc@mcacres.com. —dmc