Reader Opinions
The following opinions are not necessarily those of the Chicago Dispatcher.
An open letter to Chicago taxi drivers:
In these times of peril, economic conditions are in dire straights. The big three automakers are threatening to go bankrupt; unemployment is running rampant at an all time high nationwide. Money in the cab industry is very tight, plus owners are seeking a lease increase.
There is a certain group of taxi drivers out there who probably don't represent five people, and speak for even less. I call them the “United Taxi Clowns Coalition,” a.k.a. the UTCC. Instead of their calls for a meter increase right now, I would like to propose the following requests:
1. We should be able to charge a meter-and-a-half to all suburbs from anywhere.
2. Senior citizens should pay 50 cents extra per person.
3. We should be able to charge $1 for each additional passenger.
4. There should be more supervision over starters at both airports to prevent the selling of good loads to limousines or suburban taxis.
Now the city has promised to grant us a meter increase after public hearings in the spring. A strike should only be used as a last resort, not in this case. All a strike will do is send our customers into the arms of our competitors - be they limos, suburban taxis, airport shuttles, rickshaws or pogo sticks. Remember UTCC, be careful what you ask for - it might just come true.
