July 27, 2009
Request for Fare Increase

As provided for under 9-112-510 of the Municipal Code, we Chicago chauffeur license holders respectfully petition the Chicago City Council to hold hearings in order to give due consideration to our request for a just and reasonable meter rate increase that will ensure continued adequate and efficient service to the public.

With respect to the Rates of Fare, we ask the following in addition to the gasoline surcharge provisions currently in effect:

• For the first 1/7 mile or fraction thereof: $2.75
• For each additional 1/7 mile or fraction thereof: $0.30
• For each 35 seconds of time elapsed: $.30

• For each additional passenger over the age of 12 and under the age of 65 years: $1.00

• A $1.00 surcharge for trips to or from McCormick Place.

• A $1.50 credit card convenience fee.

• Dispatch fee of $1.00 for all phoned orders for taxicab service.

• $50.00 cleanup charge (vomit or other extraordinary messes).

Ease of Parking Restrictions

According to 9-64-170 (b) of the municipal code: “It shall be unlawful to park any taxicab on any business street in the city for a period longer than two hours between the hours of 2:00 A.M. and 7:00 A.M.; provided that this prohibition shall not apply to taxicabs parked on business streets in the 46th ward.”

Since taxicabs are restricted from parking on residential streets everywhere in Chicago except for the 15th and 46th wards, we request that taxicabs be exempted from the two hour parking restrictions on commercial streets so that we are able to sleep for more than two hours without having to move our cabs or risking a ticket.

Driver Medallions

We ask that the city of Chicago actively and deliberately assist lease taxi drivers to become medallion owners. Since taxi drivers are independent contractors, we have no benefits. The taxicab medallion is an investment for our future. It is our retirement plan. However, over the past few years, the price of medallions has increased at a much higher rate than the income of taxi drivers, making medallions practically out of reach for most Chicago taxi drivers. We ask that the city of Chicago adopt policies to assist drivers to own their own medallions without increasing the total number of medallions.

I hope the City of Chicago wakes up and helps us cabdrivers. Because, We bust are butts helping the city. By taking passengers. Anywhere, they want to go.

looks good, oh yeah,

1 more thing. ask th e city to end new medallion issuance and end to chauufer's class so no more cabs when there are too many already.

In the fare increase proposal,

we must add 2 most important thing and that is,


1,END TO NEW MEDALLION ISSUANCE,
2,END TO CHAUFFER'S CLASS at HAROLD WASHINGTON COLLEGE.

UNless we contain the huge numbers of cabs on streets and huge numbers of new unprofessional cabbies,

fare increase won't help us. This city has almost more cabs than private cars and bussiness is like a fight scene among cabbies. Very few passengers and cabbies cut off each other in public view and fight for the first $5 fare.
This city had too many cabs and that's why we make only about $30 a day working 12 hours.

To: All my other fellow Chicago drivers,

Where's the night time surcharge that is charged in other cities? NYC for one......

I'm glad George L. And Ted B. held a "town hall" kind of meeting with us before starting this.

I am also sure Ted B. explained this to everyone in full, not just say sign here for a raise and spend less than 10 seconds per signature.

George has been known to have nice informative meetings treating other drivers like family. He isn't the kind to act like a pompous fool and would never try to rule those he has no control of with an "iron fist"

Way to go again, George. Thanks for little, which is what we will get, mark my words. David