The translation back to English:
Reyes response to the Commissioner's testimony, in the transport Committee hearing in October. 25, 2007
All interested countries to the taxi industry in the Chicago Bulls team:
Recently, the taxi driver, in Chicago submitted a petition for 25 percent, transport fare increases to the Chicago City Council. This petition, including 2000's signature collection of meter receipts to prove that our average income, and put in a lot of work, organization and collected by a dedicated band Chicago cabdrivers. Hearings will be held on October 25 to hear the arguments for and against the petition. Inheritance 10-12 drivers made their requests, then Commissioner for Reyes, they did not even have been in the room for most of our testimony, that her situation, we do not need to increase the drivers. She Under her proposal, the analysis of the data, she mentioned to the board, but did not provide hard copies to any person. This letter is in response to her testimony.
We are worried that taxi drivers in the industry feel that the Commissioner of Chicago's testimony was false, unscientific, in its application in the analysis of this data, she proposed. The numbers on a website can be analyzed in many different ways, we are talking about people and their lives here, we can not overlook the human factor, in the study data. The following illustrations should show we mean clear and simple.
The testimony of Commissioner Reyes said: "The gas price volatility .... Is down-to-earth, ... It peaked earlier this year [it] went down .... Day, it may be up to a certain percentage, the second day will be a certain percentage. " She also claimed that, from the value of the data over the past two years, we are, "actually pay 9.5 percent more" than the 2005 end of gas.
Response: Although it may be true, if one were analyzed natural gas prices more than a few weeks or months will be slightly increased price volatility and decline in its hard data, in the past five years (because of our involvement in Iraq) the steady growth has substantially%. Some of these hard data are as follows. Since our last taxi fare increase, in May 2005, natural gas prices in the Chicago area have increased from an average of 217.8 US dollars (May 2005) to the current average 285.9 US dollars for October. More Currently, in the November mid-record high 317.9 US dollars. Some simple algebraic will further attest that this is a 69 percent growth in the past two years to complete. (According to United States government statistics, in www.eia.doe.gov and provide further information www.fuelgaugereport.com). Fare increases, we received in May, 2005 was 11.8 percent, an increase to a full four years after the previous fare increases, this in itself does not keep up with, whether it is with the Consumer Price Index increases, nor natural gas prices rose four years.
In addition, the rapid glance at news we will find that the soaring oil prices to 94 US dollars a barrel, heading for 100 yuan threshold. The news also reported that these prices will not be reflected in the gas station a few months time.
But all this does not matter. We will give natural gas prices alone do not even make up an important part, so we need to raise fares.
The testimony of Commissioner Reyes said: "We will not have the number 18 [in the country's taxi fares]
We are 10th in the nation. This proposal will enable us in section 4 "
Response: The Commissioner of Police, replacing a poster brought by one of the organizers, the show compare taxi fares in the United States cities as "old statistics" and not the latest. On the contrary, this chart is the latest statistical analysis information and can go to their Web site to see it in www.schallerconsult.com. After further analysis and reflection, however, the Director's reasoning is flawed in a major way. City taxi fares in the United States not only as a comparison, across the board, not been included in the other very important data. For example, what is the per capita income, the figure the general public's capacity to pay for taxi fare? In addition, the cost of living in Chicago, not only for its own citizens, but also for cabdrivers themselves, they must be able to live independently, after all, raise families in the same economic system.
We have a problem, for the Commissioner, so we have to: What does that mean for Chicago "10th" or even "of the 4 th" in the country's taxi fares? According to our own analysis, plus 25 percent, we would not be in the No. 4, but on the 5th. Moreover, if we look at the chart comparison cities, most of the cities mentioned, is because increases in the very near future. We expect that even if we get an increase, Chicago, will shortly be reduced to less than ten rankings for taxi fares in the United States a number of major cities. We feel that this ranking is not commensurate with the position, as the number of two Chicago economic engine, according to the metropolitan area, throughout the United States, second only to New York City. We feel that cabdrivers in Chicago, which they not only live in the city higher prices in the country, but also has taken important role in the running of the economy itself, there should be a fairer and more equitable sharing of the economy.
Commissioner Reyes's testimony: "The average class size of 11 hours"
Response: Commissioner mentioned this in passing, because if this is not statistically. I urge all of you to consider what is in the end, the statistics mean that, in human terms. Most cabdrivers is leasing drivers, which means that they hire a taxi for the weekly classes, work 12 hours a day. This means that the order to maximize our revenue, we must encourage the majority of the time, we are for. This original to the full seven days a week, if the Commissioner is correct, it used to be a 77 hour work system. Consideration should also be given, this accounts for no significant breakthrough in our Day (we can not afford - every hour lost is money lost, we can not resume because we have no choice work longer time, we now have our greatest). We did not receive any medical benefits, vacation pay or sick leave days. The owner-operators and 24-hour drivers not to have many similar constrictions, economic pressure, are the same, and in their cases. When is in a difficult period, because they are now, we do not also can choose not to work, and to participate in any other type of human concern, such as family life, hobbies, social, and cultural activities.
Commissioner Reyes's testimony, he said: "drivers, averaged 22 fares per shift," "[We] fares analysis of the information collected, the proceeds from the drivers ... 6000 people from 100 cab fare ... 775
Response: We would like to challenge provided to the Commissioner of the city of Chicago alderman, Transport Bureau, the media and our own, cabdrivers Chicago, conclusive data that this statement is based on. The reason is the following. If this is well known, the average number of fares per shift is 22, then it should be very easy enough to tell us what the average fare is also. This figure, it is easy enough to check and subtract the gas, leasing fees, taxes, and medical insurance (we bought our own), as well as maintenance costs, and tell whether we really have enough left over from that in order to enhance family. This is a very important point, we hope that all interested parties can join us for the release of this data is obtained from the Commissioner.
The testimony of Commissioner Reyes said: "The lease rate ceiling, no, in 14"
"The current limit is 493 US dollars but does have some many different surcharge ... that owners can add to the competent ... insurance, collision damage waiver, the new vehicle model, telephone or cell phone use, workmen's compensation, tax lease agreement , different things can be said, "" Some leases will be a somewhat more than 600 yuan "
Response: Until 2002, the Chicago City rules and regulations do not let alone contract ceiling. We first heard mention of the ceiling, leasing rates, in the 2004 version. Unfortunately, we failed to get our hands on any previous version of the rules and regulations to check the authenticity of the statement has not whether the ceiling in the 14, although we sincerely doubt it. In 1994, weekly lease 300 yuan. What is the reason may have may have to contract ceiling 473 US dollars at that time? Commissioner Reyes was also wrong that this amount: the current ceiling of 473, not $ 493. As we read the Rules and Regulations, we find that there is no mention of all those "extra" that the commissioner mentioned the owners can charge. This is our position that the Commissioner, as well as the rules themselves, should clearly define what is "different" can be charged with. For example: we know, collision damage waiver, the rental agreement tax and workers compensation costs should be included in the basic interest rates, or in the supplementary insurance. We challenge Commissioner explain once again how 'benchmark interest rate cap' 498 US dollars can be more or less increased by over 20 percent, exceeding the 600 US dollars, and all of these 'additional services', which makes a mockery of, or even long-term' lease rate ceiling '. If the Consumer Affairs Department of the Ministry of Commerce did not follow-up or supervision, or even the establishment of meaningful rules and terminology related to lease caps, their own rules and regulations, how can the needs and aspirations of the driver to do so? This can be considered correct, fair?
Commissioner Reyes's testimony, said: "Three years ago, medals and other average 42,000 US dollars ... Today, the average one medallions 71,000 US dollars, instead of 130,000 US dollars"
Response: Although it can be said that, the real average Price per medals, in the open market may not be 130,000 US dollars, it is nothing but less than hypocritical (at least can be said to be) that the average, 71,000 US dollars. Quick look at the dispatcher's website, www.cabmarket.com will clues to how we matter. Statistics last month will further attest that the price of a souvenir badge for 105 k, 13 k, to 150,000 and the price also for one yuan, 100 yuan, or even a reasonable price, the 47,000 US dollars. If you have a per game for the dispatcher, you will get the current average 81,000 US dollars or so. But why is this' average 'means how many? Because if you track these medals to the seller and the buyer, you will find that, one yuan and 100 yuan, medals, and so are sales between family members or business partners of one or another kind. The same situation also applies to the sale of two of its partners for 47,000 US dollars. We can easily find these people and ask them.
Our question is, why is the Commissioner's departments adopt this meaningless data? If we do our scientific and statistical analysis of the medals sold, the sale price will not be thrown out on the open market (you learn how to do introduced statistics class), we will find a higher average. Now it is close to previous high end $ 130k, as a Quick Check the website will show that per month, 105k to 150,000 for the medallion is on the open market. When we do this, we can see that the actual real life into the real cost in Chicago taxi industry has increased dramatically and very, in the past year, up 300 percent!
All this being said, we now want to go back to our original argument, at the outset of the hearing on October 25, the commissioner is not in the room to hear. Our new organization is to representatives of the Chicago cabdrivers interests, and not just in their efforts to catch up with the economic crisis, we personally in, and during this recent period, but also looking ahead to the imminent economic problems in the near future which will secure affect our future economic status is not proportionate. We believe that this is in the interests of not only our drivers expected future social concern, but it is also in the interests of this city's future forward-looking, because it involves the transport industry here and Chicago.
1. Natural gas prices rose and will continue to increase. We believe that this is a consideration, and anyone who has been concerned about oil prices would have to agree. As stated above, we believe that the actual statistical ratio is 69%, due to higher prices as the recent increase in a barrel of oil.
2. According to Labor Bureau statistics, the cost of living rose by 4.6%, since our last fare increase in 2005. As also mentioned above, last year 11.8 percent did not itself with the times increase in the cost of living last year.
3. Leasing prices have greatly improved in the past few years, despite the legal authority of the lease cap from the city. As the Commissioner for the "different plus" this small city, the owners collect more and gone beyond the "rent-cap" very term becomes rather meaningless. For other economic factors affecting taxi owners (increase prices, reduce the taxi life), we expect that the owners will lease expires price increase will be requested to them, we recognize that they may be due to leasing, cap increase . We cabdrivers will require a substantial increase in our fares to make up for these economic conditions. We also look forward and asked the city to enforce its own rules and regulations, rental rates charged taxi owners.
4. Price entered the taxi business as an entrepreneur has seen a substantial, in the past two years to complete. The price increase is also a souvenir badge, from an annual average of 45 k to a thousand dollars, 120,000 people, seriously affecting looking to the new owners to restore its investment in a reasonable period of time, therefore, asking them to lobby the city to increase their leasing prices. This, in turn, means that these costs will be passed on to the average leasing cabdriver, and they in turn would have no choice but to either petition the city government for more and more fare increases or longer working hours over 75-80 hours, we work has been.
5. Last but not least is the recent reduction in the legal life of a taxi from five to four, with a possible one-year extension, if well maintained. This would affect the taxi owners, in a rather grim. Consider: In view of the new rules, the buyers of a new taxi, there will be a retirement inexpensive car, has no value for resale four years time, and because there are still thousands of dollars. Again, only she or he will turn to be passed along this additional cost to customers only they, the driver. Another reason, the driver will ask the fare increase to cover the expected future costs.
Our aupd think we have made a lot of cases here is conducive to raising fares for the Chicago cabdrivers taxi industry. We also feel that we have sufficient Commissioner Reyes refuted arguments, we do not deserve or need to increase, raising questions and challenges, her statement and position on this issue. We hope that you agree. We also respectfully ask you to consider our intention not to any arguments, we claim here, but have to ask Commissioner Reyes produced her hard data and statistics, made available to the public, and do their own independent study to determine authenticity, our arguments.
Signed,
Bideali enger, the spokesman said aupd (Association reunification of the professional drivers)
__________________________
梅丽莎called Madam President, aupd (Association reunification of the professional drivers)
i almost like this version better than the first!
OH oh.
My translator thinks you declared war on Irkutsk!
