CHICAGO CABDRIVERS TO MARCH TO PROTEST MISDEMEANOR BATTERY
Urging States Attorney To Use New State Law To Upgrade Charge To Felony Against Man Who Brutally Attacked Cabdriver Last Month
CHICAGO- On Monday, March 24th, at 2pm, cabdrivers will march from Chicago and Orleans down Lasalle Street to Daley Plaza and deliver a petition to Cook County States Attorney Dick Devine.
The petition will ask Mr. Devine to upgrade the misdemeanor charge against Thomas Gniadek, who beat cabdriver Stanley Shen on February 24th. A new state law which went into effect this year allows prosecutors to seek a felony conviction against those who victimize cabdrivers with violence.
Mr. Shen was punched several times and suffered bruising and swelling to his right eye and a laceration on his nose. The attack occurred at the corner of 18th and Halsted.
Cabdriver Steve Wiedersberg lobbied for creation of the new law after suffering a knee injury in a similar conflict. The law is designed to protect cabdrivers in the same class as judges, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, teachers, bus drivers, utility workers and others whose public service places them at a greater risk. Assaults against any can be considered aggravated battery.
Unfortunately, Mr. Wiedersberg's bad knee prevents him from leading cabdrivers in this march as he has many times before when cabdrivers needed attention. Cabdriver Mike Foulks, who submitted the petition for the fare increase, shall assume the responsibility.
Cabdriver Melissa Callahan, who called for the strike that many cabdrivers participated in last summer, shall have the honor of carrying the petition demanding justice for Mr. Shen along the route and accompanying Mr. Wiedersberg as they submit it upstairs on the fifth floor of the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington.
A short press conference will be held as they emerge from the building at the southwest corner sometime around 3pm.
CHICAGO CABDRIVERS MARCH TODAY- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mike Foulks
Cell Phone: (312) 933-1932
E-mail: chinatownmike@yahoo.com
Contact: Steve Wiedersberg
Cell Phone: (773) 412-2039
Contact: Melissa Callahan
Cell Phone: (773) 386-7766
E-mail: melissacci@yahoo.com
very good that you are acting on behalf of all cabbies!
that's kind of you!
we should also ask the commisioner and mayor to not to register any more new cabs in Chicago.
we have too many cabs in street and it will hurt if there is unlimited new taxis!
yes, the attacker on cabbie should be charged with felony!
Thanks Danny.
I haven't heard of any new cabs to be issued. Commissioner Reyes hasn't issued medallions as willy nilly as they were in the past.
George Lutfallah
Chicago Dispatcher
If there are new more drivers being educated a Harold washington College on Lake street and Wabash and they get Chauffers license, than that means new more drivers.
As far as I know, chauffer classes are still being given at that college even today and that is not good.
It's not good because when people get this class everyday forever without any limit and give chauffers license, new more drivers will drive cab and chicago street will be further flooded with new more cabs.
Remember, the reason for slow cab bussiness and drivers making less and less money is not because Only of high gas price and high lease cost, another reason why long time drivers are making less money than ever before is because there are just too many cabs in chicago streets, if there are 2 riders on street, there maybe 20 cabs trying to get that 2 rider's fare and that hurts bussiness.
I am not jealous of others making money but we need better management of cab licenses.
We can't have many new taxi driver everyday forever.
It's like ten 7 eleven stores on one street block.
so, I hope current and veteren professional drivers understand this and deal with this problem of unlimted more and more new chauufers license at harold washington college.
It's all about being able to make a fair and decent living and decent bussiness.
