Hold your horses, slow down, Mike. I know, it takes a while to "detox" after you've looked power square in the eye.
Allen's eyes looked cold, like a shark's eyes to me. Brrrrr. Good show, dude!
That "monkey" gets a break for up to 60 days, I believe, according to Chicago Municipal Code. So they can put the "monkey" down to about December 23 before they are required to say YES or NO.
Anybody for a little wagering pool on when and how many points of increase, if any?
I was not at the Committee Hearing because I was helping people fight with their scum-dog landlords to help get illegal & dangerous conditions repaired and to help recover some security deposits from deadbeat landlords who are trying to rip off the tenants' money -- my "day job" for the Center for Renters' Rights."
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Corrupt or not, you, we, all of us have to understand with whom and what we are dealing -- the government and bureaucracy of one of the largest, richest, nicest, most successful, thriving American cities, if not in the entire world. Top class all the way.
That means the elected Mayor, the City Council and its committees and the Mayor's appointed commissioners are the top echelon of one of the meanest, leanest urban political systems in the world.
This means they have the money, the guns and the lawyers to handle any situation, even taxicab driver organizations looking for a meter increase or anything else.
This is why the Mayor is properly addressed "Your Honor." It is the same reason one addresses a judge in court as "Your Honor."
Whether or not you respect them, you still address them as Your Honor.
My point is that we don't have an equally big and strong "Your Honor" of our own -- anyone who can go toe-to-toe, in eye-ball-to-eyeball negotiations with these "super pros" of big city government.
Chicago taxicab drivers and owners do not have anyone who has legal, certified power of representation, like union officials.
We got you and we got Melissa. God love you and keep you strong! Both of you need all the help you can get. (That's not meant as criticism!)
The alternative to a union? In the rest of the business world, businesses large and small form professional associations like, for example an association of real estate developers, or gasoline retailers, or software developers, or taxicab owners -- just about any type of business enterprise.
Each of these associations provides numerous services for its members and even hires consultants for various functions of the businesses.
Even taxicab owners hire, accountants, lawyers, facilitators who take care of even the simplest things such as keeping the little one-man cab corporation properly registered.
These associations also have legal representatives, sometimes lawyers, sometimes professionals from the type of businesses in the association.
When these lawyers, consultants ans outstanding professionals meet with government or regulators they are called lobbyists.
Anyway, a professional society with some lawyers and some money can accomplish for self-employed cab drivers and owners the same things a union can accomplish for workers in a factory or a retail store. No NLRB certification required.
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Even if I had been at the hearings, I would not have testified this time because I had nothing to say. I have been saying what I have to say for almost a year now. So far, all I've gotten for it is ostracized, criticized, maligned, used, abused and marginalized -- head aches, heartaches and pains in the rump.
So I too am beginning to realize further discussion does not fill the gas tank.
Although I do have a lot of gas in me, it don't run the car.
I, for one, would not want the awesome responsibility of holding the fates and fortunes of over 10,000 taxicab drivers in my hands. Got any nominees?
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Many people are misinformed and confused about the Chicago Professional Taxicab Drivers' Association.
The CPTDA, of which currently I am not a member, is not an open membership organization. The CPTDA is a taxi workers rights advocacy group. WHat are they doing? If you need a copy of CPTDA's articles of incorporation, I will email it to you. Let me know.
My role, and that of the CPTDA does not necessarily include activism for the purposes of organizing drivers and owners, although I and former board member, Ted did take on some organizing projects.
As far as cutting any deals with the Mayor goes, I think the only deal he would agree is for me and/or the CPTDA to shut up and get out of town.
The next step. Well, lets all make sure we have our feet firmly on the ground, our heads out of the clouds and our eyes squarely focused on the prize.
This calls for a situation analysis.
As you are undoubtedly aware, the taxicab drivers and owners have now banged on the castle gate twice this year to seek respite and relief from the ravages of the economic times.
The method employed in June and yesterday was the same -- the old ad hoc populist movement headed by one or two dynamic leaders. Before Melissa, before you and me and before Prateek there was big Steve Wiedersberg. Before him and us, there were others -- yes, all heroes in their own right.
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Current CPTDA board members Diane, Raja and Salem all have a long history of taxi workers rights advocacy work -- they too are counted as honored heroes.
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Between the lot of us, we have love, courage and intelligence -- just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz! Tin Man with the heart, Lion with the Courage and Scarecrow with the brains.
So we got what it takes.
What we need is an effective presentation -- who, what, where, when, how and why.
You know, make them an offer they can't refuse.
What is that offer? I guarantee there is not one of us who can answer that.
But as sure as I live and breath, I believe with all my heart if we were to put our heads together we could put that effective presentation together -- and go to city hall together and put on our song and dance and get that meter increase, that inflation trigger, insurance, pension benefits, those fair and just rules and regulations I've been threatening and complaining about.
Oh my God, I'm talking issues again instead of taunting, complaining or threatening....what is this world coming to? I might have to call the Pope in Rome and tell him about this miracle!
OH, and that Mr. Weiss, please, that's my dad!
since you now have survived your first TRIAL BY FIRE (the hearings), you are officially part of the taxi world in-crowd and you may call me Wolf.
Everyone who testified, all of you who were there are in big with me - you've earned place in my heart!
For now -- govern yourselves accordingly.
Speaking of governing ourselves, Pete Engers wrote that we all need to do some growing up. I sneered at the time but he may actually have something there.
Maybe we can act more grown up if we establish a Code of Ethics for persons and associations in the organizing arena. Sort of like rules of conduct to facilitate working together, joint ventures, official positions, backing and building each other up, and so on.
Hey if a bunch of old rompin' stompin' fighting and pillaging knights could sit down t a large table and make effective decisions, why can't we? We don't even need armor or swords!
Although I think, if called upon to do so, our Honorable Commissioner could breath fire....
