Taxi Potpourri: As Spring Nears, Its Unfortunately Filled With Coronavirus Fears

Whether the panic concerning the CONVID-19 virus outbreak is justified, it is certainly now part of local conversation and behavior, especially since a Kirkland, Washington nursing home became an unfortunate epicenter of the novel corona virus, killing a large number of elderly residents, with the Washington State death toll due to the outbreak standing now at 22.  How this all ends globally is anyone's guess but it appears that Seattle-area residents will be well supplied with toilet paper as panic buying continues, my last customer yesterday telling me that at her grocery store, (she's a white collar employee at the local Metropolitan Markets), its been like a "Thanksgiving Day" holiday rush, people flooding the stores stocking up upon everything they can think of.  She also said that no one is buying that most popular brand of Mexican beer, Corona.  That makes about much sense as avoiding eating in Chinese restaurants, something Seattle locals are also doing. Also Costco, that wholesale marketer, recorded record February sales, with crazed shoppers buying buckets of hand sanitizers.  Someone on the worldwide web suggested drinking bleach.  Great idea, don't you think, especially if you are not thinking. 

I attribute all this behavior in part to Seattle's inherent cautious nature, the virus outbreak touching a panicked cord. I have N-95 masks bought for my Mexico trip but I have yet to use one. But it is true that a number of cabbies in Asian countries have contracted the virus in Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore.  The mother-in-law of a Japanese cabbie died from the virus, so obviously it is a serious matter.  Cab business in Seattle is down, making it even harder than it was previously to make the usual expected money.  There is talk that the upcoming Alaska cruise ship will be greatly impacted, or worse, cancelled completely.  All one can hope is that the virus subsides and life returns to some kind of normal.  An idle hope perhaps but one I hope comes true. For more info, the Federal government has a website you can link to, coronavirus.gov

Taxi Potpourri: Last Wednesday's Meeting with City & County Licensing Officials 

A pleasant and cordial meeting it was, talking about tablet placement, taxi association protocol and the City of Bellevue's taxicab ticketing policy.  I was even asked what I would like to see change, with another opportunity to talk further this week.  I did say it would be helpful to have dual (City & County) plates on all the cabs, along with having WA ST Exempt license plates.  Our talk lasted one hour and twenty minutes.  It was productive.  What I found very interesting, two days later, was the City of Seattle's cancelling of the ongoing meter testing until May.  That our conversation prompted that delay I don't know, but it is welcome, allowing any confusion with new policies to be crystal clear upon May's arrival.

He remembered me

Last week I took some folks home to Renton.  Pleasing me, how many years ago I don't know, was the male passenger thanking me once again for picking him up one evening after being passed by a multitude of cabbies.  "I was waving a 20 dollar bill but no one would stop!"  But I did and he never forgot.  When I told "she-who-can't-be-named" she responded "You are a good fellow."  While that occasionally might be true, all I was doing, and still do, was providing rides to those who need them, and nothing else.  Isn't that the cabbie's task?  Yes, yes and yes!

The New Yorker December 30th, 2019 "Cartoon Takeover" issue

Honestly, I find most of the cartoons in the New Yorker tedious, and a magazine devoted to them isn't something I am attracted to but there is a "cabbie cartoon" I felt worth mentioning, only because it reflects the "general attitude" towards cabbies and taxi driving.  This issue features favorite cartoons chosen by the "well known," and the taxi cartoon was selected by Larry David, a co-creator, with Jerry Seinfeld, of the "Seinfeld" TV series, something I watched one time only, not finding it very compelling or funny. But given I pine for the original Twilight Zone episodes, it is no surprise I am not interested in comedic-generated reality.

The taxi cartoon was originally published in the May 22, 1971 issue.  It features a typical white cabbie of the era driving what might be a Checker Marathon.  The cartoon caption is shown as a sign the cabbie placed in the back seat reading, in capital letters:

FOR AN INFORMATIVE RIDE BE SURE TO ASK YOUR DRIVER ABOUT THE MAYOR---CRIME---TRAFFIC---MINORITY GROUPS---THE YOUNG---HOUSING---AND THE DETERIORATION OF LIFE IN GENERAL.

I don't find it funny, and especially dislike the reference to "minority groups," implying the cabbie's innate bigotry.

Bellevue Court Hearing April 10th

I received my court date for my City of Bellevue parking ticket.  By the way, King County folks plan on talking to Bellevue officials about their ticketing of cabs and other for-hire vehicles. Nobody believes that this can be a real law.  I know how they feel.  Being the nice guy I am, I plan on giving the Bellevue mayor, the Bellevue Police Chief and the Bellevue official who said they don't have any cab stands, the opportunity to explain to the court the details and justification for their unusual ticketing policies, once I figure out how the subpoena process works.  I can only hope I can convince some local reporters to attend this judicial circus.  It should be entertaining if not fun.

Sea-Tac Cabbies Seeking Relief

Those good folks at Teamsters 117 sent a letter to the Port of Seattle requesting that they temporality  suspend their $6.00 per fare gate fee.  One Sea-Tac cabbie told me he is now averaging 3-4 rides a shift since the virus panic has taken hold.  When you start subtracting $6.00 from each fare, it doesn't add up to much.  This also shows that the Port of Seattle is stealing from all those cabbies, caring little to nothing whether they make a living or not, it far more important to keep upgrading the airport for all those billion-dollar airline companies.

Lassoed on 1st Avenue

On my way to a package pickup today, I suddenly found my cab tied up by an errant rope dangling from a very tall building under construction near the corner of 1st and Bell.  To say that was unique is an understatement.  I handed the end of rope back to a construction worker who had been chasing my cab.  It's a taxi rodeo, is what it is!

Seattle Bus Only Lane Cameras on their way

Has anybody noticed that Seattle's exclusive bus only lanes are only occupied 10-20 % of the time, leaving them unoccupied most of the 24 hour day?  While true, that isn't stopping "liberal city" Seattle from installing cameras to catch all us criminals from using an empty lane when the streets are congested up the yin-yang!  Often I tell my passengers that "Seattle is a stupid city!" and you know, it's god damn true!

I keep telling Puget Sound Dispatch that Manila.........

Yes, I do, I keep leaving messages for the PSD GM saying continued use of the Philippines is nonsensical, that their overall performance is outrageous.  Is anyone listening?  Does anyone care? Understand, this isn't personal.  They could be based in Iceland for all I care.  All I or any other cabbie desires is professional dispatching. The calls could be dispatched from the moon, it not mattering whatsoever as long as the Moonies knew what they are doing.  But aren't the Moonies based in South Korea?  Sorry for the confusion!

Dirty Shirt Collars

After doing a post-Mexico clothes wash, I noticed that shirts worn after a few hours in the cab were far dirtier than shirts worn for 2-3 days in Mexico, Seattle shirt cuffs and collars soiled and black with grime.  And I am breathing this stuff in!  Awful!