Puget Sound Dispatch Provides MV An One-Month Notice
As I have suggested, MV's, (Metro Access Van (and taxi) service provider), arrogance knows no bounds, and proved it recently by informing Puget Sound Dispatch (Seattle Yellow Cab) they owed MV over $45,000 in violations accrued by Yellow cabbies. There were many problems with MV's calculations, chiefly being that since we are independent operators, PSD has no legal control over our actions; and that the violations stated were petty, fining drivers for delivering the passenger "too early" to their destination and other such crimes not worthy of mention. And rightfully, given MV's nonsensical position, PSD gave MV an one-month notice terminating the contract.
This is a case of MV pushing too hard while not understanding (or caring) about taxi industry dynamics. How this standoff ends is unknown but I won't be surprised if MV backs down because, as I noted last week, there is no other provider out there that can serve MV client needs. As is always the case, who ultimately suffers from this argument? None other than MV's clients, lashed by MV incompetence, management minus heart and mind.
More Government Welfare for Uber & Lyft Operators: HB 2076
Uber and Lyft have struck a "Devil's Bargain" with the so called Uber/Lyft Drivers Union, Teamsters Local 117 and the State of Washington, saying, "We agree to these new conditions, as long as the drivers are never recognized as OUR employees." As I write, the new bill awaits Governor Inslee's signature, providing Uber and Lyft drivers benefits unheard of in the taxi industry. These include a statewide minimum wage, sick leave, unemployment, paid medical leave and other long term benefits. There will also be something established that is called the "Driver's Resource Center" that will referee disputes. Maybe it will also have hot tubs to soak their weary heads.
While this might be all well and good for them, where in the bill does it mention cab driver's concerns and welfare? The answer is an obvious no, cab industry needs and wants as usual, completely ignored, regulators acting like it doesn't exist. And do we exist for all those in government making rules and laws protecting the very same people who nearly killed the taxi industry nationwide?
Only for a few seconds in a given year and nothing beyond that. We only exist when it is time to pay for our totally useless annual state licenses and business taxes. After that, we are dead meat, festered by municipal, county and state neglect. This is our current reality, and remaining it appears, as an official, and perhaps final and permanent state of affairs.
No Hopelink After 6:00 PM
There is serous crisis brewing and it appears I am the only one sounding the alarm. Because Hopelink will not work with PSD's (Yellow Cab Seattle) Cebu-based dispatch; and because Farwest Taxi turns off its dispatch in the evening, no one is left to pick up the many clients waiting to get home from area hospitals. If the hospital decides not to pay for the transportation, their patient either has to walk home or hope there is a bus at three in the morning. I keep telling everyone this is true, and keep asking just what are you going to do about it? I have been yelling now for months, and as usual, it is the usual "nothing, nothing, nothing" in response.
It is irresponsible. It is immoral. It is cruel. Does anyone truly care what happens to these folks, the "New American Dalits?" The answer is HA HA HA! not at all!
A Haiku While Walking Along an Urban Trail, North Seattle, Early March
delicate petals
speaking white---surprising me
this early evening.
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