It's not that "she-who-can't-be-named" is actually in the cab with me but sometimes she feels like she is, and wants me to get the hell out of it, "It is killing you!" and of course she is right, it ain't healthy for mind, body and soul! Taxi is no fun, no pun and soon I will be done.
Seattle Times Article About Sea-Tac Cabbies
In a Monday, 02/13/2023 article reported by Lauren Girgus, it stated that yet again Sea-Tac based cabbies are unhappy with their treatment by the Port of Seattle, the cab drivers saying that Port staff are not listening or heeding their concerns. What is different about this renewal of contract negotiation is that the cabbies are representing themselves as individuals, and not, as in the past, as part of some greater taxi association . While one could say that alleged abuses by Seattle Yellow Cab, and later, Eastside for Hire, helped create the situation, it appears to be nothing than the old Port of Seattle story of caring little to nothing about the cabs working Sea-Tac. First they let unlimited numbers of Ubers into the airport. And now Port staff have wanted to increase the fee cabbies must pay after each pickup, regardless of fare destination. It hasn't been, and isn't nice, the Port of Seattle treating the airport cabbies like cash cows on the way to the slaughter house; and who cares, does anyone really care? The answer, as I keep saying in relation to taxis, is obvious.
An update to the article is that I was told that yesterday Port of Seattle has renewed a five-year agreement to keep the taxi alignment the way it is, meaning nothing much will be changing unless the cabbies go on strike or take some other kind of labor action. I was reminded by someone that what we are seeing is a return to the past, which back in 1987 was a colorful collection of small companies and individual owners working the airport. But what is changed is how much money the cabbies have to pay to keep the Port of Seattle happy, meaning the power dynamic remains firmly entrenched in Sea-Tac's corner, just the way they want it. And of course, they got it!
Tomorrow, A Taxi Dinosaur Retires
After how many years working the taxi industry, fifty or more wearing various hats, Jerry DeFoi is retiring from the cab world and moving with his girlfriend to a big house near the Maryland/West Virginia border. I say good for him but his steady voice will be missed in this too shaky of an industry. His experience and commonsense approach will be noticeably absent, Jerry a dinosaur minus the roar.
Syncretism and the Successful Cabbie
While the terms syncretic and syncretism are usually consigned to the theological, the definition is the amalgamation of various thoughts and approaches, and if Taxi isn't a religion with an assortment of totems and gods, then I have been blasphemous all these many years, praying to imaginary idols not worthy of my many sacrifices made upon the bloody altar that is Taxi. I have tired to tie everything I have known and applied it to the craft but ultimately syncretic I will let the minor Gods decide. All Hail the Caesar that's our invisible emperor!
I was going to comment about Yellow's Cebu City-based Dispatch
Yes, but I have decided to skip it after I have found out the call-takers are all living in dormitories and making something like $7.88 a day or maybe $360.00 per month. No wonder is all I will say. God damn!
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