Disgusting Police Bias
I have been back in Seattle since February 6th, a Tuesday but the following day began exhibiting sign of some kind of serious influenza/viral infection. The following Monday, soon after a clinical appointment where I was refused medication, I developed a non-stop cough along with other symptoms leaving me with a physical state I have never before experienced: I thought I was going to die. Understanding I needed instantaneous relief, I consulted Dr. Wang, the most effective (and most expensive) acupuncturist and Chinese medicine physician I know of. Though not licensed to practice "western" medicine in the USA, he has a medical degree from Chinese, effectively utilizing both schools of knowledge. If possible, I wanted to avoid hospitalization, though sometimes infernal sources of even worse infections. Thankfully, after a couple of treatments, and drinking many foul-tasting cups of herbal medicine, I appear to be on the mend, thus allowing me to even begin writing again. Such misery I have never been acquainted with. It was, and continued to be, scary. I wouldn't wish this illness on anyone save a politician, especially one or two now prominent upon the national and international stage. Given their ages, they might not survive, their departures not troubling me in the least.
The ongoing investigation of the Tukwila/SouthCenter cabbie murder dating from January 14 has gotten me thinking about the overall treatment of taxi drivers here in the United States. Though a suspect has been found, as of this date, no charges have been filed. Much more on this later but one fact I soon discovered about driving taxi way back in Sept 1987 is that cabbies were considered worthless. Exchanging my weekday role of psychiatric case manager to weekend cabbie told me everything I didn't want to know concerning societal attitudes. Not did I suddenly have less value, worse, I was expendable. Having no experience perviously with the police, other than being the sole staff member working at psychiatric half-way houses, I was shocked at the treatment received, getting pulled over for nothing whatsoever, and then, after stupidly defending myself, issued tickets for contrived and made-up violations. It was a revelation never forgotten. The police hated me and hated all my fellow cabbies. Why was this true? What was this bias all about?
When punishment is your goal, someone must be punished, and that someone is usually considered diminished or of lesser value, be you a black teenager or a criminal cabbie. Why criminal? Because everyone knows the cab driver is willing to do anything for a dollar while breaking every traffic rule in the hunt for that dollar. You know and I know that's true. The police certainly do, explaining why it was a constant battle to maintain your driving license, you the "toplight evil" menacing society.
Media bias in America is less clear. While at times making efforts to thoroughly cover a particular taxi subject, overall indifference is what I have seen and experienced. Once the initial sensation of a cabbie murder is over, coverage rarely continued, the details of where, how and why losing tenor. Cab drivers are not important cultural actors unless you are someone like the composer Philip Glass, graduating from the cab to the symphony hall. If my newest book takes off, I assure you that much commentary will be as to why I drove taxi when "look how well he writes." It is predicable.
Tukwila Cabbie Murder Update
It has been 37 days since Olympic RediCab driver Nicholas Hokema was found dead, his cab missing, with his body dumped upon the parking lot of Tukwila's SouthCenter Mall. It took police authorities two weeks but they found both cab and the probable murderer in the Eastside city of Richmond, Washington. The suspect is a US Army deserter, Army Specialist Jonathan Kang Lee, and now convicted child molester. Lee had been charged with the rape of two underage children, ages 6 and 7; and having skipped his trial, was sentenced, in absentia, to 64 years in prison. The mystery now is who is holding him in custody, the US Army or the Richmond Police? As from the start of this case, there has been very little information issued or known.
RediCab emailed to tell me that Lee drove off JBL/Fort Lewis base on January 14th. Nothing beyond that is known. No one is telling how he met up with Hokema. When new information is provided, I will repeat it here. There is a gofundme account for Nick. I donated $100.00. The account is as follows: http://gofundme/f/nick-hokema
It is very important that we in the industry support our fallen comrades. How many actual murderers did I have sitting behind me during my 35 plus years driving cab? More, I am sure, than I want to think. Cab driving is a deadly profession, Nick's death yet another sorry expression of that fact.
Long Cab Ride
While I never got the "grand slam" of cab rides, when recently in Ajijic, Mexico, I was told of one. He was a very lucky fellow. A few years back, a cabbie working in the Canadian NW Territories city of Yellowknife, drove someone round-trip from Yellowknife to Seattle and back again. The passenger got in, told the driver we are "picking up a case of liquor" and off they went. That's a distance of 1,542 miles. Upon arrival, they stayed a week, then back up they went, along with more booze. I believe it. I have had shorter versions. Longest ride I serviced was 215 miles. This ride was over 3000 miles. My informant did not know how much the cabbie got paid. I would like to know.
Lunar New Year Lament
A Shanghai, China cabbie was featured about money making during the new "Year of the Dragon" celebrations. Business was down, he would not be eating like be would like, and Shanghai was swamped with people coming in from the countryside working China's versions of Uber and Lyft. Different country, old story.
Same Story in Cancun, Mexico
Two Cancun medallion cabbies were arrested after attacking an SUV filled with American tourists, scattering their luggage on the roadway. The tourists were unhappy.
Friday I am selling my Yellow Kia
I am now completely out of the people transportation business. Instead give me rats, cats and dogs. The car I used to drive taxi a bit, and now Uber, will be sold. Time to say goodbye to all that.
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