The time is 2:17 PM on Thursday, DEC 1st, 2011. I don't know the details of the announcement but the rate has been released as
0.5443 per hour
or in other terms, .55 per hour as I reported yesterday. More details as they are known. Stay tuned to an ongoing and developing story.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
We Now Know The L&I Request: A Surprising Call
At about 4:00 more or less this afternoon I got an unexpected telephone call. It was from Judy Schurke, the Director of Washington State Labor & Industry. This was my first verbal contact with her. I had emailed her a number of times, and that, along with the various L&I contacts I have made in the past four weeks appears to have prompted her to call. In my letters to her I attempted to communicate the realities of the taxi business from someone who knows. My request was reasonably simple, emphazing the need for a fair and just decision. It seems to have been an effective approach. She said that a decision had been made concerning the L&I request and she wanted me to be one of first of the many interested individuals to know. As some of you might already know, the rumor was that L&I was holding firm to the much discussed amount of $1.11 per hour which translated into a request of $380.00 per month. I was greatly relieved when she said that the amount was downgraded to 55 cents per hour, just less than half of what was expected. She did acknowledge that some folks would still have problems with that but stated that this was the beginning of the process, not the end, and that L&I would be monitoring the overall effect of their decision. She also invited continued input and I believe that I and perhaps other representatives of the local indsutry could be meeting with her as soon as next week. I hope that is true. The official announcement is scheduled for tomorrow. I will keep you updated as new devleopments occur.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
New Taxi Stands & Yesterday Continued Today
Before I continue from yesterday you may want to know that the City of Seattle has announced the creation of some new late night zones (taxi stands), including one in the Pike Place Market, east side of 1st between Pike & Pine. It must be adjacent to the strip club so expect the choicest of customers! Regardless, it is great to again have some kind of stand in the area. I have been bugging the City of Seattle to put one in ever since they took the previous one out. ONLY in Seattle do they take out a stand serving possibly the most popular tourist destination in the entire state, ensuring that for the past ten years the tens of thousands of pickups at that corner were all done illegally! Doesn't that warrant a good Ha! Ha! Ha!
Back to yesterday, returning all the way to Thanksgiving when I picked up in the Queen Anne a man requiring a ride to Kirkland to, one, pick up his girlfriend and her friend, and two, find a club to dance away a Holiday evening. He was complaining about going but since a recent argument remained unresolved he felt that appeasement was the best strategy going forward, and in this case, Kirkland and the Bridal Trails neighborhood up and over Lake Washington. This ride was all about waiting, waiting for the young women to leave the Thanksgivings feast; waiting for the friend to get to change into her dancing shoes in Bellevue; then further waiting for the girlfriend on Mercer Island as she too needed a change of costume. Clearly the young Russian woman was taking advantage of her wealthy Indian (sub-continent) boyfriend, causing him to finance her friend's final night in Seattle. Eventually we made it back into Seattle proper and Capitol Hill. It was painful to witness, prompting me to admonish the girlfriend after some ill-advised remarks to the taxi driver. All turned out well as I got $115.00 including tip and a big smile and peace sign from the misbehaving Russian.
And I would be amiss not to officially thank Novin who once again sponsored his now annual Yellow Cab Thanksgiving feast though he might skip holding it again at a Mexican restaurant. I truly prefer the Iranian (Persian) chow that has been served up in the past. Pity the lamb!
And what happened on Sunday? Why, the Seahawks lost! What else can be said about a mythical species of bird! For raptors their beaks are softer than their bite.
PS----Location of New Stands
Capitol Hill---South side of E. Pike between 10th & Broadway
Fremont---North side of N. 36th between Francis N. & Dayton N.
Belltown---East side 1st between Blanchard & Bell
DT/PP Mkt---East side 1st between Pike & Pine
Pioneer Square---West side of Occidental between S. Washington & Yesler
Stands are taxi operational from 10 PM-6 AM
Back to yesterday, returning all the way to Thanksgiving when I picked up in the Queen Anne a man requiring a ride to Kirkland to, one, pick up his girlfriend and her friend, and two, find a club to dance away a Holiday evening. He was complaining about going but since a recent argument remained unresolved he felt that appeasement was the best strategy going forward, and in this case, Kirkland and the Bridal Trails neighborhood up and over Lake Washington. This ride was all about waiting, waiting for the young women to leave the Thanksgivings feast; waiting for the friend to get to change into her dancing shoes in Bellevue; then further waiting for the girlfriend on Mercer Island as she too needed a change of costume. Clearly the young Russian woman was taking advantage of her wealthy Indian (sub-continent) boyfriend, causing him to finance her friend's final night in Seattle. Eventually we made it back into Seattle proper and Capitol Hill. It was painful to witness, prompting me to admonish the girlfriend after some ill-advised remarks to the taxi driver. All turned out well as I got $115.00 including tip and a big smile and peace sign from the misbehaving Russian.
And I would be amiss not to officially thank Novin who once again sponsored his now annual Yellow Cab Thanksgiving feast though he might skip holding it again at a Mexican restaurant. I truly prefer the Iranian (Persian) chow that has been served up in the past. Pity the lamb!
And what happened on Sunday? Why, the Seahawks lost! What else can be said about a mythical species of bird! For raptors their beaks are softer than their bite.
PS----Location of New Stands
Capitol Hill---South side of E. Pike between 10th & Broadway
Fremont---North side of N. 36th between Francis N. & Dayton N.
Belltown---East side 1st between Blanchard & Bell
DT/PP Mkt---East side 1st between Pike & Pine
Pioneer Square---West side of Occidental between S. Washington & Yesler
Stands are taxi operational from 10 PM-6 AM
Monday, November 28, 2011
What Did I Write Down & Where?
There's nothing like taxi driving to create a blank slate, meaning the average human mind after too many hours beneath the top light. Yesterday I found this wonderful quote and immediately wrote it down thinking it would make a great title for today's blog. Now sitting here ready to write I can not remember anything except I wrote something down. Where it came from, be it a radio conversation or written article I couldn't tell you. And this is someone, me, with the legendary memory. Ah yes, the well-known taxi lobotomy eliminating all remaining grey cells. Do I remember anything concerning the just past weekend? Maybe.
Taxi is a series of interconnected moments. Here are a few of them from this just past Thanksgiving & Saturday & Sunday.
----Why do I still have to remind myself not to pick up young, Caucasian men after a football game? Every time I break my golden rules I get burned. How many times do I require a lesson before it is fundamentally learned? Obviously too many for this weak-brained individual.
After the interstate rivalry game, the Apple Cup, there were more available passengers than taxis. Given that it was held at the Seahawk Stadium, the overflow branched out into Chinatown and adjacent areas of the greater southern end of downtown. Though there were bells waiting in the "Medical" (zone 230), I passed through and instead picked up three young men at corner the of 6th S. & S. Jackson. Two guys entered and the eventual troublemaker called to his approaching buddy, "Hey Fatty, hurry up!"
I backed up and turned around, telling them that this was the shortest route to the freeway, given all the traffic on 4th Avenue. One thing you quickly notice about a__holes: they never listen to anything you say. Why? Because you the driver are not really there, not in any real terms. You are part of the car, part of a machine constructed with inanimate parts, not a real and actual human being. This explains what happened over a span of perhaps seven blocks.
They were heading to the Duchess Tavern, a well-known UW Husky hangout, a place I avoid given the usual drunken patrons minus any expected civility. University of Washington appears in part to create a particular kind of monster: privileged and unkind, minus a heart, minus a mind! It appears three of these creatures had just entered my taxi. Like I just said, I do know better!
As we were approaching the intersection of 9th & James, the left turn arrow turned red and I continued forward because a left turn on Cherry will also take you to the north-bound ramp for the freeway. The gentleman of the "Fatty" comment began questioning my decision and I responded less than favorably. As we turned onto Cherry I said now that they could be helpful by deciding whether they would like to approach the Duchess by either NE 50th or the Montlake Blvd. As I know all of the routes, I sometimes ask if one is preferred over the other. These wonderful human beings then decided that what I was really saying was that I didn't know the name or the existence of the Interstate system . That is when I had to tell them that it was time to find someone who did. As they exited the taxi the usual insults inferring that I was a typical failed member of the species who could only drive taxi and that type of thing were hurled. This by the way is predictable. Again, the taxi dalit (untouchable) syndrome.
And upon their exit I accepted a Medical bell and found myself taking a DSHS flat rate customer to Federal Way to the tune of $71.00 which just turned out to be my best fare of the weekend. Often it occurs that when once again I am bopped by ignorance the Good Taxi Gods in their benign wisdom assuage the wound. Call it a kind of instant reciprocity. That it happens so often is no longer a surprise. Such are the mysterious metaphysics of taxi!
To be continued tomorrow.
Taxi is a series of interconnected moments. Here are a few of them from this just past Thanksgiving & Saturday & Sunday.
----Why do I still have to remind myself not to pick up young, Caucasian men after a football game? Every time I break my golden rules I get burned. How many times do I require a lesson before it is fundamentally learned? Obviously too many for this weak-brained individual.
After the interstate rivalry game, the Apple Cup, there were more available passengers than taxis. Given that it was held at the Seahawk Stadium, the overflow branched out into Chinatown and adjacent areas of the greater southern end of downtown. Though there were bells waiting in the "Medical" (zone 230), I passed through and instead picked up three young men at corner the of 6th S. & S. Jackson. Two guys entered and the eventual troublemaker called to his approaching buddy, "Hey Fatty, hurry up!"
I backed up and turned around, telling them that this was the shortest route to the freeway, given all the traffic on 4th Avenue. One thing you quickly notice about a__holes: they never listen to anything you say. Why? Because you the driver are not really there, not in any real terms. You are part of the car, part of a machine constructed with inanimate parts, not a real and actual human being. This explains what happened over a span of perhaps seven blocks.
They were heading to the Duchess Tavern, a well-known UW Husky hangout, a place I avoid given the usual drunken patrons minus any expected civility. University of Washington appears in part to create a particular kind of monster: privileged and unkind, minus a heart, minus a mind! It appears three of these creatures had just entered my taxi. Like I just said, I do know better!
As we were approaching the intersection of 9th & James, the left turn arrow turned red and I continued forward because a left turn on Cherry will also take you to the north-bound ramp for the freeway. The gentleman of the "Fatty" comment began questioning my decision and I responded less than favorably. As we turned onto Cherry I said now that they could be helpful by deciding whether they would like to approach the Duchess by either NE 50th or the Montlake Blvd. As I know all of the routes, I sometimes ask if one is preferred over the other. These wonderful human beings then decided that what I was really saying was that I didn't know the name or the existence of the Interstate system . That is when I had to tell them that it was time to find someone who did. As they exited the taxi the usual insults inferring that I was a typical failed member of the species who could only drive taxi and that type of thing were hurled. This by the way is predictable. Again, the taxi dalit (untouchable) syndrome.
And upon their exit I accepted a Medical bell and found myself taking a DSHS flat rate customer to Federal Way to the tune of $71.00 which just turned out to be my best fare of the weekend. Often it occurs that when once again I am bopped by ignorance the Good Taxi Gods in their benign wisdom assuage the wound. Call it a kind of instant reciprocity. That it happens so often is no longer a surprise. Such are the mysterious metaphysics of taxi!
To be continued tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Governor Contact Info & Commission Report
As I have said, it is imperative that all you Seattle & King County taxi drivers contact Governor Christine Gregoire and tell her you are not interested in Labor & Industry saving you by killing you, all those good & kind bureaucratic parents unintentionally suffocating the taxi baby, because they hear the infant wailing! and our diapers must need changing. No, I don't think so! Bitter is the moment and worse is the outcome if we don't intervene.
I could not find the governor's listed email address so I suggest you do what I did, google Governor State of Washington, connecting with her website and emailing her from there. It works!
To leave a message call 360-902-4111
Mailing address is POB 40002, Olympia, WA 98504-0002
but since L&I will be signing on November 30th whatever they come up with I suggest you either call or email or both! The quicker the better!
Commission Natives Are Restless
Is the Seattle & King County Taxi Advisory a complete joke and failure? Well, yes and no. At our six month juncture some are recognizing that we have to get serious because we are a mere six months away from filing our first annual report and clearly we have accomplished nothing at all. Today we discussed an arcane point for almost two hours. Part of the problem is that the commission was intentionally structured to have non-taxi members providing input on a subject they know nothing about. I have already commented upon this in past postings so I will not be repetitive. The blame for the situation falls squarely upon the folks who engineered a predictable failure, and further compounding the error by choosing less-than-qualified members. One taxi member has failed to show up for any of the meetings. And no replacement is on the horizon. Maybe we can get Texas Governor Rick Perry to come by and lead us in a prayer circle seeking divine intervention. Or am I just being cynical?!
And a Quick Clarification
Pertaining to a reference yesterday about dalits rising from sewers relates to the real life situation of folks caught in the web of India's caste system. There is an actual branch of dalits, or more commonly known as untouchables, whose sole purpose from birth to death is to swim in the sewers of the major cities and keep the sewage system unclogged and flowing. And can you believe other higher caste members attempt to stop them from bathing afterwards? Makes taxi a pretty picture but there are at times unfortunate parallels. But truly, most of my passengers are wonderful. Though we all know about the few bad apples spoiling the taxi barrel. Such is life in the erzatz city.
I could not find the governor's listed email address so I suggest you do what I did, google Governor State of Washington, connecting with her website and emailing her from there. It works!
To leave a message call 360-902-4111
Mailing address is POB 40002, Olympia, WA 98504-0002
but since L&I will be signing on November 30th whatever they come up with I suggest you either call or email or both! The quicker the better!
Commission Natives Are Restless
Is the Seattle & King County Taxi Advisory a complete joke and failure? Well, yes and no. At our six month juncture some are recognizing that we have to get serious because we are a mere six months away from filing our first annual report and clearly we have accomplished nothing at all. Today we discussed an arcane point for almost two hours. Part of the problem is that the commission was intentionally structured to have non-taxi members providing input on a subject they know nothing about. I have already commented upon this in past postings so I will not be repetitive. The blame for the situation falls squarely upon the folks who engineered a predictable failure, and further compounding the error by choosing less-than-qualified members. One taxi member has failed to show up for any of the meetings. And no replacement is on the horizon. Maybe we can get Texas Governor Rick Perry to come by and lead us in a prayer circle seeking divine intervention. Or am I just being cynical?!
And a Quick Clarification
Pertaining to a reference yesterday about dalits rising from sewers relates to the real life situation of folks caught in the web of India's caste system. There is an actual branch of dalits, or more commonly known as untouchables, whose sole purpose from birth to death is to swim in the sewers of the major cities and keep the sewage system unclogged and flowing. And can you believe other higher caste members attempt to stop them from bathing afterwards? Makes taxi a pretty picture but there are at times unfortunate parallels. But truly, most of my passengers are wonderful. Though we all know about the few bad apples spoiling the taxi barrel. Such is life in the erzatz city.
Monday, November 21, 2011
New Routes & I Should Emulate Chekhov?
One thing you discover quickly driving taxi is that your passengers (or let's say an unfortunate minority) feel the freedom to say anything they choose, providing you with all kinds of unwanted advice and opinion. One might say that their motivation is totally benign, feeling that since they know more than you they are assisting in your higher education. It is their version of charity to the unwashed. Maybe it is somehow tax deductible. How shocked they become when their unsolicited advise and kindness is rejected, confirming their worse suspicions. How unappreciative! And I must admit that I for one fall into the that snotty category. Many years ago an eighth grade teacher wrote on my report card that "Joe thinks he is smart. He isn't. He's lazy." Just shows that I have never learned that vital lesson, a rotten non-egghead to the bitter taxi end.
How simple is simple when it is too simple? The guy on the 300 block of Bellevue East, after making me wait 7 minutes marooned on the busy street, gets in with the greeting of how I am going to get him to the chain Italian restaurant at the corner of 9th North and Broad. I know instantaneously he is the "overseer type" and feels it is beneficial instructing me with the sweet lash of his whip. My usual response is to say that he (and anyone else sharing his attitude) is attempting to invent new streets and routes, the rationale being that Denny Way has been there nearly forever and really, do you truly imagine I don't know the 3/4 of a mile to your destination? I am assuming that he was the manager and like a Blue Heeler, can not stop his instinctive herding. Not appreciating my response, he asked to get out, saying he was going to call and complain on the taxi hot-line number. I asked him if there was a number where I could place a complaint concerning him. He didn't like that either, not expecting the dalit (untouchable) to rise out of the sewer. I would have been glad to take the five dollar fare and be done with it. But no, blood had to be spilled, the driver had to be insulted, assuming this must be his daily credo, bullying the unworthy who must be made whole. One must understand that if everyone to you is a dog to be kicked you are occasionally going to be bitten. Everyone knows that, don't they? Or if they don't, torn trousers will be the standard dress of the day. Didn't he see my snarling teeth?
West Seattle to Top Hat
These two guys were smart and one decided that I needed instruction. I don't believe I mentioned that I write but this one particular gentleman started going on about Chekhov and that I should read one of his short stories, wait six months and see if I can recreate his style. I said why would I want to do that? I told him that if he was in my writing class he would be tossed out on his ear. It reminded me that after reading a bunch of Charles Bukowski I wrote a poem about winning at the race track, getting roaring drunk then pummelling a whore all night long in a skid row hotel. My wife was shocked but hey I said, you know this is fiction. So much for misplaced emulation! And so much for taxi advise. I think I already know the roadway and the direction taken. And if I don't, I know there will always be a benevolent sage ready and eager to instruct me.
How simple is simple when it is too simple? The guy on the 300 block of Bellevue East, after making me wait 7 minutes marooned on the busy street, gets in with the greeting of how I am going to get him to the chain Italian restaurant at the corner of 9th North and Broad. I know instantaneously he is the "overseer type" and feels it is beneficial instructing me with the sweet lash of his whip. My usual response is to say that he (and anyone else sharing his attitude) is attempting to invent new streets and routes, the rationale being that Denny Way has been there nearly forever and really, do you truly imagine I don't know the 3/4 of a mile to your destination? I am assuming that he was the manager and like a Blue Heeler, can not stop his instinctive herding. Not appreciating my response, he asked to get out, saying he was going to call and complain on the taxi hot-line number. I asked him if there was a number where I could place a complaint concerning him. He didn't like that either, not expecting the dalit (untouchable) to rise out of the sewer. I would have been glad to take the five dollar fare and be done with it. But no, blood had to be spilled, the driver had to be insulted, assuming this must be his daily credo, bullying the unworthy who must be made whole. One must understand that if everyone to you is a dog to be kicked you are occasionally going to be bitten. Everyone knows that, don't they? Or if they don't, torn trousers will be the standard dress of the day. Didn't he see my snarling teeth?
West Seattle to Top Hat
These two guys were smart and one decided that I needed instruction. I don't believe I mentioned that I write but this one particular gentleman started going on about Chekhov and that I should read one of his short stories, wait six months and see if I can recreate his style. I said why would I want to do that? I told him that if he was in my writing class he would be tossed out on his ear. It reminded me that after reading a bunch of Charles Bukowski I wrote a poem about winning at the race track, getting roaring drunk then pummelling a whore all night long in a skid row hotel. My wife was shocked but hey I said, you know this is fiction. So much for misplaced emulation! And so much for taxi advise. I think I already know the roadway and the direction taken. And if I don't, I know there will always be a benevolent sage ready and eager to instruct me.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Call the Governor
Rumor has it, or is it factual, that two separate proposals originating from L&I have been sent to the governor for her inspection. Now there is much suspicion concerning what they are or not. Who knows? At times it appeared that commonsense would prevail but perhaps not. So now, meaning the next 3-4 days is the time to contact the governor and tell her that low is what we want and low is all we will accept. Email, folks, email and also leave telephone messages. Don't just complain and act helpless. Get with it before you are again stepped on! This might be another fight similar to our battle with King County. Are you ready to do battle? Stay tuned.
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