Tampa Taxi Shots

United Cab Christmas Dinner

For the second year in a row, Rob Searcy has hosted a massive Christmas dinner. There was turkey, ham, pasta, egg plant, stuffing, salad, cake, fruit and on and on. For dri ers that have been living off gas station food, this was great. I even won a $50 gift certificate, and took a plate home. HOW COOL IS THAT!

Ran into Bob last night

Many long term drivers may know Bob. He used to work only days and only in the Gandy area of Tampa. He switched to nights when the economy went bad in 2008; he has stayed on nights since.  He showed up last night at the Britton Plazza stand as he was waiting for an airport call (Yellow cab got much of our business when our management fucked up last year in thier very shitty atempt to install this nuew dispatch system that drove most drivers to poverty and desperation). 

Bob says he pays more in stand dues but he believes he has a better chance of making money where he is at. If it works, stay with it. He was fired from United Cab when he had too many wrecks. He always seems to be in a good mood...kind of a take it go lucky guy. 

Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - and Da' Quan Bowers

I saw many people wearing throwback Buccaneer orange still going into the stadium after the kickoff. Today has been good and I have taken many people to the stadium. I told the fans from Carolina that I had no confidence in the Tampa Bay bucs. Our defense is just to easy for other teams to run on. We are getting torched, and I see no reason to believe this trend will correct itself. 

You can say we are young and our front four is still learning. I have heard Da' Quan Bowers is making some plays and sacks. This is the kind of effort we need out of this guy who was projected to go in the first round, as a top pick. It is hard to find any information or photos on this guy. Most of it is about his carrier at Clemson. His play with the Bucs has been limited at best.

Still, Carolina is moving the ball at will and is ahead 21-9, at this point. Cam Newton is having his way with us. I know that would happen. 

Anyway, home games are good for cab drivers. We would get more action if the team was playing better.

Tampa Bay Economy Recovering

The economy in Tampa seems to be making a comeback, at least the tourist economy. There has been an improvement that is noticeable. Events and conventions seemed to be lined up well into the spring. These are all good signals. In 2008 when the economy collapsed there was no hope. There were no good days; all days were bad. Hope was gone; the suffering was on. I mean that. The tourist economy reached a flat line and it was going to take years to recover. 

Weekends are now rocking and rolling. The expansion of the cruise industry has been a benefit for us. Tourist are now calling United Cab from many hotels for rides to the port. This is something they were not doing in the last three years. Multiple trips on Saturday and Sunday can be expected. 

Now that our GPS dispatch system is working well, we are getting our regular riders back. The business people that use us to go to the airport in the early mornings are coming back. They had left us last year. Now, when they call for a cab, one shows up. 

I talk to people that work in the hotels and they say advance bookings are way up and they are full through March. Major conventions are booking now through the Republican National Convention in August 2012. 

I am knocking on wood becasue I may now get my life back and stop living like life was on hold.

A Drunk and a Bad Tampa Cop

The alley where it happened

I got what we call a 'TPD' call this morning around 4:45 am. called in by operator 49. I hate these calls; they are mostly trouble. What a TPD call is when the police decide they are not going to arrest someone and they turn their problem over to the taxi driver. Things can go downhill quick. Often, the fare has no money. That is why you must get the money up front with the cop watching.  It is not unusual for them to go to an ATM, so make sure to go to the nearest one. 

The guy this morning was driving an SUV and had been pulled over behind the AT&T store at Dale Mabry and Henderson. The guy was very drunk but for some reason the cop was not going to arrest him. That really pissed me off. I have  often received tickets because my tire was two inches in the wrong direction or I was going ten MPH over the speed limit as I tried to keep a drunk from throwing up in the back seat. These cops HAD NO PROBLEM in giving me a ticket. They cost me money, time and inconvenienced me. I resent what they have done to me. 

I believe this guy was somebody of power and the blond haired, muscular cop was cutting him a break. That is just wrong. I have no real idea, however, how they decide to give anyone a break. 

I took the guy to the bank and he got forty bucks (which he gave me as a tip). I then, took him back to his car, as he requested. The cop was gone. He said he was going to call his girlfriend to come and get him. I doubt that. I left him there. 

I should not, and will not do work for the Tampa Police Department. If this guy subsequently killed someone, it would be the blond cops ass not mine.

Will Gas Prices Go Lower

Citrus Park 7-11 on Sunday morning at sunrise

Many people don't know that taxi drivers have to buy their own gas. When prices are high, that cuts into our income. Six months ago it was about $3.80 a gallon. I hear that it may skyrocket because oil is traded in dollars because it is the worlds default currency. If that changes, or the dollar devalues, cab drivers are screwed. 

The price of gas can really suck when you roll five miles for a fare and it goes three blocks. You burned more in gas then collected on the fare. That is part of the cab business they say. Just stay out of poor areas and this less lickely to happen (poor people often don't tip). 

Keven White Is no Santo Trafficante Jr.

Keven White once referred to himself as part of Tampa's "Black Mafia." Unfortunately, he had a few things backwards. He should 0f modeled himself after the Tampa Don himself - Santo Trafficante Jr.

The Trafficante family ruled the underworld in Tampa Bay for decades. The thing that set him apart from White was that Santo was known in mob parlance as "The Bank." He was the juice. People had to come to him to fulfill their needs. Keven White was dependent on others...bad mistake.

In 1959 the Feds brought Santo Trafficante jr up on federal corruption and illegal gambling charges stemming from a vast bolita operation throughout Florida. They had, what seemed, an airtight case. They had tape recordings of Trafficante offering payoffs to cops. They had a film of him giving money to law enforcement. How could they not get a conviction?

Does this sound familiar? it does, but Keven White did it backwards. He was the one receiving the money. That meant he was needy.

Trafficanate was not convicted in court; Keven White was convicted. White had no juice. Trafficante had the juice.

When you are the "Bank" very few people will testify against you and no jury will convict you (if they know what's good for them). Trafficante was operating from a base of power. This was something Keven White never bothered to develop.

It takes a  lot to be the Teflon Don. Santo was never convicted of anything ever in a court of law. He essentially has no record and would be considered a first offender. 

Remember folks, develop power first and operate from strength. Don't be a pathetic broke ass who is taken down by $5,000. Geeez, how weak.

Mike and Nancy are going to enjoy living in your house after you go to prison. Why? Because they built the juice first. A critical leason in life.

Taxi Medallions Outperform Stocks, Oil and Gold In New York

Taxi medallions are now being traded on the stock exchange

A taxi medallion recently sold for over one million dollars in New York City. There is a reason for that and it underscores how the dynamics are so different in New York that to try and bring that to Tampa would be foolish, for the drivers. There is a year round demand for thousands of cabs in New York. Taxicabs are a vital part of the city's infrastructure. They are not in Tampa. Read this article from Bloomberg and you will see how investors will eventually own every damn medallion there is. The hack will still remain poor.

The surging price of New York’s taxi medallions and their promise of steady cash flows have sparked investor interest in the licenses and bolstered shares of a company that finances their purchase to a four-year high.

Investors are pooling funds to buy the six-inch-wide aluminum disks affixed to the hoods of cabs after two of them sold for a record $1 million each last month, said Andrew Murstein, president of Medallion Financial Corp. (TAXI) Shares of the New York-based firm have climbed 17 percent since the Oct. 19 sale, compared with a 6.4 percent gain for the Russell 2000 Financial Services Index.

“A lot of people have been loading up recently on medallions because they think it’s a safe asset,” Murstein said in an interview last month. The New York-based company owns about 300 medallions and plans to buy “several hundred more” in New York and other cities, he said. “These are little cash cows, constantly taking in fares and spitting out money to the owners.”

A regulated supply has helped taxi permits outgain equities, oil and gold for the past two decades. With New York City unemployment at about 9 percent for over a year, more drivers will fill shifts and pay garages to drive cabs, giving medallion owners a profit of about $2,500 a month, said Simon Greenbaum, a broker at NYC Medallion Brokers Inc. That’s about a 3 percent return for a $1 million medallion.

via www.bloomberg.com

The video states that taxi cabs are a vital part of the New York city infrastructure. Taxis are not that vital in the Tampa Bay area. They seem to be the transportation of last resort. The culture is very different down here. That is why having a medallion system in Tampa is madness. Eventually, the rich people will own them and have even more power over the little hack.

Taxi Business Picking Up for United Cab Of Tampa

The Westshore Marriott Tampa

For the first time in years I have spent a weekend without the wheels of my taxi stopping (I have been able to get my internet back up). There are some reasons for this.

I think the tourism that has been lacking since the economic collapse in 2008 is now coming back. I also believe that the new computer dispatch system we use makes us more efficient then any other cab company in Tampa. I have told people to call 911 and then call us, and we will get there first. That is good.

If things continue like this, I should be able to get my life back in order. I am so far behind. I hope it is not just a good weekend. Hell, like I said, I have not seen one of them in years. The Super Bowl was good in 2009, but you would expect that.

I am also working the hotels more because that is where the people who have money and credit cards are staying. You can work the old ladies at the grocery stores, or work people who may really be going somewhere.

Occupy Tampa Movement Is Not Giving Up Under Police Harassment

Occupy Tampa Protesters before sunrise

Ronald Reagan once saw a hippie holding a sign that said "Make love, not war." Reagan said to Nancy that he did not believe that man was capable of either. He was no threat, and either are the Occupy Tampa protestors. 

I know harassment when I see it. I was driving by Curtis Hixon Park at six in the morning, on my way to the Howard Johnson's to drop off a fare. There were police lights in front of the park - where an hour earlier I saw protesters sleeping. They were not disturbing anyone. The police were now disturbing them.

They do this every morning. Lets just say they are an over paid wake up service. This is a shame.

I dropped my fare off and went right back and parked across the street and pulled my camera out. With all the humidity in the air, my lens fogged. Too bad. I go some great shots of the cops harassing the kids. Unfortunately, the images were too blurred to see anything.

After the cops finished their civic duty for the day, they left in a hurry. They know people have digital devices with them and they don't want any images going viral. Plus, it was a Saturday morning and that is when the cops like to set up speed traps to right cheap tickets to make their quota's. I wonder if these guys can actually earn their pay by having a shootout with a real criminal.

What Dennis told me was after the cops made them get rid of all their water and food Friday, they came back latter and said they could now have this stuff again. The cops are not following any city ordinances. They can't site any code violations. They are not civil rights lawyers. They are mealy people who are paid to screw with the public.

These kids will not be deterred. We have been dealt a bad hand, and they know it. These movements will not just go away. They were 'flyiing their signs' as soon as the cops left. It was cold; it was wet; I felt a little sorry for them. However, they are more determined then ever.

A Tropical Storm Moving Over Florida

An October Tropical Storm is moving up the Florida Peninsula over the next couple of days. It should dump several inches of rain with predicted flooding. This will not be a good time for any outside activities. The taxi business can be good to a certain point. After the streets flood...forget about it.

This is why all camping trips really should wait until November. The problem is that people have been waiting for months, and they just want to get going with this during the colder weather.

It should be in the 50's by Friday. Now how Cool is that!

Tampa Loses Bid For 2015 Super Bowl To Arizona - That Sucks

Arizona was awarded the 2015 Super Bowl today. This sucks in many ways for cab drivers and local business. There is nothing like a Super Bowl to stimulate a local economy. I have worked two of them, and made big money. I wish it was here every year, but we are not the only location that has good weather.  Tampa has been a player in Super Bowls from the early days of the event. In fact, we have hosted four, including the famous "Black Sunday" game when the Raiders killed the Redskins in 1984.

Al Davis receiving the Lombardi Trophy in Tampa 1984

There is nothing like winning a Super Bowl. Tampa won one once in 2003; that seems like so long ago. The big game has now become an unofficial American holiday. The specticle that surrounds it makes it the biggest sporting event in the world. In 1984 it was not that big. Players used cabs to go to the stadium and the game was on at 1:00 in the afternoon like any other normal game. It is now the most watched event on television and on during prime time. It is so big that advertisers launch campaigns with the now famous "Super Bowl" commercials. 

I expect we will get the game again,in the future. I hope to be long gone from the taxi business by then. I just don't have the energy to keep kicking this dead dog called the cab business in Tampa Florida. The fact that Arizona gets it really reminds me of how poor things are.

I used to go to Arizona twice a year to attend the AZshootout. I have not been able to go since 2007 because there just is not money. I never could have imagined it would have gone on this long. 

We do, however, have the 2012 Republican Convention coming to Tampa. My understanding is that the economic impact is the same as a Super Bowl. So, that will be something that could be of a real help  next August during the slow season for tourism. 

I am just tired of putting my life on hold and waiting for a better day. I need to find a way to make the days better myself without waiting for things to just magically turn around. 

Thanks, but no thanks NFL. 2015 is too far off to even matter at this point. 

 

Public Transportation Ridership is up worldwide- except Taxi Cabs

Public transportaion ridership is up except taxi cabs and that is world-wide. It sems in this economy that is collapsing all over the world, people just cannot afford to use taxi cabs. I received an interesting comment yesterday and i will share it here.

"All major modes of public transportation saw increases, except for taxis; that is not only here, but world wide. HART reports a spike in ridership on Saturdays and Sundays. That says to me people are riding buses even when not going to work. (Instead of spening $20.00 on a cab, I can spend $2.00) I think things are going to get significantly worse before they get better. For example, Greece will default on there debts and will exit from the Euro Zone; stocks and bonds will drop like a hot potatoe. That will be the start of some really rough times; if it's over within six months, I would be very surprised. After that, a big U.S., bank will go under; things will get lean and mean; unemployment will spike to near Great Depression numbers. If you think it's slow driving a cab now, just hang around. The health sector of the United Cab will always be there; wheelchair vans will always have business, as they undercut all rivals. That's what I'd be shooting for. One, it's safe, and I'd be always making money."

This is very scary. The taxi companies want to expand and they will on the backs of drivers that are willing to work 24 hours a day to make them money. Many of the drivers have given their lives for this business. They paid the ultimate sacrifice. I can see this coming with many drivers who simply have no vision of themselves outside of the cab. This is very sad.

Tampa Bay Bucs Football May Sell out for A Monday Night Game?

The best situation for a Tampa taxi driver is a sold out stadium. You simply get more action. More people go to the games and more people go to the sports bars to watch on television because the games are not blacked out. Cab drivers can make more money. That is what it is all about. 

I also believe the more any product is put in front of a possible customer base, the more tickets they will sell in the future. Success feeds on itself. The best thing about the Buccaneers going to London this season, is that game counts as a home game and it will be telecast. The things you have to do to avoid a blackout. 

Personally, I think the blackout rule is arcane and was invented in a time when most televisions were in black and white and people used rabbit ears to see only three channels. Today, with alternative media and internet, people can pick up streaming video of the blacked out game, and any other game they want to watch. There is just to much competition now for the NFL. They need to reconsider what they are doing and become more creative and developing fan bases.

 "Might the Tampa Bay community stain of blacked out Bucs games come to an end in 10 days when the Colts come here to face the Bucs on Monday Night Football?

Rick Stroud, of the St. Pete Times, apparently is hearing that good things are on the horizon, so he Twittered this morning.

@NFL Stroud - With a good week of ticket sales, Bucs Oct. 3 Monday Night Football game vs. the Colts will most likely be a sellout and televised locally

 

As Joe has written, there’s something dreadfully wrong if a “football town” with a good team can’t sell out a Monday Night Football game early in the NFL season. That might happen here, and Joe expects this will come down to 11th-hour sales. But Team Glazer really would be missing the boat if it didn’t do whatever needs to be done to make sure Monday Night Football is available for the many hundreds of thousands of locals who will sit home and watch it.

 

Joe’s desperately hoping it gets done by any means."

via www.joebucsfan.com

I was wondering how long this blackout would last. That would be nice on a national televised game, that we could sell out so the announcers will stop talking about how poor Tampa Bay sports fans are.

$1.89 In Gas This Morning

I hope my first fare does not go very far; I have very little gas in the tank. I used dimes and pennies too buy gas this morning (my quarters are gone). After going three days without my blood pressure meds, a driver lent me the $4 to get it. I owe my company over $600 and my landlord $1,200 (he is ready to put me on the streets). I have been waiting two hours this morning but there are no calls. Every day they sign up more and more refuges from turd world countries to drive cab. "Yes we can." "Hope and change?" Life is so good right now.

I ran into 'Big Mike' today. He is a long time cab driver of over twenty years. He is not making a living. He tells me all of the old guys are not making a living. In fact, most of the taxi drivers in Tampa OWE money to the company. By rights, if the company just let the ones go, there would be a balance point of the correct number needed to sustain his market. The owner of this company does not see it this way.

He has not read the newspapers or watched cable news. He has no clue that he cannot expand and flourish in the economy. The tactic he is using is foolish, and in the long run he will have a weaker company for it. He should let his GOOD men make money, so that when things get better, he can hire the number he wants.We will have a larger customer base by then, and he will be richer becasue ot it. 

He wants it now...there is no now...that may finally be sinking in. 

If the 'Big Crash' hits. It will all sink. Those leases that are charged to drivers will have to come down, or the number of drivers will have to come down. Sorry, but that is an economic reallity.

Mohamed Atta Had A Hack License For United Cab Of Tampa And A Commercial Pilots License

Mohamed Atta knew how to land a plane. In fact he had full instrument rating and could fly any plane. He also once had a hack license issued by the Hillsborough County Transportation Commission of Florida when he was in Florida training to be a pilot.

Atta never came back to pick it up. He had applied to work at United Cab of Tampa, but never showed up for work either.

My research shows he was living in the Tampa area for some time while taking flying lessons in Venice Florida and Jones aviation in Sarasota.

Most people were told that he only had a few hours on a simulator and was not interested in knowing how to land. This is not true.

The owner of Huffman Aviation in Venice said Mohamed Atta and a friend walked in the front door one day in late 2000 and wanted to know about getting pilots license and how much that would cast. They were told the cost was $18,000 with $1,000 down and $1.000 a week for the entire 18 week course. They paid with a check drawn on First Union Bank.

All did not go smooth as their first instructor found them arrogant and hard to teach. Atta and his friend often tried to take over the lessons and often spoke over the instructor. He was very irritated with them. They switched instructors and were able to finish the course and Atta earned his "Temporary Airman's  license" with a score of 90 of a 122 possible points during a five hour exam.. This allowed him to rent out planes on his own which he did on many occasions.

Proof Mohamed Atta Know how to land and take off in an airplane

Atta did not stop at this, he went on December 21, 2000 he earned a full instrument ratting and a COMMERCIAL PILOTS LICENSE. ("airplane multiengine land/ instrument airplane/ private pilot privileges/ airplane single engine land"). (Source) He earned these credentials in a rather short period of time. 

I believe he was running out of money and It was during this period that he applied for a hack license in Tampa. The TPC still has his license on file. It is unknown what his intentions were about driving a cab, considering he had goals of altering world history for ever. He flew planes to Miami from Venice and from Jones aviation to Tampa. He knew how to take off and land. Skills that he really would not put to much use.

It was from Tampa where he flew American Airlines to Spain to meet with representatives from Iraq.

Sleeping On The Job

With business slow this time of year, drivers often take naps. Sleeping works out much better now with this Blackberry GPS dispatch because it will scream at you when there is a bid. You can awaken and push a button and go back to sleep. It will then scream at you again if you get the call. 

Work is tough enough without having your sleep interrupted. With the old system, you had to stay awake you you could work the microphone and pay attention to the next bid coming up. Not now, just sleep, sleep, sleep.

The taxi driver sleeping here is Richard. You can tell its hot, he has his shirt open. You really don't want to idle at four dollars a gallon. You long time guys should know him. This image was shot on the old stand 21. Even without stands, 21 is a good central location to grab calls from.

It cost more to run a taxi during the hot season. You spend more on drinks, gas and food. You are working more hours to try and make up for the lack of business. It sucks and that is why drivers can't wait for the cooler weather.

Computers Were Down For A While...We Had To Use Voice

When the computers went down at Unied Cab for a while, Ruben had to dispatch calls the way we used to do it - by voice. I had no idea how slow that was in getting calls out. Thre are drivers that cannot understand English, so dispatch has to repeat constanly what they are saying. Guys will lie about their location; calls get backed up. This is not a good way to get calls off the board.

When the computer came back up, you could tell a world of difference. This system is here to stay. When you consider the additional features, such as atomatic text messages to alert customers of the taxi's arrival, how can you beat this. 

We will have this system for the first season coming up in the Fall/Winter season. I can't wait. All things being the same with the economy, I beleive I will make much more money. I am really looking forward to that. 

It has been a long road to go. I started this blog in 2005 and by 2007 the recession hit. Many of my post for the last four years have been dire and depressing. Sorrry about that. I really do want to move onto a more postive footing about cab drivng and my taxi stories. 

Don't Give Money To This Guy - He Is Running A Scam

If you live in south Tampa or drive North on Howard avenue at the intersection of Kennedy and Howard, you have seen this guy. He is doing what they call on the streets "flying a sign." In short, he is begging for money. He has been on this corner for over a year. That is ridiculous.

Hell, I remember last Christmas season he was wearing a Santa hat (What cedar chest did he pull that out of?)

He is out here all day long. he never misses a day. I know this for a fact because O never miss a day of work. If a guy can show up every day to do this, can he not hold a job? He is older then me, so I am sure he is getting a Social Security check. This must be his supplemental income plan.

His sign claims he is homeless, looking for work, hungry, and other things. None of this is true.

The Shell station on this corner has tried to get rid of him. He is aggressive with their customers. He ask for money and cigs. He won't leave people alone. 

They have called the cops on this guy  They do not want a permanent fixture in front of their store being this guy claiming to be a bum and in need of money.

HE IS NOT HOMELESS....HE LIVES IN A NICE APARTMENT IN SO HO...HE HAS A MAC IPHONE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE ON HIS PLAN A(i know this for a fact..I'm a cab driver..I hear things).

He is running a scam. Plus, his is an asshole. He calls the Shell station and insults the people working there because they have had him tresspassed from the property. 

He waves at people and smiles.he thinks he is being charming. I think he is high. I see this type of behaviour and mannerisms all day long as a cab driver. 

There are real homeless people but he has a claim to the most lucrative corner in Tampa. This is wrong. I know for a fact construction and lawn service guys have offered him a job and he said he cannot work for ten bucks an hour. WTF!

Please Tampa...Stop giving this con man money.

Paying The Man

I had to go to the Downtown Tampa courthouse today. I really did not want to but I was in a little bit of trouble, and could not allow this to go much further. I had an outstanding ticket that needed to be paid. I drive for living so I needed to take care of this fast.  None of this was my fault because I was a victim of circmstances, and a ticket hungry cop.

Last February I picked up a fare at Memorial Hospital in south Tampa.It was around sunrise on a Sunday morning. The fare came out and he had a black eye. It really looked like someong had beat his ass. He said a cop did it to him . I did not beleive his story.                                                                                                      

In a situation in which a police officer would have to use such force, the guy probably would have been arrested. Moreover, they don’t send Baker Acts to Memorial Hospital. There is an intake center on the east side of town for that. Another thing that made me nervous was he was paying cash. A rule of thumb about Emergency rooms in the early mornings is the fare, for whatever reason, never has any money.

He was not going very far, so I decided to take the risk. I started heading down Henderson boulevard toward Gandy. The guy was sitting behind me and starting to act a little weird. There are many things the cab driver must focus on while driving to ensure safety. Unfortuanlty, looking over our shoulder at a stranger sitting behind us can cause a distraction and I was distracted.

I saw the blue lights in my rearview mirror and thought they must be for someone else. I was wrong.

The cop pulled up right behind me and I put on my turn signal while I pulled over.
I wanted to tell the police officer that I had a weirdo in the back seat and plead mitigation under these circumstances but I saved my breath. When cops stake out certain intersections on a quite Sunday morning - The Are Going to Write a Ticket. That is the only reason they are there. They are reviewed like any other employer on any other job. He has a quota to meet and there is no better way to get cheap tickets then lay in wait when nobody is on the roads, and by definition, nobody is in danger. 

He gave me a ticket for going 50 in a 35 zone. The cop was wrong. The speed limit on Henderson is 40. The cop lied on the ticket and I was not going to let him get away with it. I decided to take it to court, and I did. 
The judge agreed with me because he lives in south Tampa and was familiar with that stretch of road.

He did, however, lower it to going ten miles an hour over the speed limit instead of fifteen. That meant a $240 ticket was reduced to $120. The judge even cut that in half, withheld adjudication, withheld points, and gave me sixty days to pay the fee and court cost. This is the kicker. Court Cost are $93...wow! I still won, sort of. 

You can see in the photo that I had until August 12, to pay the fine. I hate August. Nothing good happens in August. That is the slow time of year down here for the service industry and August puts the slow in slow season. Bottom line was I could not come up with the money. 

I finally made some good money today because of the Special Forces convention that is town this week, and got down to the courthouse to pay the fine. 

They told me my driver’s license would have been suspended on September 13 if I had not paid it today. I forked over the 173 bucks. That hurt.

I hope you are happy Mr. Police Officer. Is that all you have to do is screw with law-abiding people. Was it that important to do this to me? There is a recession gong on and I really needed to use that money for other things. 

Go shake down a real bad guy you punk.

 

United Cab Has A New Gas Policy

This notice is posted on the front door to United Cab: "All drivers be aware you will need to bring money for gas.Due to the fact that 95% of all cabs come back empty. We are changing our policy of FULL TO FULL when leasing a cab to a EMPTY TO EMPTY GAS POLICY. All drivers should bring money for gas when changing a cab and when leasing one."

Wow! I can tell you what is going on here. The economy sucks, and drivers come in to work a tweleve hour shift, and at the end, they have $40 left. They realize it will take $40 to fill the tank but they need the money; so they turn it in empty (They are also dirty...they guys don't have the 75 cents to use a vac). 

Take a look at the photo of the United Cab lot and it is full of cabs. I don't think they can get another one on it. Just remember, none of them have any gas in them and they are dirty as hell. I think the general public expects and should get better then a cab on empty and dirt all over the floor, and a driver wearing dirty clothes. 

This is clearly a sign of the times we live in. It has never been this bad. The stimulas plan has failed to stimulate anythiing down here. I am glad the Republican Convention will be down here next year. I will like to ask those Republicans what they plan to do to get things moving again. No matter what you think, the economy is stuck on empty, just like the gas tanks at United Cab.

A United Cab In Need Of Oil

The taxi I am driving has over 300,000 miles on it. The shop changes the oil every month as specified by the the owners manual. These cars will run for almost eternity. They do, however, start to use oil. That is what is happening with my cab.

 The fare I picked up said they could smell oil burning. After I dropped them off, I checked the oil and I could see I needed at least one quart. Considering the oil had been changed last week, that meant I was burning oil. In the sixteen years I have been with United Cab of Tampa, I have never had a new car.

 I see other drivers get a new car every year and I wonder why they treat me any kind of way. I need to ask Paul Hinton That. I would like to have a new taxi by the Fall time of the year.

 You can see a taxi with its hood up at an Advance Auto Parts store on Dale Mabry is not good advertising for the cab company. We need to build up riders who have confidence in the ability of us to get them to where they are going.

 

Bar Exam In Tampa And Some Taxi Busness

The Florida Bar exam is held twice a year in Tampa. This is an even that many drivers look forward too. The reason is that you can cover you lease in the early morning, and then spend the rest of the day making some money for yourself.

This photo is a view from the drop off area at the Tampa Convention Center. There were many cabs coming in and out of this area so I knew the guys were getting work. It only lasted for a couple hours and we need so much more then that. 

I went into Paul Hinton's office and asked him what he was going to do to make sure that his drivers would be able to make money during the coming months. He said something about calling Ft. Laurderdale to see what they thought. Don't get me wrong, I like Paul but hie is like the front man for a politician - he will only spout the party line. 

Many drivers who are grown men and have been driving for years are making no money. you would think the company would want the good drivers who built this company to make money. Why would they care when there are boat people to hire. 

In the long run their actions are working against them. They have no clue of this; they will make less money in the future because of the lack of foresight they show today. That is the classic definition of a fool. 

Tim Fasano Gets An Award From His Blind Students

I am involved in a program with Tampa's Lighthouse for the Blind providing transportation to day programs and their jobs. These teenagers are learning to transition to society by learning critical skills that will allow them to function in society. When the Lighthouse began this program they were not sure what the taxi drivers would contribute. They, however, became very pleased as bonds formed between the students and the United Cab drivers. 

Many of the students view their drivers as mentors and look forward to receiving advice and the camaraderie they receive when riding with the taxi guys. What the students don't know is how inspirational they are to us. I look forward to picking up my kids and share their enthusiasm for life and what they are trying to overcome. All of the students are legally blind; some are totally blind. These kids face things most of us will never encounter. 

They go to school, they go on field trips, go shopping and go to movies. They even go bowling and ride bikes in the parks. I never did all of that stuff when I was their age!

We are trained to not help them out of the car or open doors for them. They must learn to use their canes and perceive the world around them. This does not seem to stop them and their enthusiasm to go to work and school. I consider it an honor to work with them.

Every year they hold a dinner and awards cerimony. There was a great spread of chicken, pork, beans, salad, rolls and sodas. I ws full. The drivers all received awards last night we gave a liitle speech. I talked about self-esteem which I no many of the kids are dealing with. I told them all people struggle with that and to ignore ignorant people who think they are less then what are.

My Two Best Friends And Getting Out Of My Cave

Big Mike has noticed I am "out of the cave."  Working with Tom BIscardi last week was a huge motivator for me. I saw how successful people can live who play by their own rules and forge their own destinies. It was a major turning point for me. I could not be more motivated at this point.

The two best assets I have gong for me are the BlackBerry and the cab meter. The more calls I get on that and more I can book, the more I will make. All I have to do is expose myself to the best hours to work to make money. Hence, out of the cave. Working late nights and the clubs on Friday and Saturday nights is starting to work for me. I used to just work days and move little old ladies to the doctor (no money in that). Its called: "Responsibility Assumption."

Responsibility assumption is a doctrine in the personal growth field holding that each individual has substantial or total responsibility for the events and circumstances that befall them in their life. While there is little that is notable about the notion that each person has at least some role in shaping their experience, the doctrine of responsibility assumption posits that the individuals mental contribution to his or her own experience is substantially greater than is normally thought. "I must have wanted this" is the type of catchphrase used by adherents of this doctrine when encountering situations, pleasant or unpleasant, to remind them that their own desires and choices led to the present outcome.

I Was A Real Taxi Driver Today

I just walked in the door after being out since four in the morning. I did make some money today by being a 'real taxi driver.' As you know, cab driving is not a nine to five job. The only way now to make money is work the hours of a pimp. If you can do it, you should make money, even in this economy. They hours are brutal, but what other job will let you work like this. Go to KFC and tell them you are willing to work 90 hours a week and see how fast they put you to work. I just hope I have it in me to do the same tomorrow. Let me eat some supper and get to bed. Time will tell.I guess that is what you have to do in this Great Recession. I will let you know.

Hanging In There - I Hope

I brought my camera with me today because I wanted to take photos of all the cabs parked accross the street from United Cab. The only thing I can think, is that drivers who have more options then me are parking the cabs for now. It is hot outside and there is very little business to support the gigantic number of cabs on the streets (every third car in Tampa is a taxi). 

I could not afford the three dollars for the batteries, so I took no pictures. I could not use my cell phone because that has been cut off for non-payment. 

In 2008 I lost both my phone and my internet connection. I can see it coming again from a mile away. I have no chance. I do have an idea, however

Perhaps the companies could put out 100,000 taxis for each shift. That would be a total of 300,000 taxis generating about $100 each. Do you know how much that would be? I got a better idea.

Perhaps the companies could put out 1 MILLION cabs at 100 dollars earch. That is only one hundred million dollars a day. I have a better idea.

Perhaps the companies could could put out enough cabs for every living human being on earth plus three more each for their ancestors. Do you know how much money that would be?

Single White Female

Sometimes you can smell trouble from a mile away. There are instances when your intuition kicks in that tells you this is not going to be good. Taxi fares attitudes can radiate from very long distances. Something as basic as a persons name given to the dispatch is a good clue that you may be headed for trouble. 

I got a call to an apartment complex late night and the only name on the order was “White Female.” For some reason I was thinking about the movie Single White Female where the roommate turned out to be a homicidal maniac. I do not think I have ever picked up a fare like that before, yea, right.

What was going on here was this lady did not want to give us a name. She had attitude working and it was four in the morning. Trust me, if a female is alone at that hour, somebody ditched her boyfriend or one of her gal pals gave her the slip. In either case, it had everything to do with what was going on with “White Female.” 

I pull up to the apartments and I see the cops parked outside (never a good sign). As I pull up, this white female comes from around the police cars, gets in the back seat, and tells me to floor it. I do not. I tell her that in the presence of the police I will need two things out of her. I will need a clear and precise destination and the money up front BEFORE I go anywhere. I can tell be her body language that she thinks I am an asshole. 

I can see her counting her money and she says take me to the train station; she wants to get a train to Orlando. Considering the train station is only down town and not very far, I put the taxi in drive. I only get about two blocks and I can tell she is stressing badly. She says her boyfriend had been arrested and she was afraid that when he got out of jail in the morning, he would come looking for her. She said he was charged with "dating violence." There is no such thing as that...another red flag. Trouble is afoot. 

She now says she wants to go to Winter Haven Florida and wants to know how much that will run. I tell her that will be about $150 and I will need the money up front. She says she only has $140 and wants to know if that be all right. I said it would be but I was low on gas and we needed to stop at the Shell station right ahead. 

We pull into the station and I instruct her to go inside and prepay for $40 forth of gas, I will pump it, then she needs to give me the remaining 100 bucks and we will be on our way. She starts to balk. 

“How about if I pay you when we get to Winter Haven?” She asks.

“Unacceptable.” I say. “I need money up front or we go nowhere.” 

She says she is worried that I may rob her of her money and ditch her on the side of the road. She wants to see my drivers’ license, which I refuse to show her. She jumps out of the cab and runs to the back to see the number on my tag. She hops back in the taxi and tells me to write the number down before she forgets it. I tell her I have no interest in writing my tag number down. For the last time I need my money. 

“Can I give you half?” She asks. I hand her a pen and some scratch paper and tell her to write something down. She takes the pen and wants to know what to write down. 

“Suck my cock.” I say.

She opens the door and takes off running. She even leaves the door open. No big deal, all you do is move the car forward and the door will close. 

What was going on here was nobody (including the cops) wanted to deal with this woman. She is one of the crazed, ego driven people who go thru live thinking that her problems are the result of everyone else doing her wrong. It seemed to me many people tonight were trying to help this women but she was beyond help. 

I move on to another call.

At The Waterside Marriott Tampa

I dropped off at the Waterside Marriott in downtown Tampa. My fares were going to the Champions sports bar inside to watch game 7 of the Lightening vs Penguins tonight. After they went inside, I noticed that there were only four taxis parked in the holding area across the street from the hotel. I went over there.

I don't often sit here because the stand is usually packed with off brand taxis. This is the only place they can make a living. I guess they sit here and dream about getting a medallion. With the price of gas going over four bucks, I just don't know how you can dead-head back to this place after every fare. You have no way of knowing if you are even going to get a place in line. Not many United cab drivers here, just off brand.

I waited for a few minutes, then decided to leave. This is really not my scene. I did take a photo so you could see that I was actually there.

Hillsborough cabdrivers Want Medallions - Learn A Trade Instead

Taxi drivers in Tampa want to own medallions? What will they do with them? Its the economy stupid. There is no business arrangement that can help you thru these challenging times (other then voting for Donald Trump). When the economy improves under the next administration, we will all be making money. I have been a hack for United for the last sixteen years. The best system ever was a "closed shop" when United and Yellow were the only operators. They made money; the drivers made money; we were all happy in a healthy economy. The problems that exist today go beyond medallions: The problem is the lack of education and job skills of most drivers who can only think of themselves as cab drivers or flipping burgers. They have no vision beyond being a hack. When I was layed off from the Tampa Tribune in 1995, I walked five blocks to get a cab driving job. I have no idea why the new breed of modern homesteaders  would come here from all over the globe to make scant wages. You can make more money picking cans off the side of the road in Haiti or selling chickens in Nigeria. Why come here to drive a cab and work like a "dust bowl" era farm hand and  live in a cardborad shack at the end of Tobacco Road? Is sitting for hours in the hot sun in front of a cruise ship or the Waterside worth what you gone thru to do this? No. Trying to buy a $200,000 is not possible. If you had that kind of money, how did you earn it from a poor paying job. If you own a cab with a medallion, you may make a little more, but you could earn more digging ditches or washing cars. None of this makes any sense to me. I will say what I really think at the bottom after the St. Pete Times article.

"Drivers want medallions so they can escape the expensive leases — up to $545 per week — they pay cab companies for the right to work. Companies want them for the immediate value and flexibility; they could sell a few if money is tight. County regulators, the enforcement branch of the commission, want medallions to open up the market. Currently, permits are locked in place, with two companies in a near duopoly.

Most of the commission board hesitated to take a stance, leaving the possible debate for this summer.

"We will workshop it — get the drivers involved and also the cab companies," said Plant City Mayor Dan Raulerson, the board chairman. "Once everybody's at the table, we say, 'Okay, how should we do this?' "

But the commission's newest member, Tampa City Council member Frank Reddick, assured drivers they would get a fair shake. "I definitely will be asking the (commission) to look at the model from Miami," he said. The companies' plan "just doesn't go far enough."

Since Miami-Dade introduced medallions, the industry there has shifted, said Raul Gonzalez, who helps manage taxi regulation for the county. The more than 500 drivers who own medallions are far better off than their peers, he said, and many lease their medallions part-time to other cabbies.

Some of the county's 39 cab companies now provide only dispatching or insurance to drivers, he said. In Hillsborough, eight companies control all the cab permits — their bread and butter. Drivers must sign a lease with one of the companies to legally operate a taxi. Many drivers pay top dollar for the works: a permit, a cab, insurance and dispatchers. But those who own their cabs must still pay a company for the right to use it.

Still, the Miami-Dade system is far from perfect, Gonzalez said. Drivers without medallions face the same issues as cabbies here: long hours, scant earnings and no health insurance. And the county wrote its medallion rules with a vision of drivers invested long-term in the industry, buying better vehicles and providing better service. But, Gonzalez said, many drivers flip their medallions to other cabbies when in a pinch.

via www.tampabay.com

How does a broke taxi driver, living in a motel, eating Ramen noodles cooked over a hot plate, washing his cloths in the sink, putting $10 worth of gas at a time in the cab, and using coins to get his morning coffee buy a $200,000 medallion? Something is not right about this. If divers want the medallions so they can be a one man operation and go sit at the Waterside, what happens when 300 cabs want to sit at that stand. Tampa is not Miami. This system will fail for the drivers, and only, in the long run, make the owners of Yellow and United richer, and further cement their position. People like Mike Moses and Nancy (who have very deep pockets) will scarf up all medallions and flip them to become very, very rich. I have a better idea - learn a trade, get educated, start a pizza parlor. You guys who are the representatives of the drivers have no vision of yourself beyond hacking. Even if you have a medallion, you will still work crazy hours, weekends, holidays and finally have to pay taxes which 99% of taxi drivers do not. You will have to buy expensive insurance thru Obamacare. You guys don't get it. This business is low end and we are sitting on the bottom.

Business Down To Nothing - A New Direction Needed

The Dog Days Of Summer: this is a drum that I have been beating for the last four years. The economy is awful, there is no business, and this time of year all we can do is make United Cab a good living while I eat hot dogs and Ramon noodles (they are Top Ramon). I feel a change is in order.

I will talk to Paul tomorrow about a change of status. It will not be open for deliberation - I WILL change my status to a shift driver. Since I CANNOT MAKE ANY F*****G MONEY, I will have to work the night graveyard shift on the weekends. That is the only time anyone seems to need a taxi anymore. 

Don't get me wrong, I know that the company must make money, but this is not a good arrangement for drivers (unless you want to work 18 hours a day). During the week, the company takes 90% of what I book, factor in gas, forget about it.  Only a schmuck will work under this arrangement.

I need to make a move quick. I love driving a cab, but I MUST MAKE MONEY! 

It would be nice to have a day off. I have not had a day off in three years. I have not had a vacation in four. Too say I am burnt out is an understatement.