Schenectady needs to crack down on its gypsy cab operators
As a regular disabled rider with several local taxi companies for eight years now, I know the frustrations felt by the legitimate business owners when it comes to the many taxi company owners who operate with no regard to city ordinances or the general public! These taxi companies generally have one owner, one or two vehicles with dollar store stickers hastily placed, and a cell phone; they have no legal place of business, as required by city laws. They are working out of their homes and apartments, avoiding the overhead others must bear in order to conform to the laws they agreed to when they obtained their right to do business in this city. By living in their neighborhoods, they are bringing home their one or two cabs, plus the drivers’ vehicles, to park in small areas that are tight for tenant parking, as it is in most areas of Schenectady. These cabs are supposed to be parked in an area that is properly marked off per code with prior approval from the city! My last count, on Jan. 15, showed four such taxi services in Schenectady. The type of company I speak of is the type you have seen blocking half the entryway at your local Price Chopper or Walmart, yelling out the window asking if you need a cab as you try to squeeze by with your cart full of groceries. They hang out all day, blocking the drop-off/pick-up zones so everyone else has to go around them, out in the busy lanes of traffi c. Yet they show no concern. Last August, I made the mistake of asking one of these drivers to back up so my cab could load my groceries, where I had waited 20 minutes for my ride. This owner got so furious I believe he was teaching me all possible profanity in a foreign language I had no idea existed, and he began the same with my cab driver until security and a passerby called police. I spent the next hour, waiting with my groceries spoiling away in the back of the taxi in 85 degree heat. The police gave him a warning and then I found out that this was not the first time for him. How nice! Most of this because of my choice of a legitimate taxi ride home from the market. Now is the time for the mayor to see to it that more of these current operators are brought into compliance prior to issuing any further medallions to anyone who pays the fee. I challenge the mayor to correct this situation for all of us that need to use the taxi services in this city!
The city can't enforce the laws re cabs, because STratton is spending tax dollars giving money to the millionaires instead of things he should be spending it on
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
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