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The proposed ordinance–which would hike fares to help boost the earnings of cabbies, many of whom are struggling to cover the surging cost of gas–was introduced by 40th Ward alderman Patrick O’Connor, but O’Connor wasn’t there to advocate for the measure. Committee members Ray Suarez, Pat Dowell, Anthony Beale, James Balcer, Virginia Rugai, Ike Carothers, Brian Doherty, Eugene Schulter, and Brendan Reilly–whose downtown ward almost certainly has the most cab traffic–were no-shows as well. Only Manny Flores (1st), Pat Levar (45th), Ariel Reboyras (30th), Willie Cochran (20th), and Tom Allen (38th), the committee chairman, were in the house, and both Flores and Levar drifted in and out of the hearing.
“When I work 14 or 15 hours a day, I never make any money,” said Nalmet Raza, a taxi driver for 26 years. “We aren’t even making minimum wage when we work 16 hours.”
The meeting was adjourned, and reporters hurried over to ask Allen follow-up questions, such as: Didn’t it sound bad out there for these drivers?
