LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF DC CAB DRIVERS, JUNE 26, 2011:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
[You can hear the show live, not just on the radio, but also at wust1120.com or on your cell phone at (712) 432-6620. The Voice of DC Cab Drivers airs Sundays from 7:00-8:00 p.m.]
Wednesday, the D.C. Taxicab Commission held a public meeting at the U.S. Park Police headquarters in Anacostia Park. The subject of the meeting was the proposed changes to Chapters 5 and 9 of Title 31, the regulatory code that governs the taxicab industry.
Less than an hour into the meeting, I snapped a photo of the commissioners on the dais and was told by a hack inspector that this was prohibited. The hack inspector – with the first initial “K.” and the last name “Bears” written on his shirt – stood in my way so I couldn’t take another photo of the commissioners. I settled on taking his picture. Not long after, things turned chaotic.
Two U.S. Park Police officers entered the auditorium and arrested me, apparently on the orders of the Taxicab Commission. The arrest came as Jim Dickson, of the American Association of People with Disabilities, testified about the difficulty he, and others with service animals, have in hailing a cab. Midway through Dickson’s testimony, the Park Police officers approached me and one said, “You can come with me or you can get locked up.”
[Dickson’s testimony, followed by arrest]
Not only did it not end well, but the DCTC meeting got off to a rough start. Interim Chair Dena Reed stated that I couldn’t place my recorder on the table where the commissioners were sitting, but instead should place it on a table off to the side. Ms. Reed physically removed my recorder several times; each time I placed it back on the commissioners’ table. Apparently, Ms. Reed called for the Park Police.
Lt. Roxanne Brown arrived and backed up Ms. Reed. When I protested that it this was a public meeting of the D.C. government, Lt. Brown said, “You’re on a federal facility.” The audio clip begins with Ms. Reed.
[Lt. Roxanne Brown]
That was U.S. Park Police Lt. Roxanne Brown backing up Ms. Reed’s contention that I couldn’t place my recorder on the commissioners’ table. In the end I was forced to sit on the floor and hold my recorder up.
Thursday, Mayor Vincent Gray released a statement, saying, “I believe firmly that governments should be as open and transparent as possible with the public, and I remain fully supportive of the District’s Open Meetings Act both in letter and in spirit. My office is inquiring into [Wednesday’s] incident to ensure that Taxicab Commission officials adhered to these standards.
“I will ensure that directors of all the agencies under my purview are clear that I expect them and their agencies’ personnel to treat the public and the media respectfully and in accordance with the dictates of the Open Meetings Act,” said Mayor Gray in a statement released Thursday.
In a strongly worded letter to Attorney General Irvin Nathan sent just hours after the arrests, Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, chair of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, said, “I am troubled by actions taken by the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission… While the details are unclear, following the request of DCTC members or staff, two armed Park Police officers entered the auditorium, put a reporter in handcuffs, and removed him from the room. This was reportedly for taking photographs or making a video recording of the proceedings at an open and public meeting,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells in a letter to Attorney General Irvin Nathan.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Reason TV producer Jim Epstein was also arrested, for filming my arrest. Epstein’s video has gone viral, touching off a firestorm of criticism of both the D.C. Taxicab Commission and the U.S. Park Police. Here, Epstein discusses Wednesday’s DCTC meeting.
[Jim Epstein]
Epstein and I were both charged by the U.S. Park Police with “Unlawful Remaining” and “Disorderly Conduct.” Friday, the Washington Post called for the charges against us to be dropped in an editorial entitled, “Cabs, cops and cuffs: Why were two reporters arrested for covering a public D.C. meeting?“
The Post editorial stated, “The District’s open-meetings law is silent on whether photography or recordings are permitted, but surely it shouldn’t take a court order for the public and media to exercise basic free speech and free press rights. And, if any agency needs more sunlight, it is the chronically troubled cab commission. Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan, who is investigating the incident, sensibly told reporters he believes these meetings should be open and subject to recordings as long as they’re done in a manner that doesn’t disturb the proceedings. That should be the end of this matter, in addition, we hope, to dropping the charges against Mr. Tucker and Mr. Epstein.”
Friday’s Washington Post editorial also stated, “the National Press Photographers Association Inc. wrote to the commission protesting its actions, that ‘in Egypt, Syria, and Libya citizens and photojournalists have risked, and in some cases given, their lives to provide visual proof of governmental activities. It is truly a shame that what is viewed abroad as heroic is considered suspect at home.’ The group reports it has seen a rash of similar incidents across the country.”
Friday afternoon, Mark Segraves of WTOP and ABC7 reported that all charges had been dropped. The ABC7 report includes startling footage of Segraves being forced out of the D.C. Taxicab Commission office.
[Segraves ABC7 report]
Segraves mentioned Friday’s media training for cabinet members and top agency directors in the Gray administration. Friday, on The Politics Hour on WAMU, host Kojo Nnamdi asked resident political analyst Tom Sherwood of NBC4 if Interim DCTC Chair Dena Reed would be attending the media training.
[Kojo, Sherwood]
Sherwood mentioned Councilmember Wells’ interest in abolishing the Taxicab Commission. The Small Business Association of DC Taxicab Drivers has come out in opposition to the elimination of the DCTC.
Negede Abebe, board member of The Small Business Association, said, “The Taxicab Commission needs reform, no doubt about it, but not to be abolished.”
Haimanot Bizuayehu, also a board member of The Small Business Association, said, “It is obvious that the Taxicab Commission has a problem at the moment and is in need of reform, but I do not believe that abolishing the commission is the answer to the problem.”
On The Politics Hour on WAMU, Kojo opened up the phone lines and Jim Dickson had this to say.
[Kojo, Sherwood]
Resident political analyst Tom Sherwood of NBC4 laid out some concerns with the medallion bill. Sherwood also brought up, again, Councilmember Wells’ interest in using the summer to figure out how to eliminate the Taxicab Commission.
Again, the position of The Small Business Association of DC Taxicab Drivers is that it’s opposed to the elimination of the D.C. Taxicab Commission. Instead, The Small Business Association is calling for the Taxicab Commission to be brought into compliance with the law – specifically, the 1985 Taxicab Commission Establishment Act which calls for three industry representatives to be on the Commission. Presently, there are none.
Speaking to Harry Jaffe of the Examiner, Councilmember Tommy Wells, who oversees the Taxicab Commission, said, “I don’t know if the commission ever worked… Do we need one? I’m looking at an overhaul, and what happened the other day proves the need even more,” said Wells, who chairs the Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
Jaffe’s column is entitled, “D.C. Taxicab Commission puts itself out of commission.”
Appearing on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt on NewsChannel8, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans also discussed the possibility of eliminating the Taxicab Commission. But first, DePuyt played footage of Wednesday’s arrest and asked Mr. Evans for his response.
[Jack Evans with Bruce DePuyt]
Evans joined the growing chorus of those openly considering the elimination of the Taxicab Commission, a move which is opposed by The Small Business Association of DC Taxicab Drivers.
The Small Business Association consists of the following driver-owned taxicab companies and associations: Allied, Ambassador, Black Pearl, Camel, DC Professional Taxicab Drivers’ Association, Dominion, Grand, Luxury, Pleasant, Seasons, Swift, Travelers, UCC, Washingtonian, Welcome, and Wonder Cab.
Forgotten in all the coverage of the arrests is that the subject of Wednesday’s meeting was Interim Chair Dena Reed’s proposed changes to Chapters 5 and 9 of Title 31, the regulatory framework that governs the taxicab industry. Ms. Reed is also attempting to push through major changes to Chapter 6 and 8, which would, among other things, force drivers to buy a new car every five years.
At Wednesday’s meeting, before the arrests, Haimanot Bizuayehu called on the DCTC to come into compliance with the 1985 Taxicab Commission Establishment Act by placing three industry representatives on the Commission. Bizuayehu said, “I advise this body from proceeding on these proposed rulemakings until [a] legally constituted Commission is in place.”
[Haimanot Bizuayehu]
Ermias Wosenu is also a board member of The Small Business Association. Wosenu organizes the popular Saturday night Amharic phone conference. For those speaking Amharic, every Saturday night from 9:00-11:00 p.m., you can learn about the latest issues facing D.C. taxicab drivers. The number for the toll-free conference is (712) 432-3100 and the code 140 465.
For those interested in becoming a member of The Small Business Association of DC Taxicab Drivers, you can visit the offices of the driver-owned companies that make up The Association, such as UCC/Luxury or Grand.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Negede Abebe, testified about the impact the proposed amendments to chapters 5 and 9 would have on independent owner/operators.
[Negede Abebe]
Barrington Hammond is a native Washingtonian and an independent cab driver living in Montgomery County. He testified about his and others inability to become independent owner/operators based on where he lives.
[Barrington Hammond]
Interim DCTC Chair Dena Reed opened up the meeting with an update on her proposed amendments to Chapters 6 and 8 of Title 31. The proposed changes would, among other things, require drivers to buy a new car every five years. Ms. Reed said that she hopes to have her amendments re-published this coming Friday. The proposed changes would then be subject to an additional hearing.
[Dena Reed]
Roy Spooner, general manager of Yellow Cab Company, has called for the proposed changes to Title 31 to be tabled. Yesterday, I spoke with Mr. Spooner on his cell phone. Please listen carefully, as the audio quality isn’t great. Spooner began by describing what Title 31 is.
[Roy Spooner]
Next week, on The Voice of DC Cab Drivers we’ll be examining the taxicab industry in Prince George’s County, which is dominated by a few very powerful players.
Last year, drivers were successful at pushing through legislation in the Prince George’s County Council that called for 390 medallions to be issued directly to independent drivers, not the big companies that dominate the industry. Now, the Council, after voting unanimously for the bill last year, is considering legislation that would roll it back, just months after its implementation.
Tuesday, standing on the steps outside the Prince George’s County Council, Getachew Guracha and Henock Wogderes addresed fellow drivers.
[Getachew Guracha, Henock Wogderes]
Brian Tierney is a local freelance labor journalist whose work can be found at Subterranean Dispatches. Tierney’s recent article, “Taxicab Takeover: D.C. Drivers Organize to Defend Jobs,” can be found at Common Dreams, Counterpunch and Socialist Worker.
Special thanks to Paul Kent for engineering tonight’s show.
Past Shows:
- The Voice of DC Cab Drivers, June 19, 2011: Wells Calls Off Hearing on Medallion Bill
- The Voice of DC Cab Drivers, June 12, 2011: John Ray Continues His Private Meetings on the Medallion Bill
- The Voice of DC Cab Drivers, June 6, 2011: The Freedom Plaza Rally
- The Voice of DC Cab Drivers, May 29, 2011: DCTC Locks Drivers Out