I moved to D.C. from Denver by way of Los Angeles. It's definitely been an interesting road.
But, I am really overwhelmed here by the amount of people who are struggling due to homelessness. Working in the Nation's Capitol, I'm sure that I have passed by a Senator or Congressman or Congresswoman who has seen the same people I have who are struggling. I'll admit, I walk pass 'them' and try not to make eye contact. But, I've also made eye contact, for example, when a woman asked me for some lotion and body wash... I bought it for her, but it made me wonder, does anyone make eye contact? Real, legit, eye contact. The kind of eye contact that says: I want to help you, what can I do for you today? Even if you already passed three people who are asking for something. Do our nation's leaders make eye contact?
The divide among those who have and those who, kinda have something, but not enough to live off the streets is a cry to attention. I'd imagine that there is no bill headed to Congress that says how can we help the people who need our help the most. The most are those who lost their home and are on the streets or those who have been on the streets for years.
This situation is not new. I'm not the first person to think about this nor the last, but how can one not think about it?
When is capitalism not King?
Could the people who say it isn't be the so called 'one percent'?
Anyway, I have to catch a train, so for now I'll digress.
Oh yeah, BTW, what do you think?
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
UNTITLED CAB PROJECT, part 5
I usually don't look at who's driving when I get in the cab. I sit down, and mutter 'I'm going to Penn Station' or 'Penn Station, please'. Then, I look for my wallet in my Longchamps bag and take out seven dollars.
"It's a flat rate to Penn Station, six dollars. Ok?"
The wool, light pink coat, looked like it hadn't been cleaned since last winter. Can you imagine a faded- looking light pink coat? Maybe the fabric just looked worn, but why wear a pretty coat like that in a filthy cab. Answer 1: It's not new. Answer 2: she doesn't care. The coat, not her face, was in my direct line of sight. I looked up from my purse and saw her start the engine. We didn't make eye contact. Not even in the rear view mirror, so I was stuck with my second first impression of her. Her hair. It could have been styled, it was combed, but frazzled, like she'd just scratched the back of her scalp and didn't care to finesse it back into place.
There were no colored tree fresheners in the cabin, just the smell with out them - a neutral... funk. A defense mechanism for riders who have the potential to make her job unsafe. If she was at all 'dolled up' or wore perfume to pick up random riders, the tack-less bottom feeders of the world may take it as come-on. "Yeah, you can take me to Chateau de Super 8'; how much will that cost?"
She laughed, "Really?" and said it wasn't dangerous after I told her she was the first woman cabbie I rode with.
An expensive, and the most efficient ride so far. No pun intended (for those bottom-feeders going there...). Just grateful for a cabbie who's no nonsense.
"It's a flat rate to Penn Station, six dollars. Ok?"
The wool, light pink coat, looked like it hadn't been cleaned since last winter. Can you imagine a faded- looking light pink coat? Maybe the fabric just looked worn, but why wear a pretty coat like that in a filthy cab. Answer 1: It's not new. Answer 2: she doesn't care. The coat, not her face, was in my direct line of sight. I looked up from my purse and saw her start the engine. We didn't make eye contact. Not even in the rear view mirror, so I was stuck with my second first impression of her. Her hair. It could have been styled, it was combed, but frazzled, like she'd just scratched the back of her scalp and didn't care to finesse it back into place.
There were no colored tree fresheners in the cabin, just the smell with out them - a neutral... funk. A defense mechanism for riders who have the potential to make her job unsafe. If she was at all 'dolled up' or wore perfume to pick up random riders, the tack-less bottom feeders of the world may take it as come-on. "Yeah, you can take me to Chateau de Super 8'; how much will that cost?"
She laughed, "Really?" and said it wasn't dangerous after I told her she was the first woman cabbie I rode with.
An expensive, and the most efficient ride so far. No pun intended (for those bottom-feeders going there...). Just grateful for a cabbie who's no nonsense.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
UNTITLED CAB PROJECT, part 4
Greg wasn't in the line this morning. So, I had to settle for another driver.
The 'line' is the line of taxi cabs outside of the hotel each morning so it's pure happenstance that I get Greg's cab regularly. But, it usually depends on what train I take that day. If I take the 7:15 a.m. train, I have to be curbside by 7:00 or, 7:02 at the latest. If I take the 7:40, train then I leave the hotel at about 7:20. Greg is usually in line if I take the 7:15 train. It's purely timing. Then again, the concierge told me that some customers have such a repoire with a certain cab driver that they take the cab driver's name and number down and call them when they need a ride. Jim said, "I guess they really trust 'em."
I'm not sure that I want to do that yet. Greg is extremely likeable, but I still question the fact that he NEVER has change. It's definitely a hint at a tip. But, what's the tip for?... I do tip $.40-.60 each time I get in and out of the cab (I don't get my change back from him if I hand him a $10 and the fare is $9.40); I open and close the door; provide half of the conversation...
There is one cabbie that I've taken regularly. Greg would insist that I was cheating on him. An Indian cabbie. An older gentleman who says hello when I get in the cab, asks me where I'm going before I tell him, asks me how my new year was, he always has change, his door isn't broken. In fact, he told me how to get out of his cab - he's got a mini-van and you have to push the top lever to get out of the cab - very polite. If there was a bumper sticker on his cab it would say, "I appreciate your business", oh yeah, it'd have the smiley face too.
-----------------------------------
A few weeks ago, Jim cautioned me about cabbie's taking advantage of her riders. Some drivers "milk it". They drive below the speed limit so that the fare is a few dollars more. Really?
Yes, really. It's happened to me.
After a few weeks in the "game" I've figured out who they are the moment I sit in their cab. They usually ask me three times where I'm going (you've driven the cab long enough to know where the hotel is!). Take seconds longer to make the right turn out of the station -when the light is green - and drive ten miles below the speed limit. I get it. You want to squeeze the most money that you possibly can out of the rider. More money, more nice things for your wife, more things to give your children, more time you can spend with your family, the less likely it'll be that your cab becomes your office, a better shot at leaving the cab gig. Just like everyone else, we want more, better, best.
The 'line' is the line of taxi cabs outside of the hotel each morning so it's pure happenstance that I get Greg's cab regularly. But, it usually depends on what train I take that day. If I take the 7:15 a.m. train, I have to be curbside by 7:00 or, 7:02 at the latest. If I take the 7:40, train then I leave the hotel at about 7:20. Greg is usually in line if I take the 7:15 train. It's purely timing. Then again, the concierge told me that some customers have such a repoire with a certain cab driver that they take the cab driver's name and number down and call them when they need a ride. Jim said, "I guess they really trust 'em."
I'm not sure that I want to do that yet. Greg is extremely likeable, but I still question the fact that he NEVER has change. It's definitely a hint at a tip. But, what's the tip for?... I do tip $.40-.60 each time I get in and out of the cab (I don't get my change back from him if I hand him a $10 and the fare is $9.40); I open and close the door; provide half of the conversation...
There is one cabbie that I've taken regularly. Greg would insist that I was cheating on him. An Indian cabbie. An older gentleman who says hello when I get in the cab, asks me where I'm going before I tell him, asks me how my new year was, he always has change, his door isn't broken. In fact, he told me how to get out of his cab - he's got a mini-van and you have to push the top lever to get out of the cab - very polite. If there was a bumper sticker on his cab it would say, "I appreciate your business", oh yeah, it'd have the smiley face too.
-----------------------------------
A few weeks ago, Jim cautioned me about cabbie's taking advantage of her riders. Some drivers "milk it". They drive below the speed limit so that the fare is a few dollars more. Really?
Yes, really. It's happened to me.
After a few weeks in the "game" I've figured out who they are the moment I sit in their cab. They usually ask me three times where I'm going (you've driven the cab long enough to know where the hotel is!). Take seconds longer to make the right turn out of the station -when the light is green - and drive ten miles below the speed limit. I get it. You want to squeeze the most money that you possibly can out of the rider. More money, more nice things for your wife, more things to give your children, more time you can spend with your family, the less likely it'll be that your cab becomes your office, a better shot at leaving the cab gig. Just like everyone else, we want more, better, best.
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