Within this fading position I record the taxi cab driver, not only in the light of a of a victim of business, but as part of the urban landscape; an aforementioned subculture of a public service worker. Most commonly comprised of immigrants, the public chauffer is an individual class of laborers and people whom have taken on the burden of a specific and costly work.
The urban taxi-cab driver not only faces tremendous economic and physical burden in regard to their profession, but is also an aspect of the ‘living’ urban environment; a subculture of workers. One that is in a dwindling state in the city of Chicago. The “Chicagoan Chauffeur” is slowly fading. Many of these individuals divulge their detrimental position at the price of corruption in the capitalist process of the city.
Within this dissipating position, I record the cab driver, not only in the light of a of a victim to business, but as a part of the urban landscape; an aforementioned subculture of a public service worker. Most commonly comprised of immigrants, the public chauffeur is an individual class of laborers who have taken on the burden of a specific and costly work.
For this project I shadowed my father, a Pakistani immigrant and 40 year veteran of the industry, as he took me to different places within the city that exemplified significance within his line of work. Through a series of interviews, I amassed a general consensus on he and his section’s side of the field;
Driver’s dialogue
“Cab drivers are the most impatient people in the world. Very few have patience. They have so much stress in their life.”
“Most of them get diabetes by 40 years old. I don’t know if its our food or because they’ve been driving so long. I walk at the airport for two miles every day. I still get diabetes. I keep fresh fruits in my cab. Want some?”
“They got rid of the bullet proof glass, and gave us the cameras. They know the camera is there, but it doesn’t stop them.”
“My friend was called to pick up a passenger, but the place was abandoned. Then they shot his car when he was leaving.”
“So many of my friends are dead now. Our section is disappearing. The young cab drivers do it for the money. The new generation has the energy. I had many opportunities to do other jobs, but I was stubborn. Prideful to drive.”
“I had to learn an entire map of Chicago in ’79. The newer drivers use GPS. We have to take credit cards now. You only get half of it though since the company gets 50% of the fare. I go to the garage and wait in line to give them my receipt.”
“The new cars save gas, but cost about $6000 more. You replace them every seven to nine years now. Before it was every five to seven years.”
“I got lucky. I sold my medallion early for $300,000. Now they (other drivers) can only sell for about $90,000.”
“The Dispatch garage is filing for bankruptcy. All the cars are in the lot and on the streets because no one is using them. Yellow is closing because of a lawsuit. They used to let you in, used to let you take pictures, but no one does this anymore. No trust.”
“Uber cars, 20,000 of them, are taking away business. No city tests, no license fees, no renewal fees, and no ground taxes. Every day $4 must be paid for ground tax for normal cabs. No insurance is required for Uber cars, because the mayor’s brother runs the company. Uber has no safety requirements for their cabs either. Its banned in other states.”
“Because Emanuel’s brother is a crook. He’s in charge of Uber, and Uber doesn’t follow the regulations. They get all the business. I had the $200 Uber phone, and they’re bastards. If I don’t use it, I still pay. Canceling them costs more. They beg you to come back after that.”
“Cab companies file for bankruptcy to get rid of lawsuits so they don't have to pay. It also gets rid of old employees. They get out of big pays for upcoming retirement funds. Then the cab company gets rid of the debt and starts a new company with a different name.”
“Yellow monopolized itself with 5 or 6 other companies but divided them into sections for the very reason of potential bankruptcy. Now they can lean back on Blue Diamond cabs or Checker.”
“Cab drivers are the most impatient people in the world. Very few have patience. They have so much stress in their life. Most of them get diabetes by 40 years old. I don’t know if its our food or because they’ve been driving so long. I walk at the airport for two miles every day. Stretch my legs. I still get diabetes. I keep fresh fruits in my cab. Want some?”
“They got rid of the bullet proof glass, and gave us the cameras. Passengers know the camera is there, but it doesn’t stop them. My friend was called to pick up a passenger, but the place was abandoned. Then they shot at his car when he was leaving.”
“So many of my friends are dead now. Our section is disappearing. The young cab drivers do it for the money. The new generation has the energy. I had many opportunities to do other jobs, but I was stubborn. Prideful to drive.”
“I had to learn an entire map of Chicago in ’79. The newer drivers use GPS. We have to take credit cards now. You only get half of it though since the company gets 50% of the fare. I go to the garage and wait in line to give them my receipt.”
“I failed my inspection all because the little light bulb that lights up my chauffer’s license in the back seat was burned out. I have to pay $600 and then take the inspection again.
“I bought this car for about…$40,000? I’m selling it for $1000. The new cars save gas since they’re hybrids, but cost about $6000 more. You replace them every seven to nine years now. Before it was every five to seven years.”
“I got lucky. I sold my medallion early for $300,000. Now they (other drivers) can only sell for about $90,000.”
“The Dispatch garage is filing for bankruptcy. All the cars are in the lot and on the streets because no one is using them. Yellow is closing because of a lawsuit. They used to let you in, used to let you take pictures, but no one does this anymore. No trust.”
“Uber cars, 20,000 of them, are taking away business. No city tests, no license fees, no renewal fees, and no ground taxes. Every day $4 must be paid for ground tax for normal cabs. No insurance is required for Uber cars, because the mayor’s brother runs the company. Uber has no safety requirements for their cabs either. Its banned in other states.”
“Because Emanuel’s brother is a crook. He’s in charge of Uber, and Uber doesn’t follow the regulations. They get all the business. I had the $200 Uber phone, and they’re bastards. If I don’t use it, I still pay. Canceling them costs more. They beg you to come back after that.”
“Cab companies file for bankruptcy to get rid of lawsuits so they don't have to pay. It also gets rid of old employees. They get out of big pays for upcoming retirement funds. Then the cab company gets rid of the debt and starts a new company with a different name.”
“Yellow monopolized itself with 5 or 6 other companies but divided them into sections for the very reason of bankruptcy. Now they can lean back on Blue Diamond cabs or Checker.”