MA DUers: what's up with this taxi voucher "scandal"

[trotsky]

The 'pukes I work with have grabbed this issue about the DNC wanting to "rip off" cabbies by forcing them to accept undervalued vouchers for conventioneers needing transport.

On the web I have found a TON of articles slamming the Democrats for this, but I did see that the final compromise guarantees the cabbies 3 passengers so the voucher total comes very close to what the normal fair would be for one trip.

So what's the whole story? Why would the DNC even engage in something this stupid that was BOUND to be harped on by Republicans?

[meegbear]

1. First time I heard of this ....

couple o' links for info?

[trotsky]

2. Link

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/conventions/articles/2004/06/22/taxi_pact_is_reached_on_convention_fees/

If you Google "DNC taxi voucher convention" you'll get a ton of critical articles.

[Kat45]

3. I hadn't heard about it either.

Sounds like they worked it out. Everybody has been threatening to strike during the convention. First it was the Boston cops, who BTW, were for bush in the last election. Now I think it's the school bus drivers. Now, I'm a person who is on the side of labor for the most part, but this is pissing me off that these folks are using this convention for their immediate self-intetest, when hurting the Democratic party will only hurt their--and everyone else's--interests (not to mention jeopardizing the existence of our very country) in the long run. Are any unions stirring up shit to fuck with the repub convention in NYC?

[sniffa]

4. there's no 'there' there

the DNC was negotiating a voucher system w/ the cabbies. they LowbaLLed the cabbies, but now the cabbies got the voucher number they asked for (sorry, don't know the number off the top of my head, but i think the vouchers went from $5 to $12). if they're stiLL harping on this issue that's been settLed, then they're grasping at straws.

besides, when the (cheney expLetive) do repubs care about the Lower cLass.

[geniph]

5. The cabbies also got another concession

basically, one of the agreements was that they could insist that more than one delegate holding a voucher be in the cab, so they get two vouchers for the one trip.

Plus, most of the delegates, at least in my state's delegation, are aware of this and are planning on tipping generously.