June 7, 2006
Morning Roundup: Cab Savvy Edition
Last week, we had a nice long chat about the maddening idiosyncracies of the D.C. taxicab system. The Examiner reports today that at least some of the difficulties associated with cabbing around town might be gone in the near future. Cab Commission Chairman Causton Toney has said that his organization is "seriously considering" the elimination of the zone system in favor of metered fares. The city is awaiting the results of a six-month study comparing the two systems which ended last week. Said Toney, "we have a hugely broken system — a system broken at its core." Here's hoping that positive change is on the way.
Council Passes Bills During Marathon Eight-Hour Session: The Post writes today about a series of issues addressed by the D.C. Council yesterday. Preliminary approval was granted to a bill authorizing the use of eminent domain to improve the Sursum Corda neighborhood in NW; residents of that neighborhood picketed outside the building during the session. The Council also unanimously approved a rent-control bill we've discussed here. Tenant advocates and building owners were behind the measure; perhaps the city should have consulted some economists, as well. Here's hoping the "hardship waiver" is applied liberally.
City's Mental Retardation Director Out: After claims of abuse in group homes and insufficient service on the part of the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration, Mayor Williams has let the axe fall on Director Marsha Thompson. Williams has acknowledged his administration's failure to reform the agency; Thompson will be replaced by Kathy Sawyer, formerly of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
Briefly Noted: Arlington County is rolling in it...Loudoun ready to decide whether to add 80,000 homes in rural portions of county...Virginia budget battle starting to hurt agencies.
This Day in DCist: We looked at the conflict between Smith Point the restaurant and Smith Point the bar, and we discussed Clinton Portis' attempts to buy his lucky number 26.
Picture taken by brownpau.
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Isn't "Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration" a bit redundant? Gotta give them props for sticking with the "Mental Retardation" portion of the title in the face of DC's many PC thugs.
Awesome pic, btw.
Meters in cabs can't come too soon. Of course, our dumb ass cab drivers will probably throw another hissy fit and park their cabs for a few days. Didn't they do this a year or two back when the issue of meters was last brought up?
man, this is going to be non-PC, but YOU MISSPELLED MENTAL in your headline about mental retardation....the irony meter if off the charts over here
Er, it was an early morning.
MRDD is the standard designation for in most municipalities.
MRDD is the standard designation in most municipalities.
Ugh, why DC uses the zone system is beyond me. Last week in a Major American City, I was able to take cabs everywhere because it wasn't costing me at least $10 every ride (I live several blocks north of Florida Ave, too far to walk after the boundary). I would wager that the zone system is even more confusing to tourists since they don't know where the hell anything is.
I would wager that the zone system is even more confusing to tourists since they don't know where the hell anything is.
I imagine that's the real reason behind the zone system in the first place.
why won't anyone tell us about how taxis operate in SF or Chicago? I hope Chris is alright.
Great picture!