Sometimes you cover the news, other times you make the news. Pictured left is A.F. James MacArthur, Managing Editor of the Baltimore Spectator, gesturing at the Public Service Commission headquarters, while leading an angry, but civil protest of over 1000 taxi cabs.In a move viewed as a major victory, a judge has issued a stay to the taxi meter rate decrease, originally scheduled to take effect tomorrow, 1 March. Late Friday afternoon, Judge Stewart Berger issued an injunction blocking the Maryland Public Service Commission from going forward with the decrease, pending a future hearing.
Attorney Ben Alston delivered the news to a packed house of frustrated drivers last night at a meeting convened by NAACP President Marvin "Doc" Cheatham. Acknowledging the early victory, Cheatham reminded the drivers they still faced a long, rough road in seeking to persuade the public to support their cause as they move forward seeking permanent blocking and reversal of the rate rollback.
At a time when overall operating costs continue to escalate, many drivers feel the move by the Governor O'Malley appointed commission to be out of touch with reality. Drivers complain of severely unfair and exploitative treatment by local cab companies, also citing that with current rates, they already struggled to earn a living. Many drivers feel that with the new rates being 25% lower, they would literally be starved out of existence.
As this story develops, you can trust The Baltimore Spectator to keep you informed.
Related:
Taxi Protest -- What Really Happened
Over 1000 cabs took to the streets in a wild, heated protest, paralyzing Baltimore's downtown during morning rush hour for more than 90 minutes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------After hearing repeated complaints from numerous drivers about the severity and hardship the rate decrease would cause to them and their families, A.F. James MacArthur, along with several others decided to help. In less than 24 hours of organization, over 1000 cabs showed up. Now with several major labor unions and the NAACP backing the fight, the drivers of Baltimore expect eventually total victory in gaining fair treatment and fair pay.
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