Cabbies complain Rahm left them at the curb

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Updated: February 27, 2012 10:01AM

Chicago cabdrivers have already accused Mayor Rahm Emanuel of changing virtually everything about the taxicab industry except by giving them the thing that matters most to them: a fare increase.

Now, they’re complaining about being “disenfranchised” when it comes to their future ability to petition the City Council for higher fares.

A little-noticed section of the mayor’s sweeping overhaul changes the process for granting future fare hikes.

Currently, the City Council’s Transportation Committee is compelled to hold a hearing within 60 days whenever cabdrivers file petitions bearing signatures from 10 percent of the city’s 14,000 licensed drivers.

The mayor’s ordinance, approved earlier this month, does not compel Chicago aldermen to do anything.

It simply states that the City Council “may, from time to time, revise” cab fares and that the Transportation Committee “may hold a hearing to determine whether” an increase is necessary.

“We’ve been disenfranchised. Our ability to petition has been removed. There is no mechanism for getting our issues addressed before the government that regulates us,” said cabdriver Peter Enger, a spokesman for the United Taxidrivers Community Council.

“Four times in five years, we’ve gone to the City Council and gotten nothing. But, there’s been a hearing. It’s a vehicle for getting our issues out and reaching the public. Now, they’ve removed that. It’s grounds for a lawsuit.”

Jennifer Lipford, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, insisted that the change was made to make it easier for cabbies to get a fare hike — not more difficult.

“Under the old ordinance, they could only petition once a year. Now, they can ask for it more often and they don’t have to get the signatures. It’s easier,” Lipford said.

“We’re not trying to disenfranchise them. We’re trying to clean up the taxi industry and help them.”

Earlier this month, the City Council approved Emanuel’s sweeping plan to pave the way for cabbies to drive newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles, be yanked off the road more quickly for dangerous driving and spend no more than 12 straight hours on the road.

The overhaul puts more money in drivers’ pockets indirectly — by raising lease rates on more fuel-efficient vehicles in a way that gives cab companies a financial incentive to upgrade.

The City Council also agreed to make Chicago’s on-again-off-again, $1 fuel surcharge permanent — raising the cost of entering a cab, known as the “flag-pull,” to $3.25.

Cabdrivers, who met earlier this week to chart their next move, were not appeased. They argued that the $1 surcharge is gobbled up by higher gas prices. They also complained that the higher lease rates and 12-hour ceiling will take more money out of their pockets.

Since they petitioned the City Council for a 22 percent fare hike before the ordinance was changed, the Transportation Committee will be required to hold a hearing on the request.