Councillor Baker seeks hearing on how to ‘rebuild’ taxi industry

City Councillor Frank Baker wants the city to find new ways to support the city’s taxi drivers. Last week, he asked his colleagues to review the “Hackney Carriage” rules that govern medallion owners in the new era of ride-share services like Uber and Lyft. 

“I’ve had grown men sitting in my office crying. This is an opportunity to think differently about this industry, give them a little bit of support,” said Baker. “If we look at this thoughtfully, we can try to rebuild the taxi industry, and help those families that have been really hurt by Uber and Lyft. … I think we could potentially get some people back in business.”

Baker wants a hearing to explore some form of relief from the extensive handbook of rules that govern taxi-industry regulations on everything from applications, to vehicles, to drivers. The Police Department has a division that oversees and enforces taxi rules.

Other councillors were quick to support the hearing order at the council’s meeting last Wednesday, and Council President Kim Janey referred it to the Committee on City and Neighborhood Services. 

District 2 Councillor Ed Flynn said that the taxi industry has been long-supported by an immigrant population that helped build and strengthen the city. 

“During difficult times in our city taxi drivers were always there for us, and there were a lot of immigrant workers that were cab drivers,” he said. “Cab drivers really helped make and strengthen our city, and now that the city is booming, it seems like there’s no place left for our cab drivers. They work hard, they don’t make a lot of money, and there should be a place in Boston for the cab drivers.” 

District 4 Councillor Andrea Campbell also thanked Baker and shared some insight into what the councillors have heard from constituents who work in the taxi industry. 

“We’ve had meetings for years with hard-working, dedicated residents, folks that are just looking to support their families. Most of the people that we meet with are immigrants, most are from communities of color, and so this issue frankly is about justice,” said Campbell. 

Campbell noted that while the ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft are subject to state regulation, the city controls the taxi industry, and it’s the responsibility of the council to explore ways to support taxi drivers and “do what’s fair.” 

“We need to look at not just how we can make it a level playing field but how we can right some past wrongs,” said Campbell, and by that I mean renewing technology with innovation. When Uber and Lyft came down the pipeline, we did nothing to change things and allow taxi drivers to keep up.” She said she hopes that the hearing — which has not yet been scheduled— will encourage taxi drivers to come forward and share their ideas.

“They have innovative ideas and solutions that they’ve brought to us and this is an opportunity to talk about those in a public way and move things forward,” she noted, adding, “It is really heart-wrenching to hear some of the stories of people who have sacrificed everything, bet their lives on this industry to get their children through college, buy a home, or to build wealth not only for their families but for their communities. This is our opportunity to support them in some way.” 


Subscribe to the Dorchester Reporter