Council Hears Cabbie Complaints, Requests

A group of more than 50 cab drivers walked into City Hall yesterday to protest alleged police harassment, unfair treatment by Cambridge businesses, and general disrespect for their trade.

At a hearing in front of the City Council, the group's attorney, Edward Altman, argued that the cabbies deserved more respect, rights, and consideration for the important service they provide to the community.

The chief complaints by the taxi drivers focused on "police harassment," which they said includes excessively rigid enforcement of traffic laws, unwarranted parking tickets, insulting behavior, and comparatively lax enforcement of the cabs' right to stay in areas designated as taxi stands.

A report prepared by Altman included the additional allegation that 12 Haitian cab drivers had been unnecessarily arrested in a humiliating and conspicuous fashion.

Several cab-drivers stood to make specific complaints and recommendations.

Norman Roy, a Cambridge taxi driver, lambasted Harvard Square jaywalkers and said a police traffic director was necessary. "I've seen people walk along the sides of cars and berate the car for going through the green light." He also said that Harvard fares pay low rates and tip stingily or not at all.

Roy also complained that drivers were ticketed for parking their taxis in stands while they ran into offices to deliver packages. "It makes you want to say, the heck with packages," he said.

"We're not looking to be allowed to be allowed to break any laws," Roy said, adding the drivers wanted to be treated fairly.

Michael Siguenza, a driver who also serves as treasurer of the drivers' legal aid fund, complained that developers build in Cambridge they are usually required to consult with local businesses but not with taxi drivers.

Another common complaint was that Boston cabs often pick up fares in Cambridge, competing with Cambridge drivers and violating Cambridge law.

City Councilor Saundra Graham responded by suggesting that stricter penalties be enacted to prevent Boston cab drivers from picking up fares in Cambridge.

The council passed resolutions requiring all parties to meet with City Manager Robert W. Healy.

Also last night, City Councilor Alfred E. Velluci proposed an order that would request the City Solicitor to prepare a bill to be submitted to the Massachusetts state legislature which would bar non-profit institutions, like Harvard, from protesting proposed zoning changes in Cambridge.

The bill could be significant if passed because Harvard and MIT effectively vetoed a Cambridge ordinance proposed in 1985 that would have required all new residential building in Cambridge to allocate resources for low-income housing.

Current state law requires that any zoning change in Cambridge pass by a majority of seven votes, rather than the usual six, if a minimum of 20% of affected land-owners protest the change.

Harvard and MIT together own close to 20% of all Cambridge property and were able to require that the council pass the ordinance by seven votes.

At the time the ordinance was proposed, only six councilors favored the change.

If Velluci's proposal becomes law it might pave the way for the city to develop a linkage plan similiar to that of Boston. In Boston developers, which have included Harvard-affiliated hospitals, must build a certain percentage of low-income housing when they develop land.

Councilor David E. Sullivan said that he supported the measure but felt it had little chance of success in the legislature.