Taxicab Companies Perplexed By Civility

by turfgrrl

October 12th, 2008 · 12 Comments

Tags: Norwalk · Transportation

12 Responses so far ↓ “Taxicab Companies Perplexed By Civility”

• 1 barnstorm // Oct 12, 2008 at 9:59 am

  The cabs are a necessity but currently create a hazard to the public, as well as an apparent nuisance. Some of these drivers seem to take our traffic laws as mere suggestions. I have been almost hit several times.Their current “stand” frequently blocks a lane from Monroe St to MLK Blvd.
  I was even told by a dispatcher one day that the drivers don’t like driving in winter. A lot of them apparently come from climates where snow is unknown, and either won’t or can’t learn the finer points of safe conduct behind the wheel.
  I’m trying very hard not to profile here.

  I know it’s not an easy job, and can be hazardous as well, considering some of the neighborhoods they get a lot of their business in.
  The residents of Monroe St should get some pictures of this alleged behavior and walk down the street to the police station. They should also present it to a city council meeting. A few good complaints to the right people, and maybe a lawsuit or two, and this situation should be cleared up in no time ( but probably not in my lifetime).

• 2 Old Timer // Oct 12, 2008 at 10:13 am

  Taxi company owners want parking places for empty cabs free from the City where the drivers can hang out when they have no fares. They should get together and buy, or rent, a space, with restrooms, and work out a dispatch system with one cab space on each side of the station. The City would probably agree to a single space on each side. The problem has been the group of drivers hanging around in the northbound lot and acting like little children. With cell phones, each driver could report when he picked up a fare and a dispatcher/starter at the private lot could send another cab. There is empty space near the station advertised for sale or lease.

• 3 Anonymous // Oct 12, 2008 at 11:54 am

  Maybe if there were clean taxis I’d be more inclined to take them.

• 4 Anonymous // Oct 12, 2008 at 12:40 pm

  Its sad the facts are only told by The Advocate,yet since the story was written there has been what - two arrests, one involving a knife incident between cab drivers at the station. This all within 48 hours. It would certainly help to point out that we now have a safe shuttle taking you from the train station without the fear of being a victim of crime at night.

  Maybe it takes a certain kind of person to drive a cab in this city. I won’t bring up the past crimes against cabbies, that would take up the thread.

  Then Martin reported in another article that escaped the radar. After Norwalk police headquarters moved in 2005 to South Main and Monroe streets, next to the station, crime decreased, Rilling said. “Every morning and night, I see dozens of people walking to and from the train station feeling a sense of security about the area,” Rilling said. “If people are seeing issues, I invite them to talk to me.”

  Then we have in the past before Martins article -

  “An immigrant was attacked and robbed at knifepoint Saturday evening by five men on South Main Street near police headquarters”
  Velez said the robbery was particularly brazen “because they hit him right around the corner” from the police station at South Main and Monroe streets. This was written by Noelle Frampton March 2008

  Mr Rilings read your police reports,crime does not carry a watch,this morning in front of the Black Bear the traditional bar closing fight resulted in a chain reaction that could of cost police officers lives at the scene or responding cars.Count how many were taken to the hospital count how mnay were arrested would be a normal plea.

  Not from this rant. This morning we the city should only ask from you how is the officer who was hit head on in a crash on Flax Hill rd. Your accountability will come some other day. Let care about our police officers and what they go through when it’s time for the bars to close on Washington Street or across the bridge into East Norwalk.

  When the chaos and the crime can happen right in front of officers closing Washington st each night ~ what does that say about the lack of respect & fear these people obviously do not have. What is the point of having a destination for a drinking crowd if there is no crowd control?

  This article highlights what has been going on at the station for a long time,where has our public officials been?

  Some of the facts have been kept from the public for a long time,you really think no one has complained till now?

  Was the security of the entire station and area addressed before renovation,or have we been foccussed on just the bathrooms and coffee shop?

• 5 some details // Oct 12, 2008 at 1:56 pm

  I find it fascinating that any crime report in the SoNo area assumes the railroad station.

  Someone please check their records, no crime on the South Norwalk railroad station campus, at least in months, while perhaps some has been reported in the sono area none at the railroad station.

  The city received a grant from Homeland Security in the amount of over $125,000 for a new and upgraded security system at the South Norwalk raiload station which is almost completely installed.

  And, let’s not forget what we are talking about in this thread, the lewd and disgusting behavior by the taxi cab drivers. No one from the public should have to put up with that anywhere. And, do we think that this behavior would be different anywhere else? Not really, the same behavior was quite prevalent on the Northbound side of the Souh Norwalk railroad station and magnified by 30 cab drivers at once. It was not a pretty sight.

  Although there seems to be a rumor that the drivers dispatched to other towns in the area seem to behave themselves. And, someone, yes should be taking pictures.

• 6 Anonymous // Oct 12, 2008 at 3:21 pm

  Commuters have concerns about SoNo station
  By Martin B. Cassidy
  Staff Writer
  Article Launched: 09/29/2008 02:34:28 AM EDT

  What else can be said #5? Read the article get the feel there has been very little cooperation from the MTA and Norwalk police yet the court news details at times the arrests have been made in or outside the station when crimes occur on site ,The assaults can be found at the Norwalk hospital from around the train station or on the platforms yet names and times cannot be released for obvious reasons.

  If your seeking reports from Norwalk police to to provide facts, you should know better .Read the arrests under court news and find another story untold.Its where you look,just ask any reporter there are no details given out from the police to the press on the weekend in the city of Norwalk known fact,another known fact major crime happens the most during the weekends look back on your headlines for shootings and stabbings maybe by tuesday do you read friday nights crime.

  Can’t argue with an uneducated public when the press can’t do their job.

  Lets see how long it takes to hear what happened so far this weekend and then tell us our media is slow or not doing a good job.Knife incident with a cabbie would tell me not to let my mom take a cab fron Sono station,my kids take the train and the security officer was telling everyone about the arrest at the door of the train station,hard to think that didn’t happen this weekend.Why would Norwalk contractors lie?

  Read that Advocate article see what doubts are raised by riders and MTA ridership council members these stories were not covered by The Hour or the blog yet they were obvious warnings that there is concern that the facts are lacking to make a educated call.More needs to be done to provide accurate details about whats going on at the train station and the city.

  It would be nice to think everyone is on the same page,I could never think about opening a store in dowtown Sono until I see some results.These bar closing fights have become a sport its disgusting and to ignore the obvious shows no leadership or insight to growth not all businesses are effected they close rather than endure the late weekend nights.

  The meeting at the library on the 17th about some of the homeless and the fears some are spreading within the community also has train station concerns,but there is more to that meeting its not just the only concern Sono has I suggest be a guest of the Rev’s a highly respected member of the community she has been pro active,better she details that meeting than I.

  Why would the DOT consider homeless barriers under the platforms at the Sono train station where some sleep?

  Read into some of the things the media is printing its not one of Norwalks largest problems but it is an issue isn’t it?

  But to suggest no crime at the South Norwalk train station in months ,one would simply have to respect your post and trust proof is on its way.

  pictures are great I agree with that 100%

• 7 Anonymous // Oct 12, 2008 at 9:00 pm

  I never take the train from Norwalk anyway. I drive down to Darien and take it from there. Or from Stamford. At least there I know my car won’t be broken into. I have also taken the train from the East Norwalk and Rowayton stations. I’ll take it from ANYWHERE except South Norwalk.

  No amount of money could PAY me to go ANYWHERE in South Norwalk except for Washington St., North Main, or the Maritime Aquarium. Outside of that area, South Norwalk doesn’t even exist for me.

• 8 turfgrrl // Oct 12, 2008 at 11:19 pm

  Anonymous 7: You may want to know then that the highest incidents of car break ins are in towns like Darien and Westport, or in shopping mall parking lots. South Norwalk, like Stamford has video surveillance which has decreased break in activity. And for the record, Rowayton is in fact South Norwalk.

• 9 Anonymous // Oct 13, 2008 at 7:48 am

  Turffie: You may want to know that in the 30 years that I’ve been taking the train from these points I have never had a car broken into. I have never had my house broken into either, and apparently from reading this board, that kind of thing happens all the time in Norwalk, as do muggings all over town. *eye roll*

  You hang out in the bad part of town you get what you deserve. You live in the bad part of town you get what you deserve. On the streets alone at night you get what you deserve.

  I also don’t carry a handbag or cash over $20 at any given time. I don’t stay at bars until closing time. And I travel in groups. If you take appropriate precautions nothing is going to happen to you.

• 10 Anonymous // Oct 13, 2008 at 11:17 am

  Thanks I needed something to laugh about this morning.

  wishing you become the next victim is not American.If you only carry $20 then maybe your better off than most.

  I live in that part of town and support those who don’t,make any sense?

  The woman who was about 30 who never had her handbag stolen was knocked to the ground and her purse was stolen in downtown Sono recently when visiting.

  I’m glad tit for tat works for some it doesn’t for most of us that have been victims.

  What happens when you have lived in that part of town for 60 years? Move?

  Support a cause not a vision it works for me.

• 11 Anonymous // Oct 13, 2008 at 10:07 pm

  The real issue here is WHY are the residents of Norwalk & the commuters who utilize the SONO RR Station being subjected to this crap! I have turned into State St several times in the last couple of weeks to pick up someone from the RR Station only to find the street blocked by taxi cabs in the middle of the street (some parked side by side, some without drivers). The last time we had to wait almost 5 minutes while an out of control cab driver screamed & yelled at another cabbie while shaking his fist. If it wasn’t for red shirted security guard there probably would have been a fist fight in the middle of the street.
  NOW we know why they were driven from the North bound side…………..

• 12 Minnie Mouse // Oct 14, 2008 at 7:26 am

  I’m with #7, nothing to add.

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