Safety concerns dominate taxi meeting

LYNN – In a meeting meant to assuage tensions over proposed language regulations for taxi drivers, Spanish-speaking taxi drivers asked Lynn City Councilors for more regulations to make their job safer.City Councilors and about 15 Spanish-speaking taxi drivers discussed problems with the taxi industry in Lynn Tuesday at the North Shore Latino Business Association. The meeting came a week after Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr apologized for the controversy surrounding his proposed regulation requiring taxi drivers in Lynn to speak English.Several of the taxi drivers at Tuesday’s meeting said they felt the regulation was unnecessary.Most Lynn taxi drivers can speak English well enough to communicate with customers and call police in case of an emergency, said Marino Calcano, a driver for Garcia’s Taxi.”Those are the only things that are necessary,” he said.Ward 4 Councilor Richard Colucci agreed there’s no need for a language regulation.”There’s never been a problem yet,” he said of the perceived language barrier.But the meeting quickly shifted to regulations the taxi drivers said they felt are necessary.Carlos Pacheco, a driver with Union Taxi, said he would like to require that all taxis have some sort of secret way to notify police or the community of an emergency, like a light taxi drivers can clandestinely turn on when they’re in trouble.Manuel Abreu, the president of Union Taxi, said one of his biggest concerns is that his drivers feel safe working at night. He advocated better communication between police and taxi drivers.”Many of (the drivers) have been robbed and when they try to call the police, it can be hard to get a response,” he said.Pacheco also suggested that drivers undergo surprise drug testing, a regulation he said could help improve public perception of Lynn taxi drivers.Cyr said he thought it was a good idea.”Lynn doesn’t have a good reputation and the cab drivers don’t either,” he said.The councilors and taxi drivers agreed that Tuesday’s meeting – and the controversy leading up to it – opened new doors for communication between the Latino community and Lynn’s city officials.”This negative has turned into a positive,” said Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant, who suggested making meetings like these a regular affair.Abreu and other drivers said they aren’t use to speaking so honestly with authorities because they never were able to in their countries of origin.Felix Martinez, who isn’t a taxi driver, said Tuesday’s meeting helped him see Lynn’s councilors in a different light.”To have this connection ? This has been extraordinary,” he said.Cyr said the councilors felt the same way.”By doing what we’re doing, we’re really tearing down all barriers. It’s an enormous thing,” he said.Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].