Information and Access for Las Vegas Taxicab Drivers
You found it. A collection of sites that pertain to the taxicab drivers here in Las Vegas. There is also some unique information presented here that I've not found on any other site that most cabbies will find of interest.
TheFezFiles.com is not intended to be a forum for political issues, but rather as a portfolio of pooled open-source intelligence for ALL of the taxicab drivers in Las Vegas. Your inputs regarding relevant subject matter are welcome; however, if you want to post comments regarding union gripes, company-specific policies, or how the limosines and doormen are screwing the cabbies, I direct you to the Kindred link.
(This is not to say that things that The Fez (me) deems worthy of note will escape comment about - after all, it is my site!)
That said, come on in and have a look around!
If you like what you see or better, if you HATE it (I looooove hate mail!), tell me about it! Email me here at TheGrandPoobah@TheFezFiles.com and vent your spleen. Pack enough piss and vinegar into it and I might even post it!
Notable Conventions and Happenings Around Town...
The National Hardware Show starts today, May 6 at LVCC. 50,000 attendees are projected to be in town for this show. Also, the Gourmet Housewares Show will be happening at the Sands Convention Center with a projected attendance of 7,500. At Mandalay Bay, there are a couple of small shows expected to attract a total of about 8000 folks, so don't ignore that end of town. For you west-side folk, the Orleans is hosting the Nike Championship Basketball Clinic, with a projected attendance of about 3,700. All told, it doesn't look like too bad a week.
Good Hunting - Get the money - Don't hit the drunks! For more info access the LVCVA website via the Useful Sites page.
New page added to the Fez Files web site.
Be sure to stop and check out the newest page, called "Take Five". When you have a few spare moments, and are looking for a laugh or a thrill, here's a place to start your quest.
Randall Hynes registered as Legislative Lobbyist
On April 5, Randall "Randy" Hynes, Nellis Cab driver, local taxi driver's advocate, and publisher of the online magazine "Taxibuzz.com", announced that he has registered as a lobbyist with the Nevada State Legislature. This is a major step that may well require outside support, namely from the rest of us. Out of the 7000 drivers in Clark County, I think that we might find a few bucks a month to chip in to pay this guy something.
How about it, boys and girls? If Randy champions a controversial position that ends up causing his termination at Nellis, would you consider kicking down a $20 bill a month to help cover his losses and expenses? How about ten bucks? We're talking about the tips from MAYBE three or four rides here! For those of us that work for unionized companies, i.e. YCS, Frias, or Whittlesea/Bell, that's less than what we are spending now - and what are we getting for our money?
I'll be back with the particulars of this soon.In the meantime, stop over at his site, Taxibuzz.com and get the low-down and the latest.
And, while I'm on the subject...
If you're reading this, you should also stop by LasVegas-Taxidriver.com. It's hosted by the "Unknown Cabbie" (always noticed, never seen!) and has a pretty lively discussion board. Who knows - YOU could be the next driver advocate! Stop by, read the opinions and offer your two cents!
Professional Drivers' Association (PDA)
This is an outfit that every taxi driver in Clark County should belong to. We're talking twelve bucks a year, here, guys! You can get a membership application at the "roach coach" in the pit, and submit it right there. This outfit exists for all of us, and is headed by Greg Bambic. He's a stand-up guy, and runs a tight ship. Come to think of it, I need to renew my membership...
Read this if you don't think that we are viewed as prey...
If you do, read it anyway.
On Monday evening, March 24, eight or nine cabs were robbed - depending upon the source quoted - by one group of suspects. The suspects were simply ambushing drivers, either accosting them at gunpoint as they emerged from the Diamonds Gentleman's Club after dropping off a load of customers, or by pulling up next to stopped taxis and displaying a gun. Two of the suspects are in custody after being apprehended by Metro officers and a positive ID being made; however, others may (and probably are) still at large.
The suspects aren't rocket surgeons by a long shot, but we should all take note of the planning, reconnaissance, and tactical organization that went into this operation. These guys had it down. Their only major error was trying to squeeze too much profit out of the operation. We are being watched and stalked constantly, and there is nobody out there that is on our side except ourselves - and even that is questionable in the case of some individuals that come to mind. Vigilance is the watchword. Every time you drop off at one of these places that pay a commission, you are especially vulnerable - there are people that know that you just made a score. It could be a doorman, a security guard, a cashier, a valet, or just some guy parked across the street watching. It could even be another cabdriver. Are these commissions really worth it?
Have you seen this scumbag?
This is a picture of the twerp that robbed a taxi on 24 Feb. taken by the taxi camera.
According to the 'Las Vegas Now' staff, "Police are hoping that someone will recognize the man responsible for robbing a cab driver. The robbery took place on February 24 at 1:25 A.M. on Paradise Road. The driver picked up the suspect on Las Vegas Blvd. and headed to an address on Paradise where police say the man held a gun to the driver's head. The driver was able to get out of the car and run away. The suspect drove away in the cab.Anyone who can identify the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555."
As much as I would like to encourage some driver with the physical wherewithal to scoop this piece of trash up, intimately acquaint his kneecaps with a tire iron, and the rest of him with a Louisville Slugger, I cannot. He is entitled to due process,a fair trial, and if convicted, punishment in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada, where hopefully he will share a cell for an extended period of time with a sexually deprived brute that previously worked as a waterfront enforcer for the Philly Mob.
Since this is a Crime Stoppers bulletin, there MAY be some reward money involved. Keep your eyes open, folks. Let's find this piece of buzzard-bait and show him the error of his ways - legally, of course. Thanks to Frank Lucero for the picture and press release.
"Funny" Money Alert!
We all check the big bills that we get, right? Well, visually checking is not enough. I was waiting in line to cash out at about 1:00 A.M. on 3/14 when the driver in front of me started making animated squawking noises and hopping from foot to foot. The hundred-dollar bill that he had turned in as part of his book turned out to be counterfeit. I took a close look at it - it had the little strip with the denomination numbers, it had a watermark... but the detector pen came out black (that's bad), and the machine in the cashiers' cage kicked it out as counterfeit (that's very bad). Upon further examination, I could feel that the paper was not right, and the green/gold ink on the big raised denomination number in the lower right corner was not quite right.
The moral of the story here, guys, is to use every means at your disposal to ensure that the bill is "good", because we are the ones that "eat it" if it's "bad". I would have taken this bill. It was that good. The cashiers all agreed that it was the best counterfeit that they had ever seen. Get a couple of those pens - you can get them at Wal-Mart, OfficeMax, Office Depot, or any other place that sells business and office supplies. Visit the U.S. Secret Service web site and learn what to look for. This is cheap insurance.
On Thursday, 3/20, I stopped by an Office Depot and checked out what they stock for counterfeit bill detection. Here's what they have (and what I bought): A three-pack of "Dri-Mark" counterfeit detector pens for $9.99, and a "Dri-Mark" detection "system", consisting of one detector pen and a small ultraviolet (UV) flashlight, (with extra batteries, even!), also for $9.99. Total outlay, including sales tax - $21.53 . Of course, this is fully tax-deductible. I checked every bill I got that was $20 or above - thankfully, all were good. If you buy just one of these products, and it detects a "funny" bill, you're money ahead.
So, what about this bill I saw? The driver took it back and stomped away muttering something about passing it off elsewhere, because he couldn't "give up a hundred bucks in tips". Oh, really? Can he give up a couple of years in "Club Fed"? The simple fact of the matter is that this is one of those things where you have to "bite the bullet". I've had to do it - twice. I personally know a guy that ended up "pulling a nickel" - that's five years - in a Federal penitentiary for making and passing a few bills. Understand this - the Feds have absolutely NO sense of humor when it comes to this sort of thing - if you think the IRS is bad news, wait until you get on these guys' bad side. There is a reason why the Secret Service protects the President and VP - the agents are two-legged Doberman Pinschers. Besides, passing the bill to some other poor schlep is bad Karma. (You really weren't even thinking about trying to pass it in a casino, now were you??)
***If you have ANY local speedtrap information, let me know!***
Report a Speedtrap.
Be particularly vigilant on Hacienda Avenue between Valley View & Decatur! Also, the scooterBears continue to do a roaring business on Reno Avenue just south of the Desert Rose/Hawthorne Suites complex anytime they care to set up, which is often. Slow down or take an alternate route - I'm telling you! Check the Speedtraps page for more up-to-date info.
Most Gent's clubs in town are kicking out $50/passenger. Most massage parlors are at $20 or $25/passenger. Flamingo Massage is now paying $40/passenger! (Aren't price wars great?)
Also, if you choose to comp the passengers in, most will kick $20. Check out the new Friendly Places page for details.
