If Boston cab-fleet owners want fare increases, they should be forced to clean up their acts, City Council President Maureen Feeney says in a letter to Police Commissioner Ed Davis, who oversees taxi fares in Boston.

The taxicab industry has been described as "sharecropping on wheels" with drivers forced to pay thousands of dollars in fees before they can earn any salary. This system penalizes both drivers and passengers. It is time for a comprehensive look at our taxi cab system in Boston. I ask you to strongly consider establishing a commission to review the taxi cab industry in Boston and recommend reforms to address the serious concerns raised both by passengers and by drivers.

My office has received several reports of illegal and out-of-town cabs operating in Boston, and of illegal kickbacks from hotel doormen to livery services. Taxi cab drivers face serious challenges and, in addition to your hearing today, I hope you will continue to work with them to address these issues. ...

Globe: Taxi drivers push for fare increases.

Earlier:
Unfare?
Boston to Brookline cabbies: Butt out.

Let's see if I can do this ...

As I type, City Councilor Maureen Feeney, who helped organize the thing, is opening the event - 400 people in attendance. Wants to revitalize civic discussion and participation in Boston. Only 11% of Bostonians voted in the last election. The city now is supported by "hands too few and too tired." Local groups and neighborhood watches act in isolation.

"Not about potholes and paving sidewalks. It is about political positioning." Positive discussion about civic health and vitality.

For a few minutes, at the least. He's slated to address participants at this Saturday's Boston Civic Summit between 12:55 and 1 p.m., according to a draft agenda (not the one on the Web site).

It's Councilor Maureen Feeney's effort (along with some other Names You Must Know, if not any beginning with M) to get some dialog going on where Boston should be going, May 3 at the South Boston convention center:

This summit will start a conversation on how we can strengthen the overall vitality of city life by promoting greater civic engagement and fostering dialogue between community groups. It will also provide current and prospective community leaders with tools, training and support to better exercise their important civic responsibility.

Schedule.
Online registration.

Feeney posts about her May 3 Boston Civic Summit at the convention center.

Boston Civic Summit Web site (not much there yet).

Joe Keohane talks to the Dot councilor about her citywide "civic engagement" thing at the convention center and how it's all systems go despite grumblings from Hizzona:

... The whole thing, she insists, will be very structured, not the moonbat convention many worry it will devolve into.

So, she's apparently for real. The event could hit or it could tank, but it's good to see someone taking the initiative to actually inspire some real dialogue in this town. In, fact, it's kind of amazing that something like this never happened before. ...

Just when I'd given up hope, he files a column that is not only about Boston, but, indeed, makes an actual point (that Maureen Feeney is in the palm of the firefighters' union).

The only nit: Walker stating, as a fact, that firefighter Warren Payne "died on duty last year with cocaine in his system." It might wind up being true, but the union still says it's unsubtantiated.

The City Council stenographic machine output and transcribed debate
and remarks at public meetings of our Boston City Council are
available public records and can be requested from the
Council President
maureen.feeney at cityofboston.gov
with a copy of the request to
pre at sec.state.ma.us

References
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcrmu/rmuidx.htm
http://listserv.syr.edu/archives/foi-l.html
http://www.scopists.com/Scopistry/

Joe Keohane ponders why Tom Menino might get upset with Councilor Feeney's proposal for a citywide coffee klatsch at the South Boston convention center (no, it's not because he's concerned we wouldn't all fit).

Michael Pahre looks at why the mayor might have gotten involved in the issue of Boston College expansion in Brighton.

Kevin says Maureen Feeney almost became City Council President yesterday.

Meanwhile, Jay gives Flaherty props for proposing to hire 350 new cops, although he does wonder where the money would come from and whether concentrating limited city funds on building up the detective force might not be more effective.