Head of NY Taxi Fed: It’s Okay to Racially Profile Passengers for Safety
- Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:25am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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In the wake of a livery cab driver shooting this weekend in New York City, the head of the state’s Taxi federation is encouraging drivers to profile passengers, especially blacks and Hispanics.
“Profile your passengers, it’s very important,” Fernando Mateo, president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, said yesterday. “I don’t care about racial profiling. You know sometimes it‘s good that we are racially profiled because the God’s-honest truth is that 99 percent of the people that are robbing, stealing, killing these drivers are blacks and Hispanics. So if you see suspicious activity, you know what, don’t pick the person up.”
Mateo, who is Hispanic, made the comments at a news conference updating the condition of Trevor Bell, the livery cab driver who was shot six times by a passenger on Friday night. Bell remains in critical but stable condition as a result of the attack.
Police are looking for the assailant and have released video of him moments before he pulled the trigger. The gun can be seen in his right hand:
Mateo’s comments are especially relevant as the TSA faces controversy over its new screening procedures. Some have said that profiling could be an effective way to minimize invasive searches and increase security. Such a process has been used successfully by Israeli airline El Al.
UPDATE:
Police have just identified the suspect as 22-year-old Shawn Price. He is between 5′10″ to 6′0″ tall and about 180 lbs.
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Comments (119)
oldsoldier10
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:13amSo he really means to be “Typically White?” Profile the hell out of someone you think may be a threat to your physical safety? Hell yea EVERYONE does!
Report Post »dinadp
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:13amI know I‘m getting older when I’m OK with this. Truth be told, I’ve never been all that politically correct. I guess that’s one of the benefits of growing up in the 70s and 80s. Safety first.
Report Post »powhatan
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:07amIt is so very sad, but so very true…..
Report Post »Nutthuggers
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:06amInstead of using common sense profiling the Federal Government needs to provide armed security guards in every cab across America! It will be called the TSA (Taxi Security Agency). They will be a unionized organization of Government employees, who can frisk, and fondle taxi passengers at their discretion. This will drive up taxi costs sky high, and cause taxpayers to be taxed a lot more, and it will cause even MORE of peoples freedoms to be lost, but we need to do this to protect the cabbies (whom we don’t want to use common sense and profile), and it will help the unemployed get a job.
Report Post »The preceding paragraph was my attempt at satire, but we all KNOW that the Democrats, Liberals, Socialists, African Americans, etc… would LOVE to actually implement this type of plan!! It is sad that the Democrat party has become the socialist party bent on taking away our Constitutional Rights. Push back people.
EZDOZIT
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:52amLiberalism will get you Killed! I’d like to see Al Sharpton driving these cabs at night here. Let’s see if he picks up everyone that wants a ride. It‘s easy to talk this PC crap when it does’nt affect these liberals. Most liberals believe in evolution,their beliefs proves they don’t have the instincts to survive. Everything on earth has this except liberals. Their only survival instinct they have is pre-emptive appeasement. They side with any potential treat in advance to build up brownie points. Maybe they can claim we were always on their side if the enemy ever takes us over. Under true Darwinism liberals would go extinct, they abort their own babies!
Report Post »STQ
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:49amCatndahat,what you said ,is great.If the Muslims would say the same thing,we’d trust them a-lot more.If white,blonde women were doing all the terrorism,I’d expect to get extra scrutiny.Common sense.Can we make COMMON SENSE the NORM ,again?
Report Post »tranymike
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:46amthink like them open up a company that make a scaner that goes no the door of the cab so the driver knows if you got a gun or knife. go to your freinds in the goverment make it a law that all cab driver must have them. these will put all the small cab companys out. then you go to the big companys and make them union and get dues from all the workers to pay for your freinds in the goverment to be relected. win win you make millions, and your freinds get to tell all how there looking out for the cab drives. life as a dem/por/marxis only in the usa.
Report Post »Kenny
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:40amwelcome to omerica
the land that i once loved
’til the government gave me a nudge
then they gave me a shove
welcome to omerica
unemployed per hundred is ten
wasting trillions of dollars on failure
and they want to do it again
welcome to omerica
where you’ll be paid not to work
and those who have some pride and do
are decried as selfish jerks
welcome to omerica
where the fed has mountains to print
quantitative easing is fancy for
now a dollar is worth two cents
welcome to omerica
hunger, homelessness, and unemployment on the rise
bureacrats, legislators, and the preident
purposefully presiding over and causing our demise
welcome to omerica
where the people who succeed are hated the most
and the parasites and criminals are lauded above all
with glasses raised for their toasts
welcome to omerica
where socialists roost in ivory towers
freedom is taken for the collective good
and individuals are robbed of their power
welcome to omerica
former land of the free and home of the brave
now land of the sheeps
on their way to being slaves
welcome to omerica
where foreign concerns are worth more
and lady liberty like constitutionality
are pimped out like back alley whores
welcome to omerica
where muslims terrorists have become saints
and nuns while wearing their habits
are stripped and searched to their taints
welcome to omerica
where michelle commands what you can eat
as the obama family laughs @ your misery
with kobe beef stuck in their teeth
welcome to omerica
where obamas fathers dream is realized
a living nightmare for all
hope and change in disguise
welcome to omerica
Report Post »what else did you expect
where the government has us down
with a steeltoed boot on our necks
Freedom1984
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:37amGee folks…are we now just “figuring this out?“ If a PERSON looks suspicious and your gut feeling is to not let them into your ”space”…then so be it… Who cares what color they are……… YOUR SAFETY is more important. And oh well… if stats say that “most crimes are committed by blacks,and Hispanics” well then………….. either stop committing the crimes….. or be prepared to start WALKING PLACES when cab drivers REFUSE TO PICK YOU UP!
Report Post »fudge
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:34amSome of you are clearly missing the point. As a result of his comment, some cab drivers will now have an excuse to refuse picking up Black and Latino male passengers altogether. It’s bad enough that Blacks and Latinos were already being profiled BEFORE this depraved low life shot the cabbie. NOW the flood gates will certainly be opened! Being a Black male in NYC, I already have a difficult time getting a cab after 1am. The only time I can get a cab quickly in the city is when I am with White friends. And I certainly don’t “look” like a thug or hoodlum – yet at night/after midnight – alone – my average time waiting for a cab is much much longer than the average time waiting when I am with White friends.
It’s easy for some of you – in particular, White people, light skinned Latinos/Latinas – to sit back, pass judgments and be “high and mighty” as you sit smug, comfortable and cozy knowing that this sort of thing does not affect you.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:42amStatistics don’t lie, I’m afraid. I’m not sure what else to tell you.
Report Post »Shawn-GA
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:42amAs I said earlier.. it is terrible that plenty of great people get lumped into these things. HOWEVER why don’t you do something about it? Tired of having these problems? HELP; get involved stop the “leaders” who do not help and only “lead” into hatred and stirring up emotions. Be a mentor, challenge those who have a “give me mine” attitude!! Are you comfortable in your complaining or are you making a difference? If you are making a positive difference.. GREAT, encourage others to do the same.
Report Post »ed0315
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:43amWHOA! How about putting your money where your mouth is champ? How about this? Go take a job, part time or otherwise as a NYC Taxi driver. Lets see how many black and latinos you pick up! Boo hoo, I am a black man and I can get no justice. Go cry in your soup. How about going out and preaching to your brothers that they shouldn’t be responsible for over 75% of all violent crimes, which btw are against other blacks.
Report Post »cogito ergo sum
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:39am@ Most of the responses to Fudge
Herein lies the real problem. All though you all are in favor of this kind of profiling, you do not share the burden of what you propose. Just the politicians who make decisions for others that they themselves are exempt from you guys act like it’s okay. If you don’t like the fact that politicians raise your taxes but do not pay theirs, then you should be against imposing any type of profiling in which you will not also be profiled. It’s common sense that people make bad rules when they are not subject to them, that creates tyranny and that is what you propose. No one should be subject to the tyranny of the majority. Stop trying impede on the freedom of blacks and latinos! Where are the real constitutionalists? You guys are frauds!
Cogito Ergo Sum!
Shawn-GA
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:06pm@ COGITO ERGO SUM
You have proven my point 100%, instead of constructive ways to remedy the situation and reverse the trends of the young people committing the crimes which lead to the need for these people to protect themselves; you cry foul and do NOTHING. If people are not willing to have self control and those who raise them teach them it is OK because they are “kept down” then you can not be surprised when people take measures to protect themselves.
Report Post »arcade
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:13pmSubjection to the tyranny of the minority ain’t no picnic either!
Report Post »cogito ergo sum
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:04pm@Shawn-GA
Sir you have no idea what I do! Not only do you not have the slightest clue what I do you do not know how many (if any) of potential criminals I have steered in the right direction! You exist in a place that is far removed from the where there are the temptations that cause good young people to take the wrong path or you choose to just ignore it and cast judgment! You have no clue how many are working to make change. Change does not come overnight and surely is not helped when the world says to these kids it is okay for us to treat you like a criminal because you are one, when NO ONE KNOW WHO THESE KIDS ARE!!! You all sit on high and cast judgment down without any real concept of who these kids are, what they face, and what they truly need. The most powerful weapon against things like is care and compassion. It’s a slower process for those kids, they have to truly believe you care about them and then you see the miracles happen. But as it stands so many here do not all care about these kids like their own. They are too far removed to have the empathy it takes to really make a difference. Have you made any difference? Are you trying to make change? Let us know what you do other than post on message boards!
@Arcade
Your comment is asinine! Please tell me how are you subjected to the tyranny of the minority? How was the minority restricted your freedoms? How has the minority cast you in a negative stigma that affects you in the broader society? How has the majority been trodden on by the minority? What you say is totally foolish! What majority has ever complained about having their rights impeded upon by the minority? SOUTH AFRICA!!!
Cogito Ergo Sum
Report Post »Shawn-GA
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:26pmCOGITO ERGO SUM
You typed quite a lot, basically to boil it down I know nothing about you so I should not post anything… HOWEVER you know equally about me and type paragraphs about my world position, where I sit and what I may or may not have done. I will pray for you because if you are truly influencing as many young people as you imply that you are doing more harm than good. As you are obviously by your posts spreading more of the same “poor me” blame “the man up high” attitude. You judge without knowing and make personal comments that if you knew who you were commenting about you would know the fool you are acting like. This is no longer in the realm of conjecture as I am basing it on your own words. God bless you all!
Report Post »cogito ergo sum
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:13pm@Shawn-GA
It wasn’t about your world position. Your or my world position is irrelevant, it’s the world view OF the kids who are more tempted to be criminals than to walk the straight and narrow that matters. This is not about you or me, that is how I know you are removed from the places where these kids play, are educated, and live. It is ALWAYS ABOUT THEM! Making them understand their world view is quite small and that you care enough about them to introduce them to many others. You can’t be involved with kids like these because if you were you would not talk as if they were external. They are internal. They walk with you, they laugh with you, they struggle with you. I know enough about all the people who spend time with these kids to know, they in no way sound like you (the people that are making a difference that is), it IS a different world view Shawn-GA and when you have it you do sound different.
And then you make such a bold claim as to say I spread the more “poor me”, “the man on high attitude” ROFL. Do you know who I am? You have no idea what I inspire people to do. “Poor me” are words I rarely hear anyone say, well except for you. No one says poor me, they all try to fight to make something out of nothing. That does not sound like a poor me attitude but hey if you think I spread that around, go on ahead. You mentioned God, ask him for the truth and don’t harden your heart! Be receptive enough to listen and maybe you’ll hear something.
Cogito Ergo Sum
(Even got a bible verse for you. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings has thou ordained strength because of thine enemies… Psalms 8:2. Those kids have a lot in them, I hope people are listening!)
Report Post »Randjet
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 3:27pmFudge it’s your people commitng the crimes, if their behavior changed other people would trust them.Everyone is afraid. Sorry for your wait.
Report Post »M31Sailor
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 4:47pmHow about all you fat assed black, latino, and white city dwellers walk where you want to go. Then there would be no need for Cancun Summits (kidding)
Report Post »cavblade
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:25amI recall a movie where a taxi cab passenger gets out of control. The driver pushes a button and guns pop out of the back of the front seats. The passenger’s attitude changes dramatically.
With the cameras in place, I don’t see this as a non-viable solution. Maybe the Federation of Taxi Drivers should look into this. Guns don’t work unless a camera is in operation.
I like this idea tremendously.
Report Post »The Toad
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:23amBlacks and Hispanics aren’t they mostly democrats?
Report Post »Kalish
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:17pmWell about 93% of blacks voted for O
Report Post »Shawn-GA
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:02amIt is a very sad fact, however statistics and #’s do not lie. Stereotypes come from a fact and then get blown out to include all people in that “group” it is unfair to those that are lumped in when they are fine upstanding citizens. The Problem is that leaders of these groups would rather call foul and cause a big uprising as opposed to fixing the problem and getting the next generation to NOT continue in the wrong direction. Parents need to be parents not friends and enablers. God Bless you all
Report Post »Camo Pants
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:23pmAgreed, but they said if they look like their going to kill you don’t pick them up.
>.>
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:58amSmarter than the TSA!
Silversmith
Report Post »nostromo
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:58amI travel to NYC alot and every cabbie I spoke with already profiles. These guys arent stupid. Their lives depend on their judgement.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:58amthey just now figured it out? the time for being politically correct is long past and has gotten many innocents killed. the rate is 99.9999% for violent crimes being committed by blacks and hispanics out near our homes in middle America…and they do not even live in this area, they come in to commit the crimes. [we're all armed out here, so they do not usually succeed.]
Report Post »To the Republic
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:48amIt’s YOUR cab. It is not a RIGHT for someone to picked up in it. If I was a cabbie, you can bet that I would be profiling as well.
It’s called survival.
Report Post »STUBBYK
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:09pmAnd Eric Holder would be on your case like stink on poop. Just because a would be fare is wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun is no reason to refuse your services. Get a bigger gun!
Report Post »Constitutionalist
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:45amNo one likes to speak the truth like this guy has bravely done. If 99% of those crimes(assuming that is the correct percentage) were committed by white people, they should do the same thing by profiling white people. It goes both ways. If you have an idea about who is going to rob or shoot you, leave them on the curb. No matter what color they are!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:01amif it was 99% white-people criminals, the taxi crimes would not be in America.
Report Post »dkhartman
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:05amI expect that white people would be profiled for white collar crimes… thats just how it is…
Report Post »Constitutionalist
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:22amBurnthills- I understand what you mean. It is something that will never happen in this country. I‘m only saying who cares about a person’s color if they are committing crimes. Profiling makes sense here!
Report Post »ACCOUNTABLE
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 6:54pmbe careful now, the next thing you know it will be your right to get a taxi cab ride.
Report Post »mdlwoods
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:42amFINALLY! A little common sense from someone who is not afraid to state the truth in order to protect lives! Take a lesson TSA!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:42amProfiling in a NY taxi is probably very simple. If the person getting in the back looks and acts like a punk, things probably won’t turn out well. Kudos though, for anyone taking a stand for common sense.
Report Post »catndahat
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:36amI’m a Latina and I agree–it’s sad but unfortunate that what this man says is true–check the statistics, the data doesn’t lie.
Report Post »Speak without Fear
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:43amCorrect……Thank-you!
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:33amMSM propaganda tactic #12:
Report Post »Profiling is OK as long as it’s done by people who:
1. vote Democratic.
2. are pro-abortion.
3. support same sex marriage.
HillBillySam1
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:38amWell said.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:48am@HillBillySam1
Report Post »This story will be ignored by the MSM.
Camo Pants
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:22pm1. vote Democratic. No
2. are pro-abortion. I don’t care, I just prefer you don’t.
3. support same sex marriage. Yes.
>.>’
Blight14
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:40pmSadly true………..
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 6:15pmAh yes….this plan is coming together quite nicely. First lets get all minorities into the positions of power so they can see what has been known all along. Then they can voice these facts without being called racists. If that taxi driver supervisor (Mateo) was White and said exactly the same thing, then all hell would be breaking loose and Al Charlaton would be humming a different tune but instead they get away with it. So profile all day long, its the well behaved and upright white couple who will have more ready taxis to hail. This taxi scenario is where the wheels meet the road when it comes to race relations. Those taxi drivers mostly minorities can choose at will who they will pick up and they racial profile all day long you can bet your ascot they do. I would!
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:31amCommon sense goes a long way.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:43pmI say call a spade a spade…no racial pun intended…
snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:30amWell, this is going to raise one grade A manner of stink and shouts across their city.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
john seven eighteen
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:02am@Snow
Yes, unfortunately it will probably raise more of a stink than the senseless shooting caused.
Report Post »CaptnJackBthe1
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:27amMaybe, but here‘s a guy that can’t afford the political correctness of late. His employees are dying out there.
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:27amNow why do that? If we can’t use common sense at the airport then why not use pat downs (or feel-ups) and strip searches on taxi passengers?
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:59amIf the “Reverend” Al is against it, it must be good.
dkhartman
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:03amNow that we know the shooter is hispanic we go out search and grope every person who is NOT hispanic. You know, cause that’s wrong to profile.
Polwatcher
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:07amIf in fact, 99% of taxi crimes are comitted by Blacks and Hispanics, it is NOT racial profiling to be careful when offering service to Blacks and Hispanics. This would be criminal profiling or self preservation, whichever. Too bad our federal government isn’t interested in self preservation with TSA screening.
Report Post »M31Sailor
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 10:42amDoes he mean the passenger or the Muslim Taxidriver??
Nutthuggers
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:12amYes. I entered the same comment earlier but we need to implement a New Government agency. It will be called the TSA (Taxi Security Agency). They will be security guards that ride in the back of every cab in America. It will be paid for by tax paying workers (of course we are the only people who contribute anything to this country). The TSA will be able to fondle, and frisk passengers at their discretion. It will be done for YOUR own good, and the drivers own good. We the Government don’t want you to be able to defend yourself by carrying a weapon in New York, and we don’t want you to profile the people who are committing the crimes so our solution is to take away YOUR freedoms and rights; not the criminals rights. Of course for your own good. This agency will be able to unionize (of course). It will drive up the costs of taxi fares, and taxpayers taxes but it is for YOUR own good. You are just to stupid to realize that the Government is here to help you….but you will have to give up all of your rights to receive our splendid solutions.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:52pmSay good-bye to Janet Napolitano, I think we just found her replacement. Put this guy in charge of Homeland Security.
Report Post »