The hearts of the city are with the family of Trevor Bell, which continues a bedside watch for the livery cab driver who was left in critical condition after being shot seven times. Police have accused Shawn Peace, 22, of shooting Bell before stealing $100. The robbery was caught on camera.
According to the New York Post, Peace is part of a gang that has held up at least 16 cabs and fast food places in Queens. Unless this gang is caught, members will continue to rob easy targets. Bell will probably live. The next victim may die.
In a news conference following the attack, Fernando Mateo, president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, encouraged his drivers to use “profiling” to prevent future attacks.
Mateo immediately faced criticism.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said, “Two wrongs don’t make a civil right.” City Taxi & Limousine Commissioner David Yassky said, “Choosing which passengers to serve on the basis of race is illegal, downright wrong and simply unacceptable.”
To our knowledge, neither Sharpton nor Yassky has driven a livery cab at 2 in the morning.
Mateo was not swayed. “What I’m trying to do is expose a very serious problem that we have been facing as a community for a very long time.”
Mateo should have found a better word. “Profiling” is a term associated with racism. The term came under attack earlier this year when it was suggested that airport security profile airline passengers.
We do not believe Mateo or the drivers he represents are racists. What Mateo is saying is livery drivers should follow their instincts and use common sense. If a rider looks dangerous or is wearing gang colors, the driver should have the right to not pick that person up. The man who shot Bell asked to be driven to a dead-end intersection. Would it have been profiling or common sense if Bell had said, “I’m not going there at this hour?”
Livery cab drivers play an important role in Queens. The airports are the only places where residents can hail a yellow cab. Drivers like Bell, who was trying to earn a little extra money to make Christmas special for his family, should not be expected to put their lives on the line for political correctness.
